Please Help :(

[rawstrawberry]

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are having a rawsome day!

I am very frustrated and hope you brillant people have some great advice.

I am not overly over weight I weight about 120 pounds at 5'6.

I have been raw over 2 years. For the last 6 months or so my stomach has been distended looking like I am pregnant also tender to the touch. I though it was candida, cut out fruit, than fat, than tried food combining and on and on, nothing helped. Took supplements even from probiotics to other things.

I went to get an x-ray and although I have sorry for the graphic details at least 2-3 bowel movements a day all my intestines are filled with fecal matter but for the life of me no matter how much fiber, psyillium and thing I take it will not go away. I can't wear most of my clothes and I am getting very sad, I do not even want to see my boyfriend anymore because of the way I look.

Has anyone been through this or have any helpful advice as I sit here in tears.

Thanks
Raw Strawberry

[Arky]

Are you consuming enough pure water?

The problem with very high fibre foods such as flax and psyllium is that they are extremely absorbent - they require you to consume a considerable amount of liquid in order to keep them moving smoothly through the bowel.

Foods which are high in alkaline minerals (e.g. magnesium) are good for improving bowel transit time. Such foods include sweetcorn, sesame seeds and spinach.


J.

[eachpeachpearplum]

Is it possible you over did a fiber supplement with out enough water and have caused a blockage, this has happened to me? In that case I would recommend a perscribed laxative my daughter sometime has to take. It is VERY gentle and is designed to bring water to the stool. It is not absorbed into the blood stream. It is called Miralax - ask you Dr. about it.

I would ALWAYS try natural methods first but sometime you just need a stronger helping hand.

My 6 year old daughter has very little motility in part of her intestine and has been occationally using this since she was three. She is high raw and has extream difficulty passing any cooked or low fiber food.

Miralax comes as a white powder and is dissolved in liguid and has no taste and no grit. It can take a few days to work. Drink lots of liquids!

Good luck, I know how defeating constipation and bloating can be. :o

[D'vorah]

I really like Dr. Graham's stance. . . can you make a meal of it? If not, it's not a food for humans. In writing this, I'm thinking of the Psyllium. Psyllium isn't a food, and honestly, I think, as a suppliment, it does more harm than good, pulling water in and soaking it up.

If you're having two to three BM's a day, you don't need it anyway.

Maybe it would help others here trying to help if you could post what a day's intake looks like for you, what kinds of foods are you eating and how much?

Deborah

[Coriander74]

First off, you're a perfect weight for your height :)

Secondly, you can try holistic alternatives such as abdominal massage, herbal remedies, or even colonics, if you're comfortable with it. Talk to a holistic therapist or doctor, see what can be done.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon. I totally understand the feeling of being frustrated with your body.

[rawstrawberry]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Arky thanks I will try to make sure I eat more of those foods.
I drink about a gallon of spring water a day.

EPPP thanks I will talk to me doctor about that because no mater how much natural from foods fiber or natural supplements it is not helping.

D'vorah I agree but somtimes you just get desperate to get better. I might try a second opinion, I did see a acupunturist but no help either and my naturopath just reccommended probiotics.

I usually eat two green smoothies with more greens than fruit (greens are usually spinach or argula), I eat a big salad (spinach, peppers, broccoli, peppers, cucumber, sprouts, cauliflower, tomato etc.) with usually a quarter of avocado and say four pints of berries (blue, straw, rasp) or cherries or a couple grapefruit or peaches.

Twice a week I will have some deydrated treats or raw cake.

Raw Strawberry

[adrienne]

Could it be stress? If you have been very stressed lately, this could cause abdominal/intestinal issues. Try massage, acupuncture, deep breathing (into the belly), yoga, qi gong or some kind of soothing excersise.
Also, try some warming foods such as ginger, root veggies, greens. Sometimes (according to Chinese medicine) too many 'cold' foods can cause 'spleen qi deficiency' and one of the symptoms is bloating/abdominal distention. Spleen qi defiency is also compounded by worry and over-thinking/ruminating.
Hope this helps.
Adrienne
(mom and acupuncturist!)

[Lay-Lay]

hope you feel better soon.

[rawstrawberry]

Thanks Coriander I think a colonic might be a great idea.

