Grainy and fingernail ridges

[calicoharbor]

I have elimination issues.  I tend to be constantly mildly constipated.  It is completely laughable when all I ever read or hear is drink more water, digest more fiber, and get more exercise, which I have done religiously to no avail.  In fact fiber makes things worse.  I also find that I can not eat apples, bananas, green leafy vegetables (which means no salads), and of course no cheese or iron.  It is very frustrating to me, to not be able to eat good wholesome food.  

Currently my doctor has me on medication with side effects of constipation, which has extremely compounded an already existing condition.  He had me try otc remedies, which I hated all of them and I finally settled on 8oz of prune juice everyday.  However, I grew tired of ingesting such large amounts of prune juice and now have begun using Phillips Milk of Magnesia, 2 ½ tablespoons every night, unless I consume any of the above food items; in that case I increase the magnesia to 4 tablespoons.  I still find it frustrating that I have trouble consuming good wholesome food.

I have come to discover that my stools are very grainy, to which I wonder why.  I also ponder what the deep vertical ridges in my fingernails indicate.  I visualize that the grains in my intestines scrap the walls and the vertical ridges on my fingernails represent this as well.  I am curious of your thoughts.  

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Changes in the fingernails can be due to a variety of malabsorption syndromes.  Iron deficiency anemia can also lead to fingernail changes.  Finally, more widespread diseases like Crohn's disease and celiac disease may have fingernail changes as one of their symptoms.  

I would discuss diagnosis of these conditions with your personal physician.  A blood count, iron studies, endoscopy, and stool tests looking for malabsorption are amongst the tests that should be considered in the evaluation.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[yoshi]

here is a good site on your nails-
http://wi.essortment.com/fingernailsnutr_rjbo.htm
grainy stool,do you mean undigested food particles??

[calicoharbor]

No, not undigested food.  I don't know how else to describe.  It is not like seeds or nuts either.  Maybe more like cornmeal, sort of..

That is one of the better sites I have seen for fingernails, thanks for posting.  That site suggested that vertical ridges could indicate disorders as simple as iron deficiency, poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients, overall poor health.  Also, could be a result of vitamin deficiency, one of which is the B vitamins.

I can see maybe iron deficiency, since iron causes me so much trouble.  Although I have heard there is an iron that doesn't result in constipation, but I don't know what kind of iron that would be.  Well, at least it gives me something to think about, thanks.

[irisdp]

A related discussion, what have you learned? was started.