Constipation

[belugalad]

I have been constipated quite a lot since diagnosis and changing my diet to low carb and have been taking Metformin for a few weeks,can anyone tell me if they have the same problems and are they having to take anything daily prescribed by a doctor such as Fybogel,as I'm wondering if taking a fibre supplement like that may be the way forward,I do eat a fair amount of vegetables and home made very chunky vegetable soup,so my diet is ok,I think.

I took 2 senna tablets last night but just a couple of small bits of matter popped out this morning,I best go and drink some more water,this is the only set back I'm haing,I was used to passing a motion a few times a day so it's quite a departure from that.

 

[Ljc]

That’s most unusual with Metformin as it usually has the opposite effect 😱. My dad needs to take Fybogel daily (prescribed) due to a bowel problem + poor appetite and occasionally needs some Lactulose too , personally I don’t like the laxatives that purge , I think the ones that carry more fluid into the bowel are better , but that’s just me .
Are you actually drinking enough.

If it carries on for much longer do check with your GP

 

[belugalad]

I probably can forget myself with the drinks sometimes,I've had a couple of pints this morning though and will continue,I have piles as well now due to straining,it's a good job, I had some cream for that.
My body must be missing copious amounts of baked beans

 

[belugalad]

I have 150g of full fat natural yoghurt in the moring,and often have cheese,had a few babybels yesterday,those mixed with a few walnuts perhaps that's enough fat to get a bit binded

 

[rebrascora]

I too have the same problem and I am also on Metformin 500mg twice a day.
I used to eat quite a lot of wholemeal bread and pasta before diagnosis and I think my body is missing that, together with eating a bit more protein.... like 2 eggs pretty much every day. I am eating more fresh veg now too but it is clearly not making up for the loss of grain fibre so I have now started using psyllium husk which is what is in Fybogel. I only started yesterday, so it is too early to say.... I have been having a bowel movement every 2-3 days in recent weeks and I went yesterday, so the psyllium has not worked it's magic yet today! The Metformin made me loose in the beginning and still gives me an occasional stomach cramp or explosive toilet visit.... TMI sorry!.... but mostly I am constipated.

 

[belugalad]

I too have the same problem and I am also on Metformin 500mg twice a day.
I used to eat quite a lot of wholemeal bread and pasta before diagnosis and I think my body is missing that, together with eating a bit more protein.... like 2 eggs pretty much every day. I am eating more fresh veg now too but it is clearly not making up for the loss of grain fibre so I have now started using psyllium husk which is what is in Fybogel. I only started yesterday, so it is too early to say.... I have been having a bowel movement every 2-3 days in recent weeks and I went yesterday, so the psyllium has not worked it's magic yet today! The Metformin made me loose in the beginning and still gives me an occasional stomach cramp or explosive toilet visit.... TMI sorry!.... but mostly I am constipated.

Thanks,I'm going to pop down the shop in a bit and get some dark rye ryvita and have a 1 of those at intervals during the day,I might do the same with prunes too but in small amounts due to the carbs and spread out on a few occasions through the day,like you I have been eating a lot more vegetables of late,I haven't had any explosive episodes yet,maybe I'm too low carb so the Metformin may not have enough sugars to expel,can I ask where did you buy your psyllium husk from and how and when do you take it?,I have seen it online in tablet and powder form

 

[rebrascora]

My sister gets it in capsule form and takes it mid morning with 2 glasses of water. I buy Regucol from Holland and Barrett in the form of a fibrous powder/husk. I stir it into a glass of water and drink it down and then follow it up with a glass of 2/3 water, 1/3 Lidl equivalent of Pepsi Max. I often dilute diet cola or lemonade like this to flavour water when I need to drink more than usual. It is really important with psyllium, to drink plenty of water with it. I sometimes dilute milk in the same way.... maybe I am just strange though!
I also eat very low carb but Metformin affects people in different ways. Flatulence is a common side effect and diarrhoea.... not a good combination together as it can be explosive, but thankfully I have never been caught short.
Personally I would be wary of the Ryvita but then I am trying to keep my BG low with the minimum insulin necessary, so not interested in eating additional carbs to get fibre when I have Regucol but will be interested to hear how you get on if you go that route.

 

[belugalad]

My sister gets it in capsule form and takes it mid morning with 2 glasses of water. I buy Regucol from Holland and Barrett in the form of a fibrous powder/husk. I stir it into a glass of water and drink it down and then follow it up with a glass of 2/3 water, 1/3 Lidl equivalent of Pepsi Max. I often dilute diet cola or lemonade like this to flavour water when I need to drink more than usual. It is really important with psyllium, to drink plenty of water with it. I sometimes dilute milk in the same way.... maybe I am just strange though!
I also eat very low carb but Metformin affects people in different ways. Flatulence is a common side effect and diarrhoea.... not a good combination together as it can be explosive, but thankfully I have never been caught short.
Personally I would be wary of the Ryvita but then I am trying to keep my BG low with the minimum insulin necessary, so not interested in eating additional carbs to get fibre when I have Regucol but will be interested to hear how you get on if you go that route.

