The cause of my consitpation?

[Mon950]

I suffer from constipation and need to remove faeces manually. I often feel uncomfortable after eating so I don't eat much at all (approx 1 tablespoon of food three times a day) and also feel like there is a mass of faeces in my bowel. I also have the following health problems:

- structural scoliosis in the lumbar area
- tilted pelvis

I am also have a weak bladder and absent period. I do not know whether these problems are due to the tilt in my pelvis/ scoliosis or food sensitivities diagnosed by a chiropractor/ kinesiologist.

I have had a colonoscopy and i do not have any polyps or abnormalities. I have seen a traditional chinese medicine practitioner and tried chinese herbs. These helped to soften the stools but I still found it hard to evacuate completely. Laxatives have the same affect. I eat a high fibre diet but that doesn't seem to help my constipation.

I have seen a chiropractor/ kinesiologist who diagnosed food sensitivities through kinesiology. I was told to eliminate the following foods: red meat, pork and pig derivativies, wheat, plain flour, mushrooms, mock meat, dairy, avoid chocolate, coffee, sugar, soy products, and limit alcohol. I am still constipated after eliminating these foods.

In your opinion, could you please tell me if my constipation is likely to be related to my structural problems of the spine and pelvis, or food sensitivity. Do you also know if eliminating these foods is necessary (if so, which ones), and whether kinesiology is an effective way of diagnosing food sensitivities.


Thank you.

[marymagdeline]

First of all, I'm so very sorry that you are suffering so much.  I am a nutritionist.  I also have suffered with severe bowel problems (including constipation for most of my adult life).  The only person who can tell you if your constipstion is mostly due to your structual problems, is a doctor.  I assume that you have already seen a GOOD gastroenterologist.  If you haven't, do se immediately.  You need to have a test done called a "colonic transit study" and another one called a "defacating proctogram" (sp?).  The gastroenterologist will suggest these, I'm sure.  I have seen many chriopractoer who do muscle testing (a.k.a. kinesiology).  It NEVER worked for me.  As a result, I personally would not rely on it.  Get yourself a book called, "What Would Jesus Eat" by Dr. Don Colbert.  Follow this program.  Everyone in the world should, and there was once a time when everyone in the world did.  Limiting your intake of animal products (i.e. meat and dairy) and increasing your intake of whole, natural, foods (whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, and also raw vegetable salads, raw fruits, beans, nuts and seeds) will help your bowels.  And make pure water your beverage of choice, always.  it is very unlikely that food sensitivities are what is causing your constipation.  If indeed you really have food sensitivities.  One time, when I lost a lot of wt. (I went from 120 to 95 and I'm 5'5) my periods stopped completely.  If your underweight (? ), this could be why your periods are non existant.  I wish you all the best.  Good luck!    

[marymagdeline]

In case your wondering, the people doing the muscle testing always thought that their tests were accurate.  But I always found out later that they weren't.  I would not rely on this.

[Jersey78]

I was reading your response to some people & seen u had said youve had severe bowel probs and had lost weight. I too have had severe bowel probs and chronic constipation my whole life, & im 45 now. I also have lost weight (not intentional). Im 5'4" and got down to 95lbs.. Im abt 100lbs rite now, but im tryin really hard to gain weight, Ive been drinkin Ensure Plus, and eatn high calorie foods. But Im getn so limited on what I CAN eat, that Im hopeing thats y the weight loss...   Its nothin 4 me to go 10-12 days without having a BM. Everything has gotten much worse as i get older. I was diagnosed with an enlarged & spastic colon when I was 8. Then because of my ongoing symptoms thruout the yrs, theyve continued to say that I have IBS. Theyve prescribed drugs that i never took that later got recalled. Im a firm believer in tryin to fix the problem, not put a band-aid on it! Besides every medicine that would be prescribed usually causes something else. The only time I could count on havin a BM was if I got really nervous or when I was on my period. But now that doesnt happen much either. Now if I get really nervous, it will just cause cramping & twisting of the colon with not alot of results. Oh btw, I was told when I was 23 and had tests run, that I had the stomach of a 70yr old. That I had a redundant bowel, That it does alot of looping, and makes things hard to get thru. But when I had a cat scan a couple yrs ago, THAT Dr said the layout of my colon looked ok.. So confusing! I wondered b4 about the theory of overgrowth of yeast, because of recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Everytime I take an antibiotic, Id get one, and now get them without takin them. Valerie Saxion on TBN got me to thinkin that maybe this could be my prob also.Since u know abt Don Colbert, I assume u know abt her also. I cant eat most fruits & vegetables, becuz it causes so much pain & gas. I dont drink milk 4 this reason. Ive cut so much out of my diet, becuz of this, Im getn to the point I dont know what to eat anymore. I was wondering about your condition & experiences, and the weight loss. I used to weigh between 105-110lbs from the time I was 15-33yrs old, & was always a sweet finatic, & never gained weight. Then all of a sudden I gained abt 25 lbs within a yr, for no apparent reason. I was way more active than Id ever been, worked 2 jobs, and went out dancing every weekend. No drinking. I was unhappy with the weight gain, so I tried to lose weight, by just watchin what I ate, drinking nothing but water, no pop, no juice etc. Would only lose a couple lbs. That lasted abt 5 or 6 yrs of weighing abt 125-132lbs. then weight started coming off abt 5 yrs ago, when I wasnt trying anymore. Now to get u up to speed.. For the last almost 3 yrs, Ive had this "THROAT GROWLING" thing goin on that no dr can seem to tell me what it is. In fact they act like theyve never heard of it b4! Even the G.I. Dr...It happens right after I swallow water, or even my own saliva, CONSTANTLY! Ive done it FOR the Drs so they could hear it and they look dumbfounded! Thats what prompted me to this site. I typed in "throat growling" & found 40 other people writing in abt the same symptoms on a different forum! So.. any suggestions and what was your experiences? Thanks!    

