posted
Years and years ago, I used to be a sugar junkie. Huge sugar tooth. Way big on the carbs. I also had constipation issues and my bowel movements were rock hard - literally could have cracked the bowl - that was my fear.
Then I got into the South Beach diet and have lived a generally low-carb lifestyle. Poops coincidentally returned to somewhat normal.
Now... I have been on tetracycline for 2-3 weeks, I am taking probiotics, eating bunches of yogurt, but my bowel movement have become super hard again.
I am assuming this is my gut flora balance. Is there any suggestion for eating (which is still low carb) or for super-charged probiotics or programs that have helped you? I take probiotics with every meal.
Thanks - feesher
p.s. as a general update on my course, been 2-3 weeks. I had a huge stiff neck for week 1, then went away. Since then, I seem to have the same old symptoms, only a bit stronger. Nothing that I would call a huge knock-down herx. But definitley stronger symptoms and a few new ones.
Posts: 36 | From Boston, MA | Registered: Sep 2004
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kgg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5867
posted
Are you drinking lots of water? Unless you have a heart condition, it is recommended to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily.
Constipation is typical for a low carb diet. Are you getting enough fiber?
I have used a stool softener occasionly. Colase or the generic. That may help.
Karen
Posts: 1845 | From Maine | Registered: Jun 2004
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
Psyllium capsules changed my life. I'm perfectly regular.
There are many benifits for colon health.
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
feesher: Buy a bag of raw almonds and eat several ounces daily.
Almonds are high in magnesium, which you are most likely deficient in. Plus, they provide roughage, which aids the bowels.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
more water, fiber and magnesium. I only had issues with hardness on abx when I didn't drink enough.
If you are taking any suppliments with iron, they could be causing the problem.
Posts: 1572 | From Pa | Registered: Jun 2001
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One must be careful with MG when taking Tetracyline.
None of the antibiotics in the tetracycline family (tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline) should be taken at the same time with calcium supplements, including dairy products, or with any other minerals such as magnesium, iron, etc. which have the same chemical valance as calcium. Ask your pharmacist for advice here because it is known that other minerals can also have similar inhibiting effects as calcium does on the absorption out of the GI tract of all antibiotics in the tetracycline family.
Just be careful, I had the opposite problem as you when taking MG. I had to stop.
Take care and peace.
Posts: 221 | From S. Florida/Massachusetts | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Me too. I started tetra and everything came to a rock hard dead stop. I cant take psyllium cuz it does the same thing to me. I take chlorella but that stopped doing the trick the minute I started tetra.
I just changed my magnesium to magnesium oxide and had a horrible time finding one that didnt have titanium dioxide or beef gelatin in it not to mention a zillion other things I didnt want. Im now taking about 2000mg of othe magnesium and its still a battle.
I upped my chlorella too but nothing seems to work on a regular basis. It a fight.
I take my mag-calcium at breakfast, lunch and bedtime at lease 2 hrs, but usually 3, on either side of taking my tetra or any other antibiotic.
Trying to fit in my probiotics, on an empty stomach on this schedule is sure not easy either. I have to write down everyting and use a timer all day long.
I dont have any good answer except to try another abx. Just keep trying everyting you can to get it moving, Good luck
Posts: 561 | From connecticut | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I'm on tetra. Also on anti yeast diet. I eat a lot of vegetables. I'm pretty regular except when I travel and diet changes. Not many places offer a big salad for breakfast!
Theralac (www.theralac.com) made a big difference right away. It had a slight softening effect and made me very regular, I just ordered 2 more bottles. The price seems to have come down. I recall the first bottle I bought was $54. (and worth it) when I ordered this week it was $30 something ($34? $38?) Free shipping with 2 bottles.
I'm rotating Theralac, Primadophilus Reuteri & Primal Defense. I did do Theralac daily for 2 weeks.
Note: I'm using Theralac, NOT Threelac hats
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
Dido on hatsnscafs Theralac has been keeping me regular .I had been so cloged up for years on abx. I mix it up with other probiotics.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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bpeck
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3235
posted
Coconut oil may help. Try melting about 2 tablespoons on toast (tastes pretty good to me and my preferred method while on abx that bound me up).
Probably should stay away from mega doses of magnesium as it may compete with your drugs.
There's also a prescription iron supplement with a stool softener in it that some people recommend.
In any case - you do need to adress this as it's not good to be constipated for very long.
Barb
-------------------- Barb Peck (Elder LymeNet user). Lyme since 1975 Transfusion Posts: 1882 | From VT | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Update - I tried "colon cleanser" (mostly psyllium) from Vitamin World, and was back on track right away.
I also suspect that my probiotics are fairly generic and may be a bit on the aged side. Certainly haven't been refridgerated. I will also beef up my priobiotics after some searching for recommendations.
Thanks!
Posts: 36 | From Boston, MA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I had the same problem. I was told to take additional vit C for my back injury, but not in too high a dose as it might cause diarreha.
1000 mg 2x day and Voila! And it's good for Lyme.
Posts: 175 | From ma. | Registered: Aug 2005
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
Boy, I'm sure glad somebody posted about this - I was about to do it myself.
It sounds like most of you are on antibiotics, but I am not and still having more trouble that I used to. I am on Samento, Colloidal Silver and Ledum 1M. I have found nothing on the Internet indicating that any of these could be the culprit.
I take plenty of fiber, drink plenty of water, take oils (flax and grapesee), some magnesium in my supplement drink. I also bumped up my intake of buffered vitamin C to 6 grams a day. I'm now wondering if the calcium in the buffered C isn't the culprit....
Or, I wonder if the bowel change isn't just dead Borrelia and other gunk coming out?
I am unable to take much magnesium in any form I've tried - they all give me the most horrendous cramps that literally stop me dead in my tracks. And we're talking 100 mg. a day - no big doses of the stuff. All forms of calcium cause constipation issues.
All I know to do is get some straight Vitamin C caps (without the calcium) and see if that helps. I am running out of ideas.
Tracy
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I tried Elemental Magnesium supplement. A new thing I found at the SuperMarkert. This stuff locked me up for two days.... Beware!!!
Due a war injury, I take a enema once a day. You can get a Rubber blub injector from drugstores or the Enema web site(web is cheaper)... Been doing this for years with no problems... If my bowels get too full there will be pressure on the Vargus nerve and suddenly I have a terrible mind numbing pain... Believe me, you will stop and head for the nearest John ASAP (only way to stop it)....
It's nice to go once in the morning before work and have no gas or bother the rest of the day... Plus the enema doesn't stress the heart.
You use luke warm water, no chemicals. Tj
Tj
Posts: 192 | From Phoenix, AZ | Registered: Apr 2005
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