Kaye2003
01-03-2004, 04:55 AM
I'm new here and have already posted on a few forums. I have many health problems, IBS-C, FM, TMJ, and Acid Reflux. All stress related. I have been seeing a GI for two/three years and being treated for IBS-C. It drives me crazy. I am 40 years old and until I was 37 I had two normal BMs a day. (The good old life). My doctor has me on Elavil, Librax and Miralax. I do have BMs every day, but they are like water, no effort involved. But sometimes when I eat away for home I have to hurry and get there because I have D. But if I miss the Miralax one day, I am so constipated I can't stand it. Having a colonoscopy in March.
I have read alot of post on the board in the last two weeks and I'm more confused than ever. I would like to try something more natural. I'm scared that I will loose the ability (or muscle) to go without the miralax because I don't have to make any (or little) effort to push to have a BM.
The things that I have read that interest me are Acidophilus (probiotics), Flax Seed, and Metamucil (Psyllium). Do you think this could work for me given enough time and the right approach to changing over to this regiment? Any advise would be appreciated.
I also have a 19 year old daughter that has a lazy colon (according to our GI). She takes two Free Lax from Wal Mart every night to have a BM every day or two. Would any of the natural things above help her?
PS HARRY Just wanted to let you know you are not alone on here from the Lowcountry.
I have read alot of post on the board in the last two weeks and I'm more confused than ever. I would like to try something more natural. I'm scared that I will loose the ability (or muscle) to go without the miralax because I don't have to make any (or little) effort to push to have a BM.
The things that I have read that interest me are Acidophilus (probiotics), Flax Seed, and Metamucil (Psyllium). Do you think this could work for me given enough time and the right approach to changing over to this regiment? Any advise would be appreciated.
I also have a 19 year old daughter that has a lazy colon (according to our GI). She takes two Free Lax from Wal Mart every night to have a BM every day or two. Would any of the natural things above help her?
PS HARRY Just wanted to let you know you are not alone on here from the Lowcountry.
Sponsor
Harry
01-03-2004, 12:23 PM
Hi Kaye,
There are several things that would help. Start taking Psyllium like Metamucil or Equate brand from Wal Mart. Start off slow because it will cause GAS but with continued use it will go away. Just make sure you drink enough water with each dose. Psyllium is a water soluble fiber supplement and a bulk stool forming agent and is also safe to take daily.
As you may know having a loose stool is not healthy because vital nutrients are not being properly absorbed. And,it just gets worse.
Eating our modern diet these days with the salt, sugar, spicy food as well as processed food sure messes up the digestion system by causing the intestinal bacteria to get out of balance. It needs to be re-balance and re-colonize your intestines with probiotic supplemrnts, yogurt or Kefir.
I think the best yogurt availale is "Stonyfield Farm" -- it contains 4 additional live active cultured bacteria including Lactobacillus reuteri and the yogurt is organic.
L. Reuteri is also available in Primadophilus--Reuteri. PB-8 is also good and you can get it from EarthFare. Some Publix Stores also sell the yogurt.
Your daughter should also start taking psyllium twice daily. She should sit on a toilet every day at the same time to re-train her bowels.
God Bless---Harry
PS-- I also think you need to take a Calcium/ Magnesium supplement but I'll write later about the type I think you need.
There are several things that would help. Start taking Psyllium like Metamucil or Equate brand from Wal Mart. Start off slow because it will cause GAS but with continued use it will go away. Just make sure you drink enough water with each dose. Psyllium is a water soluble fiber supplement and a bulk stool forming agent and is also safe to take daily.
As you may know having a loose stool is not healthy because vital nutrients are not being properly absorbed. And,it just gets worse.
Eating our modern diet these days with the salt, sugar, spicy food as well as processed food sure messes up the digestion system by causing the intestinal bacteria to get out of balance. It needs to be re-balance and re-colonize your intestines with probiotic supplemrnts, yogurt or Kefir.
I think the best yogurt availale is "Stonyfield Farm" -- it contains 4 additional live active cultured bacteria including Lactobacillus reuteri and the yogurt is organic.
L. Reuteri is also available in Primadophilus--Reuteri. PB-8 is also good and you can get it from EarthFare. Some Publix Stores also sell the yogurt.
Your daughter should also start taking psyllium twice daily. She should sit on a toilet every day at the same time to re-train her bowels.
God Bless---Harry
PS-- I also think you need to take a Calcium/ Magnesium supplement but I'll write later about the type I think you need.
Kaye2003
01-03-2004, 04:23 PM
Harry:
Thanks...I'm going to Wal Mart today.
I'll also try the Calcium/Magnesium that you recommend. Do you think I should stay on the Miralax for a while until I start seeing a firmer stool?
I forgot to mention before that my daughter has tried the psylliums before and it made her stools harder. She drinks nothing but water all day and is very active. The doctor said she just need water in her stools and had her on Miralax before, but she didn't like the watery stools and not knowing when she would be needing a bathroom. Being a teenager makes her a little hard headed about trying something else when the Free Lax is working. Again, Thank you for replying.