[Mon950]

Thank you for your response and advise. I will try these and see if it helps.

[carol340]

Sorry you're having these problems. I also suffer from constipation and found that taking the proper fiber helps. I use RiBalance by nutracea, a private company. It's a rice fiber. Also, I went to an eneregy healer which helped alot. Sometimes low energy in the colon can cause motility problems. You should also make sure that you have enough bile flow in your liver as this too can contribute to constipation. Your DC can muscle test your liver using the appropriate supplements to see if there is a weakness. I don't believe that food sensitivities are the cause of your problem. Make sure you drink alot of water throughout the day and even at night. You may also want to get a treatment with the Ondamed. This is a biofeedback device invented in Germany and now all over the U.S. It will show if there are energy blockages in your organs that may be causing the problem. Go to www.ondamed.net for a list of practitioners.
Good luck!
Carol340

[marymagdeline]

I'm so sorry that your suffering so.  You asked to hear my story.  It is a long one.  But I will tell you anyway...I started having problems with my bowels when I was a teenager.  About 30 years ago.  Lots of abdomin (abdomen) pain, not emptying my bowels completely.  When I was about 18 I went on a raw food diet and got total relief (no meat or dairy either).  Later I went on a macrobiotic diet and that helped a lot too (no meat or dairy, just fish and whole plant foods).  But I have always loved sweets.  So I began pigging out on them a lot.  Sweets feed yeast.  I didn't know it then, but the cause of my bowel problems has always been yeast.  I started having chronic, severe constipation about 17 years ago.  After taking antibiotics.  I assumed the constipation was yeast related so I went to my doc (not holistic) and asked for a antifungal drug.  He put my on Diflucan.  After 8 days I was having normal, healthy bowel movements (At the time, I was still on the macrboitic diet.).  He took me off of it even though I begged him not to.  You see, if you take someone off an antifungal -either a perscription one or a natural one- before their yeast is all gone, the yeast will grow stronger and more resistant.  Well, that's exactly what happened.  He took me off of it and within 2 days I had a severe vaginal yeast infection, and the constipation was back. So I saw another dr, went back on the Diflucan, and nothing happened.  And I've been suffering with yeast and contipation ever since.  In fact, after taking laxatives every single day for the past 17 years, my colon has stopped working.  It's dead.  I'm having it removed March 30.  Anyway, here's my advice to you.  Go and see a good holistic dr.  If you can afford it, go and see Dr. Don Colbert.  It is possible that your bowel problems are also yeast related.  And whatever dr you see to check you for the yeast, have them do a test called a Heidelberg Gastrogram (google this) to check your stomach.  It's a very,very easy test to take, and it is completely accurate.  If you suspect yeast, the best book to get is The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates.  Just ignore the chapter on eating for your blood type.  That theory doesn't work (or make any sense).  She also talks about making raw cultured vegetables.  Don't try making them.  It's too hard.  Buy them at the health food store instead.  Rejuvenative Foods makes them.  Get the Vegi-Delite.  And the best probiotic on the market that I know of is Primal Defense Ultra by Garden of Life.  You can buy it cheaper than at the health food stores by calling, 1-877-673-0224.  If you used to love sweets, and you get vaginal yeast infections without taking antibiotics, you probably have an overgrowth of yeast in your gut.  This could be behind all your problems.  I wish you all the best.  Good luck!  

[marymagdeline]

For the constipation, try taking Aloe Vera Capsules.  And drink Aloe Vera Juice (George's brand tastes like water).  These used to move my bowels and they are not laxatives.  They won't hurt you.  Take a couple at night, and in the morning.  Up the dosage until you find one that works for you.  Good luck!

