Question:
Having bowel problems! Help!

I am about 11 months out and have lost 135 pounds. I have noticed in the last month or so that my bowel movements have been getting different. The past few weeks have been bad! I used to have diarreha a lot. Now my stools are harder and caue pain! I developed hemmerhoids a few months ago as well. SO now that the stools are harder, the hemmerhoids really hurt! I have read a lot of other posts about this issue. Perhaps my increase of carbs is causing the difference in bowel movements? I have tried creams and suppisitories for the hemmerhoids. They work temporarily. Should I try a stool softener like Citrucel? Does anyone take acedopholis (sp?) for intestinal health? Any suggestions would be so appreciated. I also have bad smelly gas a lot of the time. I am just a bundle of joy lately! Ha! Please help!    — Denise F. (posted on June 1, 2002)

June 1, 2002
Go to your doctor you may have a virouse. (semilar to stomach flu) Also do you take in yogurt and cranberry juice that a good way to help you regulate yourself. I was on the atkin diet for the longest time and i had all those problems because i cut out to many carbs. Heres a idea try taking a anti acid and a anti gas medication for a about a week follow directions on the bottles and see if that clears up your problem. also see your doctor they mabey be able to provide you info on a sydrom called irritable bowel disease. which describes all your symptoms look it up on the internet. hope I helped sheri
   — sheri B.

June 1, 2002
I would think that something in your diet has changed to cause this. I take two Citracal tablets twice a day for hard stool, and after about a week it really began to help. As far as gas goes, don't carbs tend to cause it? Hope this helps! Donna in AL
   — Donna S. C.

June 1, 2002
Hi. I would try Senokot, a natural vegetable laxative. Works for me. Also, increasing your water intake would have to help things flowing. How about 1/2 water, 1/2 prune juice? Or another thing that works for me is a bowl of Life cereal w/skim milk. Good going.....ha, ha!
   — Annie H.

June 3, 2002
Ummmmm, sorry that should have said FiberCon, not Citracal. Don't know where my mind was. LOL Donna in AL
   — Donna S. C.

November 25, 2003
I'm pre op, but have Fibromyalgia and a side effect is IBS- with diahrea for over thirty years so I have to take something to help me with that. I have been trying to stay with high protein foods, since last August as I've decided to have wls , and I get constipated badly, have fissures now. For years I used Metamucil and put up with the bloated, gasy results it gave me. I was regular finally. But still almost home bound. Then in this last year I tried Citracel, then Citracel Clear Mix. The Citrcel was better than Metamucil, I had no bloating and gas with the Citracel. Then two months ago I started using Citracel Clear Mix and it is the best of all worlds. No bloating and gas pains, worked like a charm, no vile side effects. Then last week I started Benefiber, I had read on OH members who had good results with it. I have taken Benefiber, their recommended dose of 1 TBL. 3 times a day for over four days, I have had unbelieveable gas, bloating, and I can't say the Benefiber results were good, I was very disappointed. And yes it does thicken from the corn starch - check the label ingredients or their web site. I am going back to the Cetracil Clear Mix, it worked great with no ill side effects. I'm taking a lot less with much better results. I'm also researching the ingredients of Metamucil, Cetracil and Benefiber. Different strokes for different folks. Just my humble opinion.
   — Carol S.