TMI/Gross question
mlinton_mesapark
Posts: 517 Member
Sorry if it's already been covered elsewhere, but... Are stool changes part if the deal in LCDs? Frequency/consistency/color?
I'm not seeing anything obviously alarming (no blood or anything like that), and I have been sick lately (though much better today), but things are looking a little odd in the bowl.
Thanks for any insight you can provide. Perhaps there's an article out there that I need to read.
I'm not seeing anything obviously alarming (no blood or anything like that), and I have been sick lately (though much better today), but things are looking a little odd in the bowl.
Thanks for any insight you can provide. Perhaps there's an article out there that I need to read.
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Replies
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It's not uncommon, especially if you're just starting. Drastic changes in the amount of fiber and/or fat in your diet are generally the most common cause. GI issues are also a common symptom of too much protein and not enough fat or carbs (that generally only happens if you're trying to do high protein, though, and protein is something like 50%+ of your calories, and it's hard to accidentally do that). Likewise, certain medications can respond poorly to such changes in diet (*cough*Metformin*cough*
). Being sick further compounds matters, especially if it require antibiotics or other medications.
It should stabilize in a week or so and be "normal" in consistency and whatnot.
One long term change to keep in mind -- you might need to go less in general, depending on the details of your dietary change. Lower levels of fiber and more protein/fat often means you (shall we say) reach capacity less frequently. As long as you're not getting uncomfortable, physically, and can actually go when you feel the need to, you're fine (if you say "yes" to either or both of those, then it may be constipation and you need to tweak something, but if you say "no" to both, then it's just things moving more slowly).0 -
Yes, this is pretty standard. And, it can span from temporary constipation to the runs. Everything can change during the transition. As long as you're not in pain or getting dehydrated, don't worry too much. Things will find a new normal over time.0
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Thank you kindly! Crossing that worry off my list.0
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Since starting keto nearly two years back, mine have been mainly floaters and very small, like rabbit turds.....sorry for the TMI! lol0
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Hello from TMI land!
I get bad leg cramps, so take magnesium at night. My stool's uh... a lot darker and less solid. >_>
-T.
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Good info here! You probably can't gross me out. I grew up with three brothers, and I've birthed and raised three young kids. Lots of grossness in this sweet, messy life.0
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The first six weeks this was all a wild card from day to day.0
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My primary care thought I had a gallbladder problem because for awhile mine were clay colored.0
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My problem is that I don't have bowel movements enough. Maybe once every two days. I'm lucky if it's once a day lol.0
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lauraesh0384 wrote: »My problem is that I don't have bowel movements enough. Maybe once every two days. I'm lucky if it's once a day lol.
The idea that people should have one bowel movement a day is a misconception. Depending on how much you eat, the makeup of what you eat, and your own individual body, you might have a different "normal" than someone else. The signs of an issue have nothing to do with frequency, unless it drops to something extreme like you just stop pooping entirely. It's pain, discomfort, hard and dry poop, inability to go, etc. If you poop once every other day, but it's normal and doesn't cause any problems, then you're fine.
The most important thing is knowing what is normal for you.0 -
I've noticed an improvement in my "plumbing" overall. I have had digestive issues since I can remember. Including having my gall bladder out at 16 years old due to stones.
My IBS, which I previously managed with high fiber and probiotics, hasn't given me a bit of trouble with my keto eating. I still take the probiotics and have good fiber, but I don't even have to specifically try to get enough fiber anymore and the extra fat seems to have had no effect on it for me. And now that it's been mentioned, I think I am less frequent now...0 -
I was wondering about this too. Since going very low carb and upping my fats i keep getting bright green diarrhea, like cowpats, when i havent eaten ANYTHING green, particularly no veg. No idea why its this color.
OK, i cant believe i actually said that out loud.0 -
I usually go once every few days and it's perfect! Well formed etc etc. I had daily diarrhea previously.0
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CoconuttyMummy wrote: »I was wondering about this too. Since going very low carb and upping my fats i keep getting bright green diarrhea, like cowpats, when i havent eaten ANYTHING green, particularly no veg. No idea why its this color.
OK, i cant believe i actually said that out loud.
Bile is greenish. Could be a symptom of your body rejecting food -- dumping it before it's digested. Maybe a problem with fat? (Bile breaks down fat.)
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CoconuttyMummy wrote: »I was wondering about this too. Since going very low carb and upping my fats i keep getting bright green diarrhea, like cowpats, when i havent eaten ANYTHING green, particularly no veg. No idea why its this color.
OK, i cant believe i actually said that out loud.
Bile is greenish. Could be a symptom of your body rejecting food -- dumping it before it's digested. Maybe a problem with fat? (Bile breaks down fat.)
Oooh, that makes sense. Particularly how poorly ive felt since upping my fats. I wonder what sort of problem it could be?
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Probably first 5-6 weeks it was variety of thingsmostly after I introduced heaving coconut oil and avocados. Boy, for 2 days it's was green mess. Now everything is perfect.0
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Dragonwolf wrote: »It's not uncommon, especially if you're just starting. Drastic changes in the amount of fiber and/or fat in your diet are generally the most common cause. GI issues are also a common symptom of too much protein and not enough fat or carbs (that generally only happens if you're trying to do high protein, though, and protein is something like 50%+ of your calories, and it's hard to accidentally do that). Likewise, certain medications can respond poorly to such changes in diet (*cough*Metformin*cough*). Being sick further compounds matters, especially if it require antibiotics or other medications.
