Help ........more Fiber or is this normal?

mistigoodwin
mistigoodwin Posts: 411 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Ok so this is a little embarassing for me, but here is goes anyway! :embarassed: Sorry if it's TMI for some, but I need some advice here. :blushing:

I used to be very regular, but I had a hysterectomy 2 months ago and now I'm not. The first week or so I was taking pain pills, so that explained it then, but by now I figured things would be back to normal. I eat A LOT of veggies and drink tons of water, try to eat at least one type of fruit a day. I started taking fiber gummies and eating Fiber One bars...that bloats me like crazy, causes gas, to the uncomfortable point. So I tried Kashi Go Lean....still getting bloated like crazy. Started eating activia once a day, only two days in, so I don't know yet how this will go.

Anyone else got ideas that help regulate you but not just cause bloat and gas?? I don't know if this is just what your body does after a hysterectomy or what, it's very unlike me and actually uncomfortable and I'm just looking for some tips from anyone who has some.

THANKS

Replies

  • lkplibra
    lkplibra Posts: 147 Member
    Colace - its not a laxative but a stool softner. So no ugly suprises...

    My Dr. had me take it after the birth of both my kids while my body was healing. You might find it useful while your body heals as well.
  • Better_Balance_2011
    Better_Balance_2011 Posts: 3,711 Member
    Yes, what they said ^.

    I have always had issues with this since I was a teenager. Now that I am breastfeeding, its only worsened. I take 3 stool softeners every night and drink at least 10 glasses of water a day. I can't eat the fiber one bars; they give me terrible gas. I have tried Metamucil, fiber gummies, Citrucel, etc. but the stool softeners are the easiest. Good luck!
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Colace - its not a laxative but a stool softner. So no ugly suprises...

    My Dr. had me take it after the birth of both my kids while my body was healing. You might find it useful while your body heals as well.

    ^^This. And some movement/exercise in addition to the water.
  • empc
    empc Posts: 88 Member
    Try Metamucil
  • SelkieDiver
    SelkieDiver Posts: 260 Member
    Probiotics! Did they put you on antibiotics after your surgery? If so those probably killed off too much of the flora in your gut. You need those little buggers to help you digest your food properly. You can take probiotic supplements (I use Trader Joe's brand and they seem to work fine), eat yogurt with live cultures, try Yakult, eat fermented foods (saurkraut & kim chee are particularly good sources).

    I was seriously irregular for 2 months after my surgery before I figured out what was going on.

    Fish oil capsules will also help somewhat if you're eating low fat.
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    :flowerforyou: The Activia should help hopefully. I love Fiber One bars, but they do cause gas. Kashi causes gas even worse. I think it's the chicory fiber in there. I agree with another poster about taking a stool softener. You can buy them generically. Good luck!
  • VryIrishGirl76
    VryIrishGirl76 Posts: 1,167 Member
    Quacker High Fiber oatmeal.....
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    Colace - its not a laxative but a stool softner. So no ugly suprises...

    My Dr. had me take it after the birth of both my kids while my body was healing. You might find it useful while your body heals as well.

    Worth a try but also, drink Prune juice and try to add more fruit.

    I had and appentectomy at 7 months pregnant back in the 90s. It started out I had trouble holdng down food, then the BM was nonexistent for 2 weeks. I drank a bottle of prune juice and ate fruit salald for 3 days and finaly it happened and never had an issue since. Definitely need time to heal.
  • mistigoodwin
    mistigoodwin Posts: 411 Member
    Probiotics! Did they put you on antibiotics after your surgery? If so those probably killed off too much of the flora in your gut. You need those little buggers to help you digest your food properly. You can take probiotic supplements (I use Trader Joe's brand and they seem to work fine), eat yogurt with live cultures, try Yakult, eat fermented foods (saurkraut & kim chee are particularly good sources).

    I was seriously irregular for 2 months after my surgery before I figured out what was going on.

    Fish oil capsules will also help somewhat if you're eating low fat.

    Yes, I've been on antibiotics 3 times since surgery for bladder infection. I keep hearing about Probiotics...Thanks I will check it out.
  • Jeliwood
    Jeliwood Posts: 61
    You're not taking the prescription pills anymore but are you taking mortin or anything like that? I have TMJ and during the summer it's more uncomfortable because I swell so I take those types of pain medication. Then I started having issues... it turns out that mortin and the like causes those sorts of stomach issues. I know after I had 2 major surgeries on my gut even months after I was taking over the counter meds for the soreness.

