Caution: Gross - Laxative -- horrible but necessary?

[myabigail]

For the last couple of days, I've been concerned that I haven't been producing enough poop. Ever since I started Atkins, my poops have been smaller and harder, but in the last few days I was down to about 3 Hershey kiss size poops a day that were difficult to pass.

So, last night I took a laxative around midnight.

By 6am, I was nauseated and in serious pain. I spent about 2 hours in the bathroom, really struggling. At first, it was the Atkins-type poop -- hard and hard to pass -- but in good quantities. Then finally, the floodgates were opened. In fact, they are still open -- 6 hours later -- and each release has gotten softer than the last. (pretty much all liquid now). I've had to flush at least 10 times. I mean, the amount that has come out has been incredible.

(I just got on the scale, out of curiosity, and I'm down 3 lbs from yesterday. I'd say that's about how much I've deposited in the toilet.)

I've been drinking an average of about 80-100 oz of water a day and getting plenty of oil. In fact, for the past week or so I've added 3 Tbsp of coconut oil a day to my diet. I've also added fiber wherever possible -- about 1 Tbsp of flaxseed meal a day and 1-2 servings of Fibersure (inulin fiber powder). But it seems painfully obvious to me right now that I have not been passing the solid waste that I needed to. (My weight loss has also been VERY slow).

How can I avoid having to go through this again? I just want to have normal poop all the time. Today has been horrendous, but apparently I needed it. HELP!

[Georgiana]

Maybe you can post a menu...

You have to make sure you're getting enough fiber from vegetables. Choosing vegetables higher in fiber will help prevent constipation.

If this doesn't help, supplementing with flax, psyllium husks or bran (taken with a lot of water!) should do the trick. If these don't work either, then try a stool softener before taking a laxative.

[liv]

I second what G is saying. Try different things to see what may work for you
I just wanted to say poor you, that sounded awful.

[myabigail]

Ugh. Still tied to the bathroom. Good thing I had the day off from work today!

Typical Menu:

Breakfast
2 eggs (sometimes add inulin fiber)
2-4 strips bacon
1 Tbsp Coconut oil

Snack
2 mozzarella sticks
or celery w/dressing
or avocado

Lunch
chicken casserole (chicken, cauliflower, mushroom, celery & cheese & 1 Tbsp inulin fiber)
or hamburger patty w/mushrooms & onions
or salad w/spinach, arugula, tomato, avocado & ground beef w/dressing

Snack
same as above

Dinner
same as lunch or omelette w/salad veggies & cheese (& inulin fiber)
1-2 Tbsp Coconut oil

Dessert
1/2 cup pumpkin w/spices, 1 Tbsp flaxseed meal, cream cheese, heavy cream, coconut oil

[Georgiana]

Flax doesn't have any effect on me... You might want to try other fiber supplements. Moving to OWL Rung 1 would also help, as you could have more vegetables.

By the way, your menu looks fine.

[myabigail]

Thanks. I thought the inulin would help. Maybe I need psyllium husks. I found the inulin (by Metamucil) on the shelf right next to the psyllium and thought it looked easier to cook with.

How do I buy bran that is induction friendly?

Will I go out of ketosis if I move to Rung 1 of OWL? If the weight loss I've experienced today after all this mess sticks with me, I may be ready to move up to Rung 1. I was unsatisfied with the 4-6 lb loss (some fluctuation there) I had experienced in 5 weeks of Induction, and was determined to stay in Induction until I made some real headway.

[kibskix]

i'll bet you anything all that cheeses is whats causing your constipation.

[myabigail]

Really? I hadn't considered that. Yikes. Cheese is a staple -- adds taste to dishes & easy to carry snack. I've always been a pretty big cheese eater. Does it really cause constipation?

[liv]

One thing that makes me really "go" is magnesium supplement - really effective stuff. So that may be something for you to try.
Some people are sensitive to cheese and cheese and dairy can cause clogging issues for some.
You look to be doing good on veggies.
Atkins allowed wheat bran for constipation on induction. So you can try that with good conscience.

[kibskix]

on days i dont eat cheese, my 'go'ings are normal. whether or not it is really causing that for you, it looks like you're eating too much of it at any rate.