[Jersey78]

Im so sorry 4 ur problems!.. Thank u for the info, I cant afford the drs u suggested or much of anything 4 that matter. No insurance, no money, cant work cuz of my health, applied 4 medicaid, got turned down. But Ive been wondering abt the yeast every since I heard Valerie talk abt it. It just made sense. Esp since Ive ALWAYS been a sweets freak. I dont know how that wouldve happened from the time I was a baby tho.. But the constipation has been since then. The dr used to tell my mom to put Karo syrup in my formula. She said it used to work. Then it got to the point of laxatves and enemas thruout my childhood. Not Fun! Anyhow.. Val also talked abt the aloe vera juice. She said get the "Cold press" kind I believe. Not sure exactly what that means but.. I know Ive got to try somethng! Ive just always been leery abt takin ANYTHING. Side effects etc..  Oh.. u didnt mention the weight loss? Was it intentional, or what was the cause? Im sorry if im prying too much, but ur story was sounding alot like me.. I know I dont know u, but hope u dont mind that I will pray 4 u!          Thanks again..   P.S. I will google that test.

[marymagdeline]

Go ahead and pry...I'm here to help.  How terrible that you can't afford to see a dr.  I have heard of people who have had yeast problems since they were babies.  People are sometimes born with it.  Ask your mom if you had diaper rash a lot, or cradel cap, or thrush.  If so, it might have been what was behind the constipation.  People who have yeast CRAVE sugar.  Because the yeast feeds off of it. ( By the way,the Karo syrup would have just fed that yeast if that was your problem.)  Even if you can't see a dr, you can still find out if it's yeast.  Here's how..#1.  Cut out all the foods that feed yeast.  #2.  Eat raw cultured vegetables every day. #3. Take a good probiotic every day. And to help with the contipation, take Aloe Vera capsules (Not tablets).  If the symptoms get better, it's yeast.  By the way, you'd be better off eating Kefir with stevia and vanilla in it, than Ensure.  And when she said "cold pressed" she wasn't referring to supplements, but oils. (Long story)  My weight loss was for pretty much the same reason as yours..I was afraid to eat.  To find out what foods to cut out for your yeast problem, get the book I recommended.  And/or look on line.  Mostly it's fermented foods like beer, wine, vinegar, pickels, etc, and sugars, including fruit and fruit juice.  Stevia extract ( I like NOW brand) is the only sweetener that people with yeast can have.  I hope this helped. :)

[Jersey78]

Thank u for all ur advice! I'll try to find & read that book. I would love to be able to eat raw vegetables, Love cauliflower, broccoli, pretty much any vegetable, but had to give them up a long time ago. Cant eat green beans or ANY kind of beans 4 that matter.They cause too much pain, gas, bloating. What are 'cultured' vegetables?  And what do u think a Good probiotic would be?

[FurballsMom]

My naturopath recommended FloraStor, which was too expensive for me.  A good brand that I found with the same probiotics and same amount of live cultures is one called Jarrow Formulas.  The name of the type of probiotic is Saccharomyces Boulardii + MOS.  I found it for about 1/2 the cost of FloraStor at the discount store in the refrigerator and for even less through a website called swansonvitamins.com.  They ship everything within only a couple of days, so eventhough it doesn't arrive refrigerated, it isn't out of refrigeration for very long.  I always wait 'til I need to order other supplements and I buy only a limited amount of the probiotics because one needs to keep the supply very fresh.  I can't comment on the other things mentioned above, but I do know this probiotic is a good one.  I'm going to look into the things suggested to you myself, because I'm having similar issues here.

For me, I definitely have food sensitivities, because certain foods aggravate my GERD as much as my IBS.  But, I am sure that the things mentioned above also apply to me, so I will definitely see if I can get the GI doctor to run some of these tests, such as the Heidelberg Gastrogram or the Colonic Transit Study.

[Jersey78]

Thanks for the info. I'll look into those....And to everyone.. In case anyone is wondering about the ACTIVIA YOGURT that suppose to regulate your bowels.. (Jamie Lee Curtis advertises).. My mother decided to give that a try, cuz shes been having constipation problems for the last yr. Shes been on some very powerful antibiotics in that yr thats prob caused it, and so she decided to try it, and it works 4 her! She has been eating them daily 4 abt 3weeks and having daily bowel movements. She ran out a few days ago and constipation came right back! So 4 any of you that dont want to try pills etc.. I'd suggest trying ACTIVIA. Think im gonna give it a try. If it works on me after 45yrs of constipation, then it should work on anyone! ha!  

[Jersey78]

Disregard the question abt the probiotics.. I found your original letter that had that info in there. Thanks!