Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Madeleine I developed issues with digestive motility when my upper GI dysfunctions materialized 6+ years ago. I've researched peristalsis, and had several discussions with my gastroenterologist and neurologist. Here's what I've learned. Actually there is a wide range of " normal " when it comes to bowel movements. It can vary from several times a day to once a week. The critical issue for you is whether you are feeling any discomforts from not having a bowel movement every day. If you aren't feeling any discomfort or aren't feeling toxic to some degree, then having a bowel movement every 5 to 7 days is normal for you. Remember that being on SCD means we digest food much more thoroughly, so there is less volume being eliminated. We get plenty of fiber from SCD foods. Most of it is soluble, but we still get insoluble fiber in the form of cellulose even in cooked veggies. As a matter of fact I have to super careful with fiber now that I have Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, so I have to limit or avoid many of the SCD foods because their fiber content is too high for my digestive tolerance. I routinely check the nutritional content of a " new " food when I want to try something different. Peristalsis is driven by the nerve-muscle connection, so if you are experiencing issues with your nervous system or endocrinological system, then you can expect an impact on peristalsis. There are tests that look at rates of peristalsis throughout your digestive tract, so you might want to ask your doctor for some of them. You might need an increase in hormones or serotonin levels to help with peristalsis. Or you are right where you need to be in terms of waste elimination. Kim M. SCD 6 years > > I have a movement every 5-7 days; no constipation or diarrhea. It seems > that this must be unhealthy. I've read through all the peristalsis > posts, and one says that we get plenty of fiber on this diet, but I > don't see where that would come from, despite eating fruits and veggies > every day. Magnesium and vitamin C used to help with constipation, but > that's not the problem, so I'm looking for new ideas. > > I'm not taking any meds (in fact I've managed to keep away from > doctors), so suggestions for natural remedies are appreciated. I WILL > try the fire breath. > > I found this diet after years of GF eating punctuated by occasional IBS > outbursts; my diagnosis has been 26 years of chronic fatigue syndrome. > I switched to the SCD a few weeks ago, and already my energy is almost > normal. > > Madeleine > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 Kim - Thanks for your clarity and knowledge. I'm not having any symptoms at all, so maybe this is my new normal. I didn't realize that on SCD we digest food more thoroughly; that explains a lot. Madeleine > > I developed issues with digestive motility when my upper GI dysfunctions materialized 6+ years ago. I've researched peristalsis, and had several discussions with my gastroenterologist and neurologist. Here's what I've learned. > > Actually there is a wide range of " normal " when it comes to bowel movements. It can vary from several times a day to once a week. The critical issue for you is whether you are feeling any discomforts from not having a bowel movement every day. If you aren't feeling any discomfort or aren't feeling toxic to some degree, then having a bowel movement every 5 to 7 days is normal for you. > > Remember that being on SCD means we digest food much more thoroughly, so there is less volume being eliminated. > > We get plenty of fiber from SCD foods. Most of it is soluble, but we still get insoluble fiber in the form of cellulose even in cooked veggies. > > As a matter of fact I have to super careful with fiber now that I have Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, so I have to limit or avoid many of the SCD foods because their fiber content is too high for my digestive tolerance. I routinely check the nutritional content of a " new " food when I want to try something different. > > Peristalsis is driven by the nerve-muscle connection, so if you are experiencing issues with your nervous system or endocrinological system, then you can expect an impact on peristalsis. There are tests that look at rates of peristalsis throughout your digestive tract, so you might want to ask your doctor for some of them. You might need an increase in hormones or serotonin levels to help with peristalsis. > > Or you are right where you need to be in terms of waste elimination. > > Kim M. > SCD 6 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2010 Report Share Posted July 22, 2010 I went from extreme 'd' for years to normal to extreme 'c' now. My doctor prescribed Amitiza today for IBS. Does anyone have experience with this? I've never heard of it or don't remember if I have. I drink daily smoothies and thought maybe not enough water or too much fiber but I just don't know. Regular.normal would be nice at some point ;-). Thanks, debbie 41 cd dx 2002 Kim -Thanks for your clarity and knowledge. I'm not having any symptoms atall, so maybe this is my new normal. I didn't realize that on SCD wedigest food more thoroughly; that explains a lot. Madeleine>> I developed issues with digestive motility when my upper GIdysfunctions materialized 6+ years ago. I've researched peristalsis,and had several discussions with my gastroenterologist and neurologist. Here's what I've learned.