Thanks...I'm going to Wal Mart today.
I'll also try the Calcium/Magnesium that you recommend. Do you think I should stay on the Miralax for a while until I start seeing a firmer stool?
I forgot to mention before that my daughter has tried the psylliums before and it made her stools harder. She drinks nothing but water all day and is very active. The doctor said she just need water in her stools and had her on Miralax before, but she didn't like the watery stools and not knowing when she would be needing a bathroom. Being a teenager makes her a little hard headed about trying something else when the Free Lax is working. Again, Thank you for replying.
Harry
01-04-2004, 01:04 PM
Hi Kaye,
Taking Free Lax as you know is a laxative and should not be used but for a short period. It is a Osmotic Agent meaning it draws water to the colon for a BM. It is just like Epson salts, Citrate of Magnesia and Milk of Magnesia. If used more than occationally your daughter will become dependent on it. She will lose muscle tone in her intestines and always have to use a laxative for BMs. Not a good thought.
Using psyllium --- if your stool becomes harder than normal --- it indicates that you need to more water with each dose. It is safe to take daily.
Miralax is the same type of laxative but by persciption. It also should only be used for short periods. I don't think you should take it with psyllium fiber.
I am a firm believer in --Health Begins in YOUR Digestive System. If you don't absorb the building blocks for good health --- you'll have a miserable painful depressed life. I am sure you and your daughter don't want that!!!
I have read some of your other messages--- I think you are very deficient in magnesium. Tight muscles in the neck, TMJ, Gerd, back & chest pain could all be cused by a lack of MAGNESIUM as well as calcium.
I have done alot of reading and searching to find the best magnesium that is absorbed at the cell level. 70% of magnesium is in the bones but what causes us problems is getting it into cells so our muscles function properly. And, that's ALL MUSCLES.
Magnesium is needed for proper diestion, heart beats, muscles to work and for calcium absorption and alot of functions in the body.
I think the best on the market is the chelated type that is connected to 2 amino acids-- glycine and lycine (glycinate and lycinate). The process is patented by Albion Labs a Canadian company. I use Doctors Best high absorption magnesium. It is also put out by Solgar, Kal, Carlson and I am sure others companies produce them but I have bought the ones mentioned. You can buy them online at a good discount.
My wife was on Prilosec for 6 years for esophagus spasms( choking)--it started causing nausea--- now she is off and on a Magnesium and Calcium supplements and doing fine --also the hiatal hernia cramping/ spasms is gone.
You also need a good calcium supplement. You can also buy it in a chelated form.
The Krebs CA/Mg supplement put out by Enzymatic Therapy and the aspartates, oratates are also good.
To increase your absorption rate up them 3 times daily. It increases absorption from 14% to about 40%.
I am sorry about your husband and I know Stress causes many problems but I think almost all of your problems are caused by lacking of minerals that are the result of them being washed away by watery loose stools. You have to slow your BMs down so you can absorb nutrients. I think it will correct alot of your problems face numbness, jaw muscle, neck, esophagus, intestines, back and chest.
A big important muscle is your heart and you have to have it function well.
God Bless---Harry
Taking Free Lax as you know is a laxative and should not be used but for a short period. It is a Osmotic Agent meaning it draws water to the colon for a BM. It is just like Epson salts, Citrate of Magnesia and Milk of Magnesia. If used more than occationally your daughter will become dependent on it. She will lose muscle tone in her intestines and always have to use a laxative for BMs. Not a good thought.
Using psyllium --- if your stool becomes harder than normal --- it indicates that you need to more water with each dose. It is safe to take daily.
Miralax is the same type of laxative but by persciption. It also should only be used for short periods. I don't think you should take it with psyllium fiber.
I am a firm believer in --Health Begins in YOUR Digestive System. If you don't absorb the building blocks for good health --- you'll have a miserable painful depressed life. I am sure you and your daughter don't want that!!!
I have read some of your other messages--- I think you are very deficient in magnesium. Tight muscles in the neck, TMJ, Gerd, back & chest pain could all be cused by a lack of MAGNESIUM as well as calcium.
I have done alot of reading and searching to find the best magnesium that is absorbed at the cell level. 70% of magnesium is in the bones but what causes us problems is getting it into cells so our muscles function properly. And, that's ALL MUSCLES.
Magnesium is needed for proper diestion, heart beats, muscles to work and for calcium absorption and alot of functions in the body.
I think the best on the market is the chelated type that is connected to 2 amino acids-- glycine and lycine (glycinate and lycinate). The process is patented by Albion Labs a Canadian company. I use Doctors Best high absorption magnesium. It is also put out by Solgar, Kal, Carlson and I am sure others companies produce them but I have bought the ones mentioned. You can buy them online at a good discount.
My wife was on Prilosec for 6 years for esophagus spasms( choking)--it started causing nausea--- now she is off and on a Magnesium and Calcium supplements and doing fine --also the hiatal hernia cramping/ spasms is gone.
