lwatkins04 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I am on day 10 of whole 30. Im really sorry if this is TMI, but I need some help! On day 8 I had very loose stools. I had a very very stressful situation happen this day and I think my stomach was just in knots because of it. Then on day 9 I barely went number 2. Same thing on day 10...so far. I feel like my stomach is bloated. I currently take metformin once a day for my PCOS, and a birth control pill once a day. Heres what I ate yesterday, pretty average for me on the whole 30 just in different forms. Meal 1: Eggs/veggies with some ground turkey mixed in, bacon, side of watermelon. (sometimes i skip the fruit) Meal 2: Taco salad. (lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa verde, hot sauce, homemade guac, ground beef with homemade taco seasoning). Banana. (again, sometimes skip the fruit) Meal 3: Grilled chicken/bacon 'sandwich' wrapped in a lettuce bun. (tomato, onion, homemade mayo, homemade ketchup, mustard). Side of white potato wedges baked in the oven. This is about a standard day for me, just in different forms. I eat vegetables with every meal, protein with every meal, and healthy fat with every meal, and I occasionally add fruit. I have a lot of energy now, and Im generally in a better mood overall but now Im having tummy issues. Ugh. Please help me! I will truly be forever grateful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eboyle86 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I don't know a lot to help out (i've had a lot of bloating/constipation and just purchased Digestive Enzymes to see if they help) but I did have a friend that took Metformin for PCOS and it was hell on her. The exact same issues you're having. One day she'd be loose and the next week she couldn't go at all. The metformin made her miserable. How long have you taken it? Is it possible that it's a side effect of the medication and not related to whole30? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkers Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Water and activity are also a big part of keeping your GI system running. Dehydration will lead to constipation. Same thing goes for being sedentary. Just a walk will help things move and stay moving. If you're at the point of discomfort, consider taking a magenesium supplement. Magnesium comes in several forms and magnesium citrate gives you the best combination of something that's easy for your body to absorb, but still affordable. You can also try a topical magnesium oil or even epsom salt baths. Start with a low dose so that you don't swing your system in the opposite direction and develop further loose stools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkers Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 And regarding the metformin: When I took it, I could only tolerate the extended release version. I switched doctor's at one point and when the new doc refilled my prescribed, he gave me the regular version and I could NOT get past the stomach ache and diarrhea. On the extended release, I had zero issues once I was past the initial adjustment period. From what you're describing though, it sounds like you've already been on the meds for awhile and these are new issues that are likely unrelated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwatkins04 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 Thanks everyone! I've been on extended release metformin for quite some time, so it's not from that. I haven't exercised this week, and actually didn't last week either. Prior to that I would exercise regularly so it sounds like I need to move more. And come to think of it, I didn't drink much water the first day i started having problems so that may also be a factor. I will increase both and hope for the best!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabitha Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 This is a big issue for me too. Chronic off-and-on constipation is one of the main reasons why I began the Whole 30. I'm 32, with healthy body composition, and I work out daily. I've been very conscious of (and generally successful at) staying well hydrated, limiting grains, and prioritizing veggies for most of my life. My big bad habits over the years have been over-consuming white wine (pretty much at least 2 glasses a day for years), and I usually end up eating something sugary every day. (Oh yeah, I'm also terrible at chewing. If I'm not mindful, I just inhale. It's awful.) I'm only on day 15, so it's too soon to give up, and my guts really are feeling a lot more comfortable, but my constipation hasn't let up at all and I'm a little worried. Warning for sensitive readers: what follows is about constipation, and is therefore slightly gross. At this point I'm eliminating NO solid waste without the help of herbal laxative tea (Smooth Move from Traditional Medicinals). I don't want my system to become dependent on laxatives, so I put off using them for 3 days, and then on the 4th I go for it. That's my pattern since starting the program. That's right - I go 3 days without elimination. None. Even with the Smooth Move, I'm not eliminating with any kind of efficiency, or completeness considering how long I wait to use it, and considering how much more I've been eating since starting the program. I haven't tried magnesium since starting the program, because the formula I was using before starting the program (Ionic-Fizz Calcium Plus) contains stevia. But I feel like magnesium is a band-aid, and the Whole 30 is about healing so that we don't need things like that, right? So that our guts work properly on their own. Any thoughts? Should I be worried, or stick it out and hope that the Whole 30 program does the trick? Thanks for reading. Constipation loves company! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'd disagree that magnesium is a band aid. Magnesium is a vital mineral that MANY people (somewhere in the region of 65% of those admitted to A&E) are at least mildly deficient in with one of the symptoms being constipation, and regardless of how good your diet is it is difficult for the body to absorb.The digestive system is effectively a large muscle, and the magnesium acts as a kind of a muscle relaxant, so if I were in your position I'd look for a compliant magnesium supplement, & give myself some relief until the cumulative effect of eating whole foods slowly starts to work it's magic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabitha Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Relief sounds like a good plan! I've still got a few weeks of Whole 30 left, so I'm optimistic. Thank you for your swift reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Most people eliminate without the need for a supplement in part due to the sugar in their diet. I think that if you give it time eating whole foods will help with your situation, however if it has been an ongoing problem for you it may take some additional time to resolve. Magnesium may give you some relief in the meantime. If you think the problem could be anything in anyway more serious then please do see your Doctor.I do hope this eases for you soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munkers Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Ditto what jmcbn said about magnesium. It is a VERY common mineral deficiency and, unlike laxatives, there is no risk of dependence. As you begin to supplement with magnesium, your body gets better at absorbing it because your body will up-regulate the metabolism pathways responsible for absorbing it. That means you could see a decrease in it's efficacy against constipation, but that's not the end of the story. Excess magnesium in the body is eliminated through fecal waste and your dosing can be titrated to bowel tolerance. That means continuing to increase your magnesium until you have a loose bowel movement. When that happens, back off on the dose, hold steady until the issues resolve, and then start upping the dose again until you reach a point where you're having a solid bowel movement daily or at least every other day. Also make sure that the type of magnesium you're using is one that's easily absorbed. Magnesium oxide is a complete waste of money. Even though it's commonly used in supplements, your body can only utilize about 4% of the magnesium in it. Magnesium citrate is easy to absorb and widely available. Magnesium malate and magnesium taurate are also easy to absorb, but tend to be much more expensive. You can also use transdermal methods, i.e. magnesium supplements placed on the skin. You can do this with an epsom salt bath or with magnesium oil. (It's not actually an oil, just a highly concentrated solution.) Transdermal magnesium may be more effective when you have gut issues because it bypasses the GI system entirely. Anecdotally, when I first started supplementing magnesium, I gradually worked up to 400mg (the RDA) twice a day with espsom salt baths once or twice a week and nightly magnesium oil equivalent to about 100mg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I've used Natural Calm for stress relief, muscle soreness, and constipation issues as recommended by the Whole9. The original is made without stevia and it's a nice fizzy thing to have before bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabitha Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 This is all super helpful. Thank you all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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