    Also, are you taking a multivitamin? Most of them have iron in them and after a major surgery like that the iron can make it a WHOLE lot harder to go. Something else I learned the hard way.

    If you can soak in a bath, that can also ease the discomfort. I hope this helps with some different ideas.
  • tonyacoursey
    tonyacoursey Posts: 404 Member
    Miralax works wonders.
  • kim8184
    kim8184 Posts: 56 Member
    I had a Hysterectomy a few years ago and I don't remember being bloated or gassy or having an issue with bowl movements. Now that I've started to eat clean and low carb I find that I am not as regular as I should be. I know this confuses me because I try and incorporate veggies, fruit and whole grains all day long. I use Miralax and love it. I usually stir it in my morning coffee if I haven't went in a day or two, and this works pretty fast for me. Doesn't make it where you will have a problem in your undies, but it lets you know you should go potty. Wow, I think I've been spending too much time with my granddaughters', lol. Hope this helps.:smile:
  • EyeLikeTacos
    EyeLikeTacos Posts: 324 Member
    I would start out with Metamucil first and Probiotics.

    Then if that isn't working move to miralax...No more than a week.

    If that isn't working...see a gastrologist....

    I personally would not mess with colace or anything else.
  • osalkoby
    osalkoby Posts: 8
    Read up on the nutritional/intestinal benefits of kefir (both water and milk) then let me know if you're interested. I'll send you some, just pay the shipping.
    Here is a good place to start http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html
  • Daniella_89
    Daniella_89 Posts: 8
    If you are bloating or having gas after you eat things such as kashi or go lean crunch you could possibly have an intolerance to wheat. That is what happened to me. There are still a lot of things you can try to get your fibre that are gluten free that wont cause bloating/gas.

    For Me I use either 1) Chia seeds - they are very healthy for you and have fibre in them. I put some in yogurt and let them soften up a bit 2) I bought these all nature protein bars from popeyes supplements that again are VERY healthy and have 17-19g of fibre (all from a plant source) and are gluten free called quest protein bars 3) I use Quinoa flour to make some things and that has i think 4g of fibre

    There are many different options you can try.. Also try fruits such as Kiwi and Pineapple or Beans!!
  • autumnk921
    autumnk921 Posts: 1,374 Member
    Miralax is great...You can buy over the counter or get a prescription if that is cheaper for you...It's gentle enough to use every day if needed and children all the way up to senior citizens can use it...My 3yr olds pediatrician prescribed it for my son for issues he was having...I only give it to him when he is having constipation for a few days but it does help alot.... :)

    ETA: It is a non-stimulant as well, it just gets you regulated like fiber or metamucil...
  • jennyb612
    jennyb612 Posts: 83
    Similar problem here when pregnant. I used to love the fiber one bars but then I read about the specific type of Fiber in them (I think it was Chicory root?) and learned that the Fiber source is actually suspect and caused a lot of people gas and bloat sypmtoms rather than regularity. I immediately stopped eating them and tried metamucil capsules (up your dose slowly over a couple of days.) Probiotics and exersice help too.

    Good luck! and So sorry to her you're having trouble.
  • pinthin87
    pinthin87 Posts: 296 Member
    A good probiotic is Acidophilus. Nature's Bounty makes a good one. I take it everyday as I have problems with yeast. Not sure what state you live in but they sell it at CVS Pharmacy.
  • carriem73
    carriem73 Posts: 333 Member
    It has to be a female hormone thing, I swear- when I was on fertility meds, I was stopped up ALL THE TIME- now I notice the week I ovulate, and the week of my period- nothing I take helps to keep it from happening, but the Sunsweet Plum juice works wonders as a remedy- it really works, and can work FAST- but it when you are that miserable, it is welcomed!!!

