Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

[Bluetiful]

I've read a lot of previous posts on here about constipation but none of them seem as um....painful as mine....so icky as this is I have to ask....

Is there a possibility that I'm sick or doing at Atkins wrong?

I am PAINFULLY constipated to the point where my tummy hurts and even though I've been on this eating plan six days I haven't lost ANY weight!!!

In the morning I make an omelette (sometimes with bacon or sausage links)

For lunch I have protein and veggies (for ex: ground chicken with steamed broccolli, salmon with spinach or maybe steak and a salad)

And for dinner I have a meal similar to lunch

For snacks I have veggies, maybe some cheese if I'm in the mood, or once I even had a boiled egg.

I drink a lot of water

I even took a laxative a couple days ago

AND STILL NOTHING HAPPENS

I am panicing out of my mind over here. Do you think I have ketosis or whatever they call it?

Should I stop Atkins cause I'm getting sick?

This whole thing seriously has me in a horrid mood...please advise before I break down and cry.


p.s I orders some psyllium powder out of desperation..it should be here in a couple days....only thing is according to the website I got it from one serving of this stuff has 8 carbs! Does this mean I have to cut down my daily carb intake from 20 down to 12 once I start taking this stuff?

[softnred]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

I recently learned from 2Big that if you're stopped up...well...what you're stopped up with does have weight in it. Do you eat flax?? Those on induction are allowed 2 tablespoons of flax a day. You could make flaxmeal into a cracker or one of the other recipe ideas that are floating around on here, or you could sprinkle it into other food. Flax, along with having a host of healthy stuff, is really good for keeping folks regular. DF started Atkins several weeks ago, and was having the same trouble as you until he started eating flax every day.

Oh..and are you sure you're drinking enough water??

[Bluetiful]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Is there a brand of flax you know of....and can I buy it at Whole Foods or anyone other type of health food store?

I feel so sickly i actually cancelled my hair appointment this morning cause I took a laxative and am hoping it kicks in today....

can't wait to get past this hurdle...its depressing me

thanks for the suggestion

[Jasmain]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

I don't think it matters what brand, if the store has it. You need to get flax meal. That is the flax ground up so you can make things with it easier. At least, that's what I use. Whatever they have should be fine. Just make sure to buy the flax meal.

[loriv19]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Morning Blue,

Are you doing any walking? I know that when I'm having difficulties a brisk walk around the block can help to get stuff moving. Now that I'm doing more exercise I haven't had any troubles in fact I'm good to go just about every morning.

Also, sounds funny, but when we got our first dog from the Humane Society, the counsler said take the dog for a walk everyday. "Movement makes movement"

Good Luck and get moving

[Moochiecat]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

If I had a nickel for each time I wrote about constipation, I'd have...uh...quite a lot of nickels!! lol

It's not uncommon to have potty issues. I had a difficult time in the beginning as well and I hated the laxative idea because it just gave me more pain.

Are you drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day? (the general rule is 64 ounces, plus an extra 8 ounces for each 25 pounds you need to lose) If you choose to take a bulk laxative like flax or psyllium, you need to up your water intake as well to keep things moving.

One thing you might try, along with the water and walking, is a glycerin suppository. They saved me when I was having constipation issues early on. They're cheap, they work within 15 minutes and they are for those days when you can tell that you are ready to have a bm, but your body has decided to just not co-operate.
Pardon the graphic description but they seem to stimulate contractions and lubricate so that it all moves along easier.

Keep your veggies spread out through the day and experiment with them. A lot of us find that some veggies are natural movers and shakers...for me, it's peppers sauteed in butter. I'm pretty much guaranteed a hallelujah moment the morning after I eat those...lol

[Bluetiful]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Thanks for the advice ladies.

I just started my period shortly after my last post (4 days early!)

Even though I'm cramping a bit a part of me is relieved cause once this is over I'll hopefully stop bloating.

Even though I've already ordered the psyllium, I think I'll go to Whole Food after work on Monday and look for some flax meal.

And I already planned to have turkey sausage and sauteed peppers for lunch on Monday, maybe I should move it up to tomorrow and see if that helps.

7 days and no weight loss....

I'm living off of blind faith at this point....let's pray SOMETHING happens next week

[Jasmain]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

I think you need to move it up to now! Also.. this is going to sound wierd, but when I have that problem, I find that jalapenos work wonders. Just an idea. When you go, I suspect you'll find some weight gone, most definitely.Kricket is cheering for your um.. movement.

[not2late]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Psyllium has about 0.5 net carbs per tablespoon, as most of the carbohydrate of the psyllium husks are in the form of fiber. According to the book, this was Dr. Atkins' preferred fiber supplement/laxative.

[Becky Sue]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Sorry to hear that you are having the big C problem. I deal with this issue frequently.

I suggest you go and buy the glycerine suppositories and you will have relief in about 15 minutes.
Also don't eat cheese until you have this problem corrected. drink lots of water, this will help too. In the mornings I drink 2 cups of decaf hot tea, first thing in the morning. It helps to get things moving, you know what I mean.

You speak of not losing weight yet. You will show weight loss after you get the waste cleaned out of your system. Ya know it has to weigh!

Get the suppositories!! I don't ever run out of them!!! My lifesaver!

[Lamby-pie]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Traditional Medicinals has a tea called "Smooth Move" herbal stimulant laxative tea. It is a herbal tea with no caffeine. I find it in my local health food store.
Ingredients: Senna leaf, 1,080, licorice root, bitter fennel fruit, organic sweet orange peel, organic cinnamon bark, organic corlander seed, organic giner rhizome, orange peel oil on gum arabic.
I am careful with senna, so I only drink it once or twice a week if needed, and take a potassium pill the next day. It works and I find it gentle. I usually have 3 BM's in the morning the following day after drinking it at night. It tastes like black licorice.
I also use the glycerin suppositories and Fleet enema occasionally.

[Sallyb]

Re: Backed Up Beyond Belief! Help!

Really sorry that this is causing you so many problems, I agree it is a
nasty feeling that can ruin your day. Laxitives can really upset you
system and cause alot more pain.

I would also try a suppository to start you off again, you do need to
do somthing as long time sitting waste inside you is really not good
news for your body.

A suppository will unpack all stored waste allowing a normal balance
to start, otherwise the rectum will just reabsorb any remaining fluid
in the waste making it a bigger problem and 'harder'. The rectum
absorbs fluid quicker than any other part of the body so in effect
you create a plug, the suppository will soften that and bring relief.

I hope that you feel better soon.