Adrienne thanks some great feedback I will try to incorporate more ginger and I work out, do a little yoga but I am a constant thinker and find that hard sometimes to turn off. I did try acupuncture with an amazing lady although I am sure it did some other great things, it didn't help. Thanks for the Spleen qi defiency I am going to look it up in Google and find out a little more than the the great advice you already mentioned.

Thanks for the thought Lay-Lay

[Lay-Lay]

I have used colonics in the past and they are very effective (actually I used to give colonics too -colon tharapist)

[Gosia]

It seems to me that your tummy is not coping with whatever you are feeding it. My recommendation would be to eat only easy to digest foods (such as fruit, tender greens) , preferably in the form of simple well combined meals (best - mono, if you like eating like this), and only when you are really really hungry. Avoid dehydrated foods at least until you get better. Also, starchy foods are hard to digest.

What once worked for me was eating apples only for a few days, until my body regulated itself (things started moving on the second day, and on the third I observed a great improvement). In longer term, I would recommend that you include plenty of juicy fruit in your diet.

Take care,
Gosia

[juliebove]

Just a thought, but when was the last time you had a gynocological exam? It is possible that there is something going on with your female parts that is causing this. My SIL found out that she had problems in that department after going through months of thinking it was a stomach problem. She is recovering now from an operation and doing much better.

[rawstrawberry]

Hi Gosia, you are right! I know I am not properly absorping nutrients. I appreciate your advice I think this weekend I will try mono eating. Perhaps apples and ginger yum!

Hi Juliebove thanks for the post. Great thought I did have the works done a couple of weeks ago but after the xray the best advice the doctor could give me was to eat a bran muffin every morning when I explained I was raw he sat there in shock asking me do you eat bread, no, do you eat pasta, no that went on for like 10 minutes. LOL It probably is a good idea to get a second opinion.

[spicyfull]

How is your WATER intake. Where there is fiber, there must be water or the pipes will clog.............

[rawstrawberry]

Thanks spicyfull clogged they are I drink about a gallon a water a day but may try to increase a little more couldn't hurt.

[juliebove]

Thanks spicyfull clogged they are I drink about a gallon a water a day but may try to increase a little more couldn't hurt.

This is true about the water. I had a neighbor girl who suffered from chronic constipation. What happened in her case was that she would have the problem, then not want to use the toilet because it hurt. So she kept holding it in until it all backed up. The Dr. told her mom to give her Kerns Apricot Nectar. That stuff was very powerful and got everything going. So the mom just kept a few cans of it around and would give her an ounce or two as needed. It's not raw though. Perhaps you could try eating some apricots or juicing them? Another trick is hot water with lemon in it.

If it is indeed intestinal blockage, there could be something causing it that is not related to what you are eating or drinking. I never met my paternal grandpa. He died because of intestinal blockage. The blockage itself didn't cause his death. The subsequent infection he got following the surgery did. This was back in the days before we had antibiotics.

[rawpriestess]

I am so sorry you are going through this.

I have nothing more to add, as it seems like you have some excellent advice.

wishing you immediate healing.

[codajess]

Eat a couple pineapples over the course of a couple days. WHEW!

[kmk81]

I had the same problem and started getting health problems because of it. I had to go see a colon specialist and now i'm feelin soooo much better.

*Like everyone is saying: DRINK A WHOLE LOTTA H2O!!! (not the regular 8 cups or whatever but 1-2 gallons...yes I mean GALLONS)
*Massage your stomach for at least 40 mins (try to at least). Your stomach should feel mushy not hard (not unless you have a six-pack or something). It's harden stool around the walls of your colon that you need to break down. Using the ends of your fingers press. If you feel any hardness or even pain then that is your problem area/s.
*Eat vegetables (NO TOMATOS), bananas, and avocados ONLY. Sorry but no fruits, nuts, seeds, or anything else. Fruit and other stuff have things in them that won't digest well or has too much acid in them.

Do this with the fiber or whatever it is you are taking. Just try it for a month or even for a week. You'll see a huge difference. I never knew I had sooo much junk inside of me!

[codajess]

I had the same problem and started getting health problems because of it. I had to go see a colon specialist and now i'm feelin soooo much better.

