Hello everyone,I was advised yesterday when I had a food intolerance testing done that I am not absorbing any of the nutrients from food...I have been battling with severe constipation, bloating, nausea, depression, and some suicidal ideation (sorry, I'm a social worker- that was "therapist" language). I was advised yesterday to start juicing and even to do a juice fast. I can't tolerate any vegetables or fruits raw, and have to stew or steam them. Do you think I would be ok with juicing? Is it different than eating them raw? I am so lost and confused and need to get better. I look anorexic right now, I have lost so much weight. I just can't eat anything without reacting, and have started to give up. A part of me feels like my body just wants to die, but that it won't. It's a terrible feeling, really.I appreciate the continued support. I haven't been posting for while, although I am online daily. I am going to start posting more often again to feel like a part of the "community".My thoughts and love are with you all.You Canadian friend.
Question about Juicing- Need help!
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Chantel,You definately need to look into a GI disorder called gastroparesis. You need a Gastric Emptying Study done ASAP. Your weight loss and conastant nausea make me concerned that you have more than IBS. I am in the same place right now: weight loss and nausea. I am having a GES soon. Once/If you get DXed, there are prokinetics that hekp your tummy and whole GI tract move more properly. You also need to be taking anti-nausea meds like phenergan (may make you sleepy), zofran or kytril. In the meantime, juicing would be a great thing. We do it and it's tons of work. You have to buy, clean, peel and cut up tons of fruits and veg for a mere glass of juice. I have a health food market nearby where I can buy a glass for $5. Well worth it when I don;y have the time or energy to juice at home.Another great option that has been so helpful for me is Glaceua Vitamin waters. They are sold in Grocery Stores here in the US. They are 50 calories each, light and pleasant tasting and can provide you with all of your vitamins. They also give me lots of energy.Best of luck to you. I'm sending some positive energy your way.
First, food "intolerance" has nothing to do with with not absorbing nutrients.Generally, people who have malabsorption has particular and excessive stools and not constipation. However, if you are losing weight and it's clearly not through dieting, then you should be evaluated by a GI doctor for malabsorption.
It's not clear what you mean by severe constipation. Generally, severe constipation is having less than one BM a week.
Juicing would be a dumb thing.
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Most of the malabsorption issues with fruits and veggies tend to be things that cause diarrhea. Juicing tends to allow you to get even more sorbitol in you all at once which can cause an increase in gas as well as diarrhea. It is one of the things that stewing fruits makes it go away.Now some people have colonic inertia and the fiber may be bothersome. That doesn't stop you from absorbing nutrients at all. But it could account for severe constipaton (if you are significantly less than 3 BM a week when you don't take laxaties) and that raw veggies and fruits where you can get a lot of fiber bother you.Have you checked your calorie intake vs your weight to see if the weight changes makes sense or do not makes sense? If you aren't eating very much from the nausea and all that your weight loss may be explicable. What prompts quick medical testing is when you eat more than enough calories to maintain weight and are losing weight and continue to lose weight.If calories in, calories out and the weight you maintain do not make sense get checked for metabolic and absorption problems by a medical doctor. One who can run real medical tests on you.If you are having pain after meals and after anything you eat that may be your gastrocolic reflex. It responds no matter what you eat. Taking an antispamsodic or peppermint tea if you want to go natural 20-30 minuts before a meal can blunt that reaction.K.