Yes it was just a thought with the Ryvita,the doctor is going to call me this afternoon and I will see what he says,toiletry habits certainly make you worry,with the thought of impacting matter,I hope things improve for you,how often do you take that drink?

 

[belugalad]

The doctor has just prescribed something called Cosmocol which is a laxative to remove impactation so I wont be wearing any cream coloured chinos for a while ,I thought he would have given a fibre supplement but he's prescibed these that he says I can take every day,he's giving me 30 sachets,it says on the net that it can't be taken for long periods so I think I will need to ring again and see if there is an alternative,I shall speak to the pharmacist to see what they say,when I collect it

 

[rebrascora]

Good luck with that. I prefer to take a fibre supplement rather than a laxative but I am still waiting for the Regucol to work and I'm currently downing my second day's treatment of it (I take it once a day). I have used it before with success so hoping it will work. I don't feel like I am impacted as such, but just that things are not moving through my system as smoothly and regularly as I would like and passing it is hard work when it does happen!
I have been like this for a couple of months now so not concerned that it will get any worse and it is tolerable but would be nice if it improved.

 

[belugalad]

Good luck with that. I prefer to take a fibre supplement rather than a laxative but I am still waiting for the Regucol to work and I'm currently downing my second day's treatment of it (I take it once a day). I have used it before with success so hoping it will work. I don't feel like I am impacted as such, but just that things are not moving through my system as smoothly and regularly as I would like and passing it is hard work when it does happen!
I have been like this for a couple of months now so not concerned that it will get any worse and it is tolerable but would be nice if it improved.

I can only think he was trying to deal with the present problem rather than the cause but the way he suggested it could be used everyday made it sound otherwise,I would have thought myself that a fibre supplement would have been the thing to take at least in the future,I will take the dose anyway then ring back at some time and speak to someone else and ask for something that provides fibre

 

[rebrascora]

Dare I ask how it is going on this front (or should I say behind 😉)??
I had a movement today but I can't say there was any improvement... it was still 2 days worth and hard work. 😉 I have taken my Regucol again today so hopefully I will see some benefit tomorrow.

 

[belugalad]

Dare I ask how it is going on this front (or should I say behind 😉)??
I had a movement today but I can't say there was any improvement... it was still 2 days worth and hard work. 😉 I have taken my Regucol again today so hopefully I will see some benefit tomorrow.

Hi I had a bit of a plop yesterday but nothing of great note,to be honest I feel ok,in fact I must be feeling ok as I haven't been to collect the prescription yet as the day went so quickly today,and they didn't send a text to say it was ready so I forgot about it,it would appear to be a common problem,I hope it will settle in a little while

 

[belugalad]

Hi I had a bit of a plop yesterday but nothing of great note,to be honest I feel ok,in fact I must be feeling ok as I haven't been to collect the prescription yet as the day went so quickly today,and they didn't send a text to say it was ready so I forgot about it,it would appear to be a common problem,I hope it will settle in a little while,how long will your tub of Regucol last?

 

[rebrascora]

I think it usually lasts a couple of months but I bulk purchased last time it was on special offer so I have 5-6 months worth if I use it every day.
There is cheaper Pysillium Husk available but the H&B Regucol also has probiotics which previously have seemed to be beneficial but they were out of stock for a long time and since it came back into availability and I got this last batch, I'm not sure if they have changed the formulation but it hasn't been nearly as effective.

 

[Drummer]

It could be that you are so used to foods which do not digest well that you are expecting more residue to expel - but on low carb more of the food is digested, so you are not filling up, there just isn't much left to get rid of.

 

[belugalad]

It could be that you are so used to foods which do not digest well that you are expecting more residue to expel - but on low carb more of the food is digested, so you are not filling up, there just isn't much left to get rid of.

It could be,I hadn't even thought of that

 

[Ditto]

I don't take Metformin or anything (yet I should add) but do have diverticulitis so have to keep regular. I take a spoonful of Normacol with a pint of water every morning on getting up. I very rarely have any trouble. Dr Atkins suggest the Psyllium Husks which you can get in Holland & Barrett but I've never tried that. I've taken Normacol for years no problem. Make sure you get plenty of water and greens.

 

[belugalad]

I don't take Metformin or anything (yet I should add) but do have diverticulitis so have to keep regular. I take a spoonful of Normacol with a pint of water every morning on getting up. I very rarely have any trouble. Dr Atkins suggest the Psyllium Husks which you can get in Holland & Barrett but I've never tried that. I've taken Normacol for years no problem. Make sure you get plenty of water and greens.

Thanks,will do,is normacol a presciption thing

 

[rebrascora]

It could be that you are so used to foods which do not digest well that you are expecting more residue to expel - but on low carb more of the food is digested, so you are not filling up, there just isn't much left to get rid of.

I have found that before when I have dieted normally (ie for weight loss following a low GI plan) but this current situation is different and after two days I feel "overloaded" and there is double the normal size dense mass to pass (difficult not to supply TMI on a subject like this....sorry!). Sadly, the Regucol has not worked again today, at least not yet.

Not heard of Normacol but will assume it is a generic Regucol?