Learning the hard way - perhaps I should give up alcohol !!

[kentish maid]

With a history of reflux and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I have had to adapt my diet to avoid triggers - that has meant avoiding foods that are hard to digest – like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, beans, onions and dried fruit, and certain acidic fruits. Now it seems that if I lower my carbs one of the side effects is constipation, and yes you've probably guessed it, the cure for constipation is ..... eat all those foods I have, historically been told to avoid !!!! Add to this the 'helpful' DN who said I should go low fat. It's a minefield out there. One I am slowly finding my way through.

 

[Sally W]

Have you read Michael Mosley Clever Gut Diet? He talks about digestion and one of the things he recommends is inulin powder. I’ve starting taking one teaspoon a day in drink. It’s certainly made a difference to me. I took it initially as he alleges it helps with viscerally fat. Might be worth checking the book out though. Lots of interesting suggestions about what to eat.

 

[kentish maid]

Have you read Michael Mosley Clever Gut Diet? He talks about digestion and one of the things he recommends is inulin powder. I’ve starting taking one teaspoon a day in drink. It’s certainly made a difference to me. I took it initially as he alleges it helps with viscerally fat. Might be worth checking the book out though. Lots of interesting suggestions about what to eat.

Thanks Sally, will look into that. GP has given me lactulose, which I am reluctant to take as grandson became rather reliant on it and as I have to adapt to new eating habits I would rather not go down that route. (and yes he knew I was diabetic, and I have read lactulose is unsuitable for diabetics!!)

 

[Edgar]

That's news to me. I'm Type 2 and I was given Lactulose!

 

[kentish maid]

Edgar, I noticed it said "Since lactulose solution contains galactose and lactose, it should be used cautiously in patients with diabetes" I would like to think our GP's are aware of us as individuals and make considered judgements, but I was unable to see my own GP today so am less sure.

 

[Drummer]

I am a bit concerned that you were told low fat - it is the food group almost invisible to our insulin needs and it really smooths the way once we eat it - plus it keeps the gall bladder from stagnating and stones forming - both constipation and gall stones are renowned for being painful.

 

[kentish maid]

I am a bit concerned that you were told low fat - it is the food group almost invisible to our insulin needs and it really smooths the way once we eat it - plus it keeps the gall bladder from stagnating and stones forming - both constipation and gall stones are renowned for being painful.

Well, to be honest, I have rather tended to ignore the low fat part. Lunch pre diabetes was probably soup, cheese sandwich, crisps, and possibly a cake !!! Told the DN back when I first saw her in October that I had ditched the cake and crisps, now had Ryvita and cheese with soup. She said I should ditch the cheese, which I ignored. Having cut the carbs and started steadily losing weight I felt dropping the cheese was a bit excessive

 

[Drummer]

I would never have been able to eat and of the pre D lunch except the cheese - always had to do low carb to maintain weight.
Even now Ryvitas are not even on the horizon. When I do eat lunch, like today as I didn't wake until noon - it was sausages - even they are special order from the butcher.

 

[kentish maid]

I would never have been able to eat and of the pre D lunch except the cheese - always had to do low carb to maintain weight.
Even now Ryvitas are not even on the horizon. When I do eat lunch, like today as I didn't wake until noon - it was sausages - even they are special order from the butcher.

Guess I have been reasonably lucky with my weight over the years. The only time I went on a diet it was back in the late 70's, after my son was born, and yes, you probably guessed, it was the then popular Hip and Thigh diet (Low fat). Been a bit of a steep leaning curve this time round

 

[mikeyB]

I too have an interesting balancing act - though T1 I still do low carb, but having Ulcerative Colitis I need to avoid high fibre, and having chronic pancreatitis I have to avoid fat or take lots of Creon. Since developing Parkinsonism, which slows me down, it also slows my gut down, resulting in constipation.

I self treat by reducing or eliminating Creon, and having a fry-up. Works a treat. If you’re going to have multiple conditions, make sure you can play them against each other. Makes life easier, though possibly shorter🙂

 

[trophywench]

@kentish maid - can I ask - how much PLAIN water do you drink? - only because lack of that simple thing can cause 'hard' (or just 'harder') stools to form and cause constipation without any other factor also being present. Don't think I need to ask mikeyB, cos with his background he's most unlikely to be unaware.

 

[kentish maid]

I too have an interesting balancing act - though T1 I still do low carb, but having Ulcerative Colitis I need to avoid high fibre, and having chronic pancreatitis I have to avoid fat or take lots of Creon. Since developing Parkinsonism, which slows me down, it also slows my gut down, resulting in constipation.

I self treat by reducing or eliminating Creon, and having a fry-up. Works a treat. If you’re going to have multiple conditions, make sure you can play them against each other. Makes life easier, though possibly shorter🙂

That is certainly a complicated balancing act Mike.

 

[kentish maid]

@kentish maid - can I ask - how much PLAIN water do you drink? - only because lack of that simple thing can cause 'hard' (or just 'harder') stools to form and cause constipation without any other factor also being present. Don't think I need to ask mikeyB, cos with his background he's most unlikely to be unaware.

Had to go and find a jug to work that out 🙂 @trophywench I have 3 x 400ml glasses of tap water a day, sometimes more

 

[trophywench]

Well that should be enough then with other drinks, so we can forget that one with you too! LOL

Pete was given Dulcolax to come out of hospital with after he had his prostatectomy cos being bunged isn't good for you when you've had anything done 'down there' especially - but it sat in the kitchen cabinet until one of the 40+ yo daughters had been bunged for quite a while and was moaning it about it one day here (of course she hadn't tried anything else, she reckons she never has any time to consider her own health and doesn't accept the fact she needs to, hasn't ever accepted it even when the GP called an ambulance to take her into hospital when he had correctly diagnosed her with meningitis) No idea whether she tried it or whether it did the trick - so I've no idea whether it works or not!

 

[kentish maid]

Well that should be enough then with other drinks, so we can forget that one with you too! LOL

Pete was given Dulcolax to come out of hospital with after he had his prostatectomy cos being bunged isn't good for you when you've had anything done 'down there' especially - but it sat in the kitchen cabinet until one of the 40+ yo daughters had been bunged for quite a while and was moaning it about it one day here (of course she hadn't tried anything else, she reckons she never has any time to consider her own health and doesn't accept the fact she needs to, hasn't ever accepted it even when the GP called an ambulance to take her into hospital when he had correctly diagnosed her with meningitis) No idea whether she tried it or whether it did the trick - so I've no idea whether it works or not!

Must admit that in the months before I was diagnosed I probably cut down on my fluid intake as I was getting fed up with getting took short when out with the dog. When I went on my DEREK course before Christmas I realised 2 things - I probably wasn't drinking enough, and I seemed to be eating when I was thirsty (if that makes sense). So now I fill a glass with water when I have a meal, and make sure it is empty before the next meal. Usually have 3 or four cups of tea a day.

 

[kentish maid]

Thumbing through my diary looking for something health unrelated I noticed the word 'constipation'. I knew I had problems earlier in the year but hadn't thought of connecting the two. The first occasion was after a Mothers Day meal at my sons when I had several glasses of Prosecco. This last time it was following the Easter weekend, when I had several glasses of white wine over a two day period. Now I am guessing that on those days I probably didn't drink as much water, and that, combined with the effects of the alcohol, I dehydrated a bit. Note to self, drink more water on days I drink alcohol