*Like everyone is saying: DRINK A WHOLE LOTTA H2O!!! (not the regular 8 cups or whatever but 1-2 gallons...yes I mean GALLONS)
*Massage your stomach for at least 40 mins (try to at least). Your stomach should feel mushy not hard (not unless you have a six-pack or something). It's harden stool around the walls of your colon that you need to break down. Using the ends of your fingers press. If you feel any hardness or even pain then that is your problem area/s.
*Eat vegetables (NO TOMATOS), bananas, and avocados ONLY. Sorry but no fruits, nuts, seeds, or anything else. Fruit and other stuff have things in them that won't digest well or has too much acid in them.

Do this with the fiber or whatever it is you are taking. Just try it for a month or even for a week. You'll see a huge difference. I never knew I had sooo much junk inside of me!


No fruit???

[LisaDS88]

This did wonders for me!!!.... www.drnatura.com .....I lost inches off my stomach and sides in a few days....all from backed up bowel movements. I always had about 3 or 4 bms a day anyway, but I did this to get rid of the stomach bulge that never seemed to move. I was SHOCKED that my intestines were so backed up, even when going to the bathroom 3 to 4 times a day already. After doing this a couple days I would put my hands on my hips and wouldn't "recognize" myself I had lost so many inches so quickly. It's scary to think what is "in there."

Drinking too little water when having fiber can make you get backed up and dehydrated, but drinking too much water with it can dilute the fiber and make it lose it's effect while making you bloated. A gallon may be too much.

[vgloveforlife]

What ingredients are in the colon cleanses from Drnatura? and what what type of herbs can I use to cleanse the colon?

[LisaDS88]

Drnatura has a bunch of things in it. Just reading their website is probably better than I can explain. ..... www.drnatura.com .....I know that it's three things you take.... herbal capsules that are suppose to help rid parasites, a fiber blend you mix in water, and an herbal tea you drink at night that helps promote the wave-like movements of the colon. All three products work together. There were a few days during the cleanse where I skipped one of the three and it didn't work. When I took the fiber and didn't have the tea I just got bloated and didn't have a BM. But then one time I didn't have fiber and the capsules, but had the tea and I didn't have a BM either. But all together, the tea was very effective for me! You drink it at night, and it always makes me go a LOT right in the morning. (which I always did in the morning anyway, but now it's just a lot, lot more at one time)

[rawstrawberry]

Your right Julieabove I will try adding maybe another gallon thanks.
Thanks for the post RP, postive thoughts help too!!
Codajess pineapple, yum thanks for that.
Kmk81 thanks for passing on that advice, I wll try it. I am glad to hear you are feeling better. I think I will do apples, ginger and pineapple on the weekend and do all veggies next week.
Lisads88 get out!!!! You rock, running to get credit card LOL. It sure couldn't help to try that too!

You guys are so amazing you give me hope!! I really needed it. :o)

[LisaDS88]

Glad you are going to try DrNatura. Be sure to follow the instructions VERY carefully. It's a great cleanse and does amazing things for me, but only when I follow it 100%. Days that I missed something, drank too little or even TOO MUCH water didn't help. I think it says drink 6 to 8 glasses of water, I drank about 2 and 1/2 or 3 liters a day. I steep the tea for longer at night now, but you have to adjust that to your liking. When I don't steep it long enough I don't see results in the morning, but when I do it too much I will constantly feel like I have to go to the bathroom when I really don't. But if you follow what they say carefully, it's a pretty gentle but extremely effective cleanse. It took about 3 days once I started to "get things moving," but it took my boyfriend over a week..... everybody is different. Good luck and let me know how it goes!

[rawstrawberry]

Thanks for those extra tips Lisads88 I will keep you posted on how it goes :)

[misslinda]

hmmm,

the process is not a quick simple fix. like Gosia mentioned soft foods is a great idea. I would even add pureed green to help rebuid your HCL. Add in probiotics but before bed time so them have time while you are asleep to "work" stay hydrated and great blood flowing exercises. make sure your last meal is at least 3 hours before bed. Massage around the tailbone stimulates bowels.

It takes consistency and trying too many things complicates the matter. keep us posted ;)

[rawstrawberry]

Thanks Misslinda, you are right it has been like this for 6 months or more so unfortantely there will be no quick fix *darn* LOL Your advice is well taken.

Raw Strawberry