Hi Chantal,I still maintain that juicing would be worth a try for you. I read the article that Flux recommended by Stephen Barrett, (a retired psychiatrist- BTW
Dr. Barrett is concerned with health claims that a few unscrupulous marketers of juicing have made. They claim that juicing can cure you of any ailment. If I read your post correctly, you aren't looking for a cure, just a way to get some nutrients that won't make you bloat and nauseous. Barrett goes on to say "And, sensible eating, WHICH IS NOT DIFFICULT TO DO, furnishes an adequte nutrient supply." Unfortunately, for you (and I) sensible eating IS difficult to do. That's the point. In our case, juicing can provide concentrated nutrients in a form that is easier to absorb than eating the equivalent nutritional value in whole fruits and vegs.When I increase my fiber intake, I swell and bloat, but things do not move any better in the GI tract. On the other hand, I've never had a bloating or swelling problem after juicing. It provides a good source of concentrated nutrients. And, I rarely feel nauseous afterwards, like I do when I eat solid fiber-filled food. It helps to sip your juice slowly and try to drink it at room temperature.Flux states that juicing causes you to "lose more nutrients." I'm not sure where he/she's getting their info, but I'd be happy to learn more from him/her. Barrett's article does not back up that claim in any way.As I stated earlier, juicing is expensive and a lot of work. But, it's a great way to get nutrition when eating makes you feel badly.If you are feeling really nauseous, vitamin waters may be easier to tolerate. Ensure, that Flux recommends, is very difficult to drink because of the dairy base, when nauseated.I see that you're a social worker. I'm also a mental health professional. This condition has me scared and feeling "bonkers." Best of luck to you. Feel free to PM me as we seem to be going through the same thing!Julie
Dr. Barrett is concerned with health claims that a few unscrupulous marketers of juicing have made. They claim that juicing can cure you of any ailment. If I read your post correctly, you aren't looking for a cure, just a way to get some nutrients that won't make you bloat and nauseous. Barrett goes on to say "And, sensible eating, WHICH IS NOT DIFFICULT TO DO, furnishes an adequte nutrient supply." Unfortunately, for you (and I) sensible eating IS difficult to do. That's the point. In our case, juicing can provide concentrated nutrients in a form that is easier to absorb than eating the equivalent nutritional value in whole fruits and vegs.When I increase my fiber intake, I swell and bloat, but things do not move any better in the GI tract. On the other hand, I've never had a bloating or swelling problem after juicing. It provides a good source of concentrated nutrients. And, I rarely feel nauseous afterwards, like I do when I eat solid fiber-filled food. It helps to sip your juice slowly and try to drink it at room temperature.Flux states that juicing causes you to "lose more nutrients." I'm not sure where he/she's getting their info, but I'd be happy to learn more from him/her. Barrett's article does not back up that claim in any way.As I stated earlier, juicing is expensive and a lot of work. But, it's a great way to get nutrition when eating makes you feel badly.If you are feeling really nauseous, vitamin waters may be easier to tolerate. Ensure, that Flux recommends, is very difficult to drink because of the dairy base, when nauseated.I see that you're a social worker. I'm also a mental health professional. This condition has me scared and feeling "bonkers." Best of luck to you. Feel free to PM me as we seem to be going through the same thing!JulieThanksa for the responses everyone!First of all, the weight loss is explained by the fact that I cannot eat. I have regular appts with my gastro and am closely monitored, as I have had this condition for 8 years. I am allergic to dairy, so unfortunately ensure is not an option for me. I have bought all other forms of wholefood energy supplements (i.e. Vega) but they just make me bloat and give me spasms. Right now, I have backed myself into a corner because I am not eating enough, which is also worsening the condition.I am still hopeful. i will look into purchasing the fortified waters, as they seem pretty great. Thanks for all of the advice.I am hanging in there.
Hi Chantal,After hearing more about your condition, I'm even more convinced that you have a motility problem in addition to your IBS. My son (14 y/o) also suffers from a motility problem. He sees a pediatric motility specialist at Johns Hopkins. I'm glad you're seeing a GI. You may want to ask him/her about the possibility of also working with a motility specialist.There are prokinetics, like reglan (has horrible side effects), eyrthromycin, and domperidone that can help you eat. The most common motility problem is gastroparesis. My son suffers from a neurogenic dysmotility of his GI tract. He also is unable to eat at times. In addition to the juicing, and vitamin water; consider trying a soy based protein powder to add to a "safe" liquid or solid food that you can tolerate.As I recall, your weight is precariously low. Many patients with motility problems, temporarily need to use alternative forms of nutrition- feeding tubes, etc. Please give a prokinetic a try and see if it doesn't help you handle food so you can avoid that.All the best-JulieMy son and I are also non-dairy. Most folks with serious GI issues have food sensitivities and/or allergies to dairy.
Ask your doctor to test you for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
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I started mysteriously bloating up seven months ago. I had to stop juicing. I never got bigger quicker than after a few sips of fresh juice, fruit or vegetable. Juicing is a wonderful thing in theory, but if you can't eat fruits or veggies then I think its a no-brainer.
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