    Good luck!
  • tubaman58
    tubaman58 Posts: 151
    The oldest remedy of all, eat an apple a day (or 2)
    Not the juice, not applesauce, but an apple.....
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    If you add lots of fiber suddenly, your body takes awhile to adjust.
  • Neurokitti
    Neurokitti Posts: 13
    Talk to your doctor in the first instance. It may be that you're still recovering (you'd be surprised how long this can take) and your doctor may want to prescribe something like lactulose or movicol. If you have a high fibre diet already, adding more fibre isn't going to make a difference.
  • jlemoore
    jlemoore Posts: 702 Member
    Do you have lower back pain? It could be that you are out of alignment. I have similar problems when I am not adjusted.
  • amandainez08
    amandainez08 Posts: 87 Member
    I'm not sure about the whole hysterectomy causing it, but I've had the same problem for almost a year now, if not longer. Mine was caused by my migraine medication. One of the side effects (which I did not know at the time) was gastrointestinal issues. Even though I got off of it, I'm STILL dealing with it. My OB-GYN said he thinks I may have IBS with a spastic colon. It has started to resolve ever since I changed my diet (which you probably already have anyway). No more sudden stomach cramps and no more sudden trips to the bathroom! Slowly, but surely. I'm not on any medication. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about it, though. See if changes in your body can affect your intestines/stomach, etc. I know your uterus is pretty close to all that, and with it not there anymore, maybe your stuff is just shifting around? I'm not a doctor, so I'd definitely go ask one! Lol!
  • MrsCCWoods
    MrsCCWoods Posts: 142 Member
    I'm having that same problem so eating fiber one bars & even trying Metamucil and it doesn't work. So I tried Milk Of Magnesia it seems to work oh and prune juice but I try to stay away from prune juice because of all the sugar in it
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    1. Drink lots of water

    2. Eat both kinds of fiber. There are 2 types of fiber - soluble & insoluble. You need both, but insoluble helps keep you regular.
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/fiber-health-benefits-11/insoluble-soluble-fiber

    3. Low fat diets will back things up

    4. Exercise helps

    5. Antibiotics screw up the balance needed to process foods ..... Activia/probiotics attempt to right this.

    Chicory root (AKA Inulin) found in some Fiber 1 products .... really tough for lots of people. I'd steer clear just to be safe.
  • looneytoni
    looneytoni Posts: 4
    WOW! ThanKs for sharing. It may be a icky subject but I'm glad u brought it up. BUT now I'm kinda worried. I have never been a 'regular' kind of person. I could go 2-3 days before I NEED to go. I'm only mildly active, I work a sit down job during the day and then online school work at night. If want to make myself go every day i have to use laxitives, and i've read that its not good to use too often. Now in my 40's, I have to take iron pills, which makes matters worse! UG!
    I've never brought this up w/my Dr. cause i figured this was normal as i'm always hearing women complain about this issue.

    But I did stuble upon the FIBER ONE bars, and do enjoy the taste, hate the gas, and thanks to the bloating I eat less and have lost weight. And the best part is that it does its job in about 4-6 hrs, so i have to plan accordingly.

    I do eat lots of veggies, but it seems lettuce slows things down for me for some reason. Is there a magic veggie out there that helps things along in a speedy way? I want to become a REGULAR kind of gal, but dont want to use pills or prune juice. Any other ideas?
  • mistigoodwin
    mistigoodwin Posts: 411 Member
    Thanks everyone!!! I will definately have some ideas/resources to go to next. I am somewhat active. I sit at work for 7 hrs a day but spend about 2 hours a day (at least) cooking cleaning and walk/jog approx. 12 miles per week. I forgot to ask my doctor at my 6 wk check up about this, but kinda figured it would just take some time to straighten out.

    To answer some of the questions:

    I am not taking anything now for pain, took hydro's for the first 6 days and ibruprofen a couple times in the first two weeks.

    My back hurts sometimes (should probably go see a chiro), kinda just relate that pain with a horrible experience with the epidural I got when I had my daughter.

    I try not to rely on juice for the problem because of the high amounts of sugar in it.

    But I did just check out the fiber amounts in my diet and it appears I am allowed 14 and have only been eating 9-11 so maybe just uping it will make a difference too.

    Thanks again. I'm off to do some reading and research for a little bit! :smile:
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    Things to note about fiber- don't try to up it too quickly. Changing from a low fiber diet to a high fiber diet suddenly can lead to painful gas and constipation.

    The kind of fiber you consume makes a difference. I find fruits, beans and grains do better than fiber bars and supplements.

    Yoga is also very helpful in this regard, too.
  • lhulewsky
    lhulewsky Posts: 50
    After my hysterectomy I had the same problem. My doctor said this was very common. Normally a womans intestines wrap up and around the uterus and with the uterus gone the intestines don't know what to do and just sort of flop around. She suggested Miralax but I never tried it. The advice nurse suggested warm prune juice which was helpful. If you are eating only 9 - 11 grams of fiber you are very low. I think the suggested fiber intake is around 30 which almost no one eats. I eat between 25 and 35 grams of fiber a day and I still have trouble sometimes. Drink plenty of water, this is vital. Increase your fiber slowly and see what happens. Miralax is probably also a good option. Hope you start to feel better soon.

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