>> Actually there is a wide range of " normal " when it comes to bowelmovements. It can vary from several times a day to once a week. Thecritical issue for you is whether you are feeling any discomforts from not having a bowel movement every day. If you aren't feeling anydiscomfort or aren't feeling toxic to some degree, then having a bowelmovement every 5 to 7 days is normal for you.>> Remember that being on SCD means we digest food much more thoroughly, so there is less volume being eliminated.>> We get plenty of fiber from SCD foods. Most of it is soluble, but westill get insoluble fiber in the form of cellulose even in cookedveggies.>> As a matter of fact I have to super careful with fiber now that I have Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, so I have to limit or avoid many of theSCD foods because their fiber content is too high for my digestivetolerance. I routinely check the nutritional content of a " new " food when I want to try something different.>> Peristalsis is driven by the nerve-muscle connection, so if you areexperiencing issues with your nervous system or endocrinological system,then you can expect an impact on peristalsis. There are tests that look at rates of peristalsis throughout your digestive tract, so you mightwant to ask your doctor for some of them. You might need an increase inhormones or serotonin levels to help with peristalsis.>> Or you are right where you need to be in terms of waste elimination. >> Kim M.> SCD 6 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 23, 2010 Report Share Posted July 23, 2010 Debbie I used Amitiza for about 6 months a few years ago. I was on low-dose Zelnorm for a few years until the FDA pulled it from the market. My gastroenterologist asked me to try Amitiza as an alternative. I took a low dose of this as well, just once a day, and continued to use a lower dose of Miralax as well, on the advice of my doctor. Amitiza was effective for about 5 months, although it didn’t do as good a job as Zelnorm did with peristalsis in my upper GI. However I suddenly began experiencing severe and systemic joint pain, not quite as severe as when I eat dairy or take a calcium supplement, but still bad enough that I knew I had to discover what was triggering it. I eventually stopped taking Amitiza, just in case that was the culprit, and found that within a few days my joint pain disappeared and I started feeling so much better. So, Amitiza isn’t tolerated by my body – which is not surprising to me, story of my life! If my immune system doesn’t respond immediately to something, it usually catches up at some point by developing a sensitivity [sigh]. I was disappointed, of course, but I’ve managed to find ways to improve my digestive motility without either Amitiza or Zelnorm (food choices, supplementing magnesium, using Miralax, boosting my electrolytes, time on SCD…). Amitiza works in a similar fashion to Miralax, it is an osmotic laxative although using a slightly different mechanism than Miralax. It is certainly a different mechanism from Zelnorm. Amitiza retains more water in the stools so things move more readily given whatever level of peristalsis you have. I would certainly suggest you give it a try, might work well for you. I’ve talked with several people who find Amitiza helps them. Just pay attention to your body’s signals, in case problems develop after a month or two of use. Kim M. SCD 6 years Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I went from extreme 'd' for years to normal to extreme 'c' now. My doctor prescribed Amitiza today for IBS. Does anyone have experience with this? I've never heard of it or don't remember if I have. I drink daily smoothies and thought maybe not enough water or too much fiber but I just don't know. Regular.normal would be nice at some point ;-). Thanks, debbie 41 cd dx 2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2010 Report Share Posted July 24, 2010 I took it once yesterday. I will probably wait until later to try it again since I've been sick anyway. I've had extreme nausea--after taking this worse nausea and several bathroom trips. This was one at the lower doseage. I will keep it though in case I keep having problems. I'm sure a lot of it was feeling as bad as I've felt since I first was dx'd (bad, bad, bad lol). Thanks, Debbie 41 cd Debbie I used Amitiza for about 6 months a few years ago. I was on low-dose Zelnorm for a few years until the FDA pulled it from the market. My gastroenterologist