It should stabilize in a week or so and be "normal" in consistency and whatnot.
One long term change to keep in mind -- you might need to go less in general, depending on the details of your dietary change. Lower levels of fiber and more protein/fat often means you (shall we say) reach capacity less frequently. As long as you're not getting uncomfortable, physically, and can actually go when you feel the need to, you're fine (if you say "yes" to either or both of those, then it may be constipation and you need to tweak something, but if you say "no" to both, then it's just things moving more slowly).
I'm on Metformin for Insulin Resistance (PCOS). What are you referring to with Metformin responding poorly. I'm curious, because my body is all over the place.0 -
_jayciemarie_ wrote: »Dragonwolf wrote: »It's not uncommon, especially if you're just starting. Drastic changes in the amount of fiber and/or fat in your diet are generally the most common cause. GI issues are also a common symptom of too much protein and not enough fat or carbs (that generally only happens if you're trying to do high protein, though, and protein is something like 50%+ of your calories, and it's hard to accidentally do that). Likewise, certain medications can respond poorly to such changes in diet (*cough*Metformin*cough*). Being sick further compounds matters, especially if it require antibiotics or other medications.
It should stabilize in a week or so and be "normal" in consistency and whatnot.
One long term change to keep in mind -- you might need to go less in general, depending on the details of your dietary change. Lower levels of fiber and more protein/fat often means you (shall we say) reach capacity less frequently. As long as you're not getting uncomfortable, physically, and can actually go when you feel the need to, you're fine (if you say "yes" to either or both of those, then it may be constipation and you need to tweak something, but if you say "no" to both, then it's just things moving more slowly).
I'm on Metformin for Insulin Resistance (PCOS). What are you referring to with Metformin responding poorly. I'm curious, because my body is all over the place.
Metformin used to cause me regular sprints to the restroom with very violently expelled liquids from the non-liquid disposal sites. I had to avoid dairy near taking it, avoid carbs/sugars at all, and have since learned to avoid coconut oil and vinegar within a couple hours of each other for this same reaction.0 -
My body was reacting that way for the first 3 or 4 weeks. Now, I'm having trouble going at all. I'm back to where I was prior to LCHF and having to take a laxative after a week of no bathroom.
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I have had daily diarrhea for over a week. I mean every time I went to the bathroom. I started taking Meta Biotic Probiotic and it has done wonders for me. I think my system was confused over the lack of fiber and carbs for sure.0
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I would rather have diarrhea than constipation. This sucks! lol0
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_jayciemarie_ wrote: »I would rather have diarrhea than constipation. This sucks! lol
Do you drink coffee? Caffeine is a natural stimulant in that department. If not, do you consume coconut oil? It can help quickly move things along... There are a number of things that can help, but if you're still trying to have fiber on this WOE and keep your carbs really low, than can be part of the problem. Most people find that when they got high fat, they don't need fiber anymore - and in fact it can trigger problems. There are a few threads of this nature you might look back over. Also, though... for me, coconut oil and the vinegar in pickles seem to have the high-school-volcano-reaction for me, as well...0 -
KnitOrMiss wrote: »_jayciemarie_ wrote: »I would rather have diarrhea than constipation. This sucks! lol
Do you drink coffee? Caffeine is a natural stimulant in that department. If not, do you consume coconut oil? It can help quickly move things along... There are a number of things that can help, but if you're still trying to have fiber on this WOE and keep your carbs really low, than can be part of the problem. Most people find that when they got high fat, they don't need fiber anymore - and in fact it can trigger problems. There are a few threads of this nature you might look back over. Also, though... for me, coconut oil and the vinegar in pickles seem to have the high-school-volcano-reaction for me, as well...
I didnt know about the fiber thing. That's really interesting. I started taking a fiber powder in my morning coffee during one of my recent bouts of constipation and i wasnt sure if it was helping any. When i take Senna i get awful stomach cramps and invariably end up being sick (its like it cant push along the blockage downwards so my stomach contents vacate upwards. Its always been the same, but even worse since going low-carb - my tummy just doesnt want to accept laxatives. I'll stop taking the fiber and see if everything sorts itself naturally once im adapted fully.
Ive been both extremes since going low-carb - explosive diarrhea (sometimes bright green) and then constipated for 5-7 days at a time, and then diarhhea again for a while, never 'normal'. I guess its just the body adjusting. I would definitely agree that id rather have diarrhea anytime over constipation.
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CoconuttyMummy wrote: »CoconuttyMummy wrote: »I was wondering about this too. Since going very low carb and upping my fats i keep getting bright green diarrhea, like cowpats, when i havent eaten ANYTHING green, particularly no veg. No idea why its this color.
OK, i cant believe i actually said that out loud.
Bile is greenish. Could be a symptom of your body rejecting food -- dumping it before it's digested. Maybe a problem with fat? (Bile breaks down fat.)
Oooh, that makes sense. Particularly how poorly ive felt since upping my fats. I wonder what sort of problem it could be?
If you've been low fat prior to this, it's most likely due to the fact that the bile and stomach acid production have atrophied. You might need to back off on the fats for a little while and slowly increase them to allow your body to adjust (or just deal with the GI discomfort for a while and it should straighten itself out, but might come at the cost of your gut flora, so a probiotic probably wouldn't hurt).0
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