asked me to try Amitiza as an alternative. I took a low dose of this as well, just once a day, and continued to use a lower dose of Miralax as well, on the advice of my doctor. Amitiza was effective for about 5 months, although it didn’t do as good a job as Zelnorm did with peristalsis in my upper GI. However I suddenly began experiencing severe and systemic joint pain, not quite as severe as when I eat dairy or take a calcium supplement, but still bad enough that I knew I had to discover what was triggering it. I eventually stopped taking Amitiza, just in case that was the culprit, and found that within a few days my joint pain disappeared and I started feeling so much better. So, Amitiza isn’t tolerated by my body – which is not surprising to me, story of my life! If my immune system doesn’t respond immediately to something, it usually catches up at some point by developing a sensitivity [sigh]. I was disappointed, of course, but I’ve managed to find ways to improve my digestive motility without either Amitiza or Zelnorm (food choices, supplementing magnesium, using Miralax, boosting my electrolytes, time on SCD…). Amitiza works in a similar fashion to Miralax, it is an osmotic laxative although using a slightly different mechanism than Miralax. It is certainly a different mechanism from Zelnorm. Amitiza retains more water in the stools so things move more readily given whatever level of peristalsis you have. I would certainly suggest you give it a try, might work well for you. I’ve talked with several people who find Amitiza helps them. Just pay attention to your body’s signals, in case problems develop after a month or two of use. Kim M. SCD 6 years Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I went from extreme 'd' for years to normal to extreme 'c' now. My doctorprescribed Amitiza today for IBS. Does anyone have experience with this? I've never heard of it or don't remember if I have. I drink daily smoothiesand thought maybe not enough water or too much fiber but I just don't know.Regular.normal would be nice at some point ;-). Thanks,debbie 41 cd dx 2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2010 Report Share Posted July 24, 2010 Haven't you been on SCD for several years now? That's really too bad that your symptoms have come back full force :-(. Holly Crohn's SCD 12/01/08 > > I took it once yesterday. I will probably wait until later to try it again > since I've been sick anyway. I've had extreme nausea--after taking this > worse nausea and several bathroom trips. This was one at the lower > doseage. I will keep it though in case I keep having problems. I'm sure a > lot of it was feeling as bad as I've felt since I first was dx'd (bad, bad, > bad lol). > > Thanks, > Debbie 41 cd > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2010 Report Share Posted July 24, 2010 I hope this resolves quickly for you ! PJ > > > > I took it once yesterday. I will probably wait until later to try it again > > since I've been sick anyway. I've had extreme nausea--after taking this > > worse nausea and several bathroom trips. This was one at the lower > > doseage. I will keep it though in case I keep having problems. I'm sure a > > lot of it was feeling as bad as I've felt since I first was dx'd (bad, bad, > > bad lol). > > > > Thanks, > > Debbie 41 cd > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 Do not be alarmed ;-). I started the diet 12/05. I was very strict and did so well for a long time. There have been circumstances kind of beyond my control (financial and gynecological) that have kept me on and off prescription iron pills which caused further problems. Now, I've had a round of tests--one to see if I'm celiac and even if I'm not, I've proven to myself I do better (10x better for some reason) pretending I'm one ;-). So now I'll probably get iron shots and be very careful with what I eat and get back on track. I do not digest regular food for whatever reason even if the tests come back all normal. Very weird but I have to follow the least painful path or something. Basically I went off the diet because I felt like I could and everything was kind of messed up anyway due to the reasons I mentioned above (financial and irregular/heavy bleeding/iron pills, no control!, etc.) and it's landed me back here starting over which it's ok--Marilyn's pot roast and steamed zucchini sound really good about now as 'dog-sick' as I've been. It's not like it's a bad diet <g>. Debbie 41 cd I hope this resolves quickly for you !PJ > >> > I took it once yesterday. I will probably wait until later to try it again> > since I've been sick anyway. I've had extreme nausea--after taking this> > worse nausea and several bathroom trips. This was one at the lower > > doseage. I will keep it though in case I keep having problems. I'm sure a> > lot of it was feeling as bad as I've felt since I first was dx'd (bad, bad,> > bad lol).> > > > Thanks,> > Debbie 41 cd> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.