You also need a good calcium supplement. You can also buy it in a chelated form.
The Krebs CA/Mg supplement put out by Enzymatic Therapy and the aspartates, oratates are also good.
To increase your absorption rate up them 3 times daily. It increases absorption from 14% to about 40%.
I am sorry about your husband and I know Stress causes many problems but I think almost all of your problems are caused by lacking of minerals that are the result of them being washed away by watery loose stools. You have to slow your BMs down so you can absorb nutrients. I think it will correct alot of your problems face numbness, jaw muscle, neck, esophagus, intestines, back and chest.
A big important muscle is your heart and you have to have it function well.
God Bless---Harry
Harry
01-08-2004, 02:43 AM
If your stools start getting harder to pass don't take calcium --- it is natures tranquilizer.
Get a magnesium only supplement and take it 3 times daily -- no food is needed.
Get a magnesium only supplement and take it 3 times daily -- no food is needed.
NanG
01-09-2004, 12:09 AM
<<I think the best on the market is the chelated type that is connected to 2 amino acids-- glycine and lycine (glycinate and lycinate). The process is patented by Albion Labs a Canadian company. I use Doctors Best high absorption magnesium. It is also put out by Solgar, Kal, Carlson and I am sure others companies produce them but I have bought the ones mentioned. You can buy them online at a good discount. >>
You are a wealth of information Harry! Thanks. After reading your post, I'm interested in the chelated type. What do you recommend as a good amount of Magnesium? Currently, for migraines, I've been taking KAL Calcium+. Three softgels contains 1000 mg Calcium and 500 mg Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) and I've been spreading them out through the day. It also contains 300 IU vitamin D-2 and 33 mg of Zinc. However, I'm still experiencing many of the symptoms you contribute to lack of calcium and magnesium. Particularly tight muscles in the neck, Gerd and facial numbness. Perhaps I'm not taking enough? Also, do you know anything about too much magnesium depleting cooper? Is that a concern?
Truthfully, I have so many things going on at the moment, I'm not sure what to think, but you've touched on what I've come to believe. Health starts with digestion. I'm working hard at improving my diet, etc. Thanks.
NanG
You are a wealth of information Harry! Thanks. After reading your post, I'm interested in the chelated type. What do you recommend as a good amount of Magnesium? Currently, for migraines, I've been taking KAL Calcium+. Three softgels contains 1000 mg Calcium and 500 mg Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) and I've been spreading them out through the day. It also contains 300 IU vitamin D-2 and 33 mg of Zinc. However, I'm still experiencing many of the symptoms you contribute to lack of calcium and magnesium. Particularly tight muscles in the neck, Gerd and facial numbness. Perhaps I'm not taking enough? Also, do you know anything about too much magnesium depleting cooper? Is that a concern?
Truthfully, I have so many things going on at the moment, I'm not sure what to think, but you've touched on what I've come to believe. Health starts with digestion. I'm working hard at improving my diet, etc. Thanks.
NanG
Harry
01-09-2004, 01:52 AM
Nan,
Magnesium oxide is Ok if you are young and have alot of stomach acid to break it down-- it is an inorganic form. The daily recommened reqirement is 400 m grams. If you take it is one dose you probably only absorb about 10% if you take it 3 times daily the absorption will go up to about 30%. And, the same for calcium. So you may not be getting enough at the cellular level to solve your problems.
Kal puts out a Magnesium glycinate that is organic and more readily absorbed.
I like Doctors Best --- better and their High Absorption Calcium is very good. With both of these your digestive system just absorbs it without having to break it down as an ion. The Calcium also contains D, Zinc, manganese and Boron. And their are others probably just as good on the market.
Copper and magnesium have no problem together as far as I know but high levels of C and zinc can reduce copper levels. High amounts of fruit sugar(fructose) can cause a copper deficency worse. Copper needs to be carefully balanced with iron, zinc and calcium if you have eye problems.
As you know Magnesium is used in alot of laxatives. I have heard that one way to tell if you're getting too much magnesium -- your stools start getting loose and alot softer. I don't know if it's true because we are all so different and our sensitivities are not the same??
You may not be taking enough. You know you can have blood test for calcium and magnesium.
To test for magnesium deficiency a procedure called intracellar (momonuclear cell) magnesium screen can be run -- it's more sensitive than the regular serum test. I have read nearly all diseases are made worse by low mag levels. It's very important to heart patients.
About 70% of your mag is in your bones what you need is the best so it can be absorbed properly and get into your cells for spasms, cramping pain. I really don't know any other way to do it or measure the results.
I wish you well---Harry
Magnesium oxide is Ok if you are young and have alot of stomach acid to break it down-- it is an inorganic form. The daily recommened reqirement is 400 m grams. If you take it is one dose you probably only absorb about 10% if you take it 3 times daily the absorption will go up to about 30%. And, the same for calcium. So you may not be getting enough at the cellular level to solve your problems.
Kal puts out a Magnesium glycinate that is organic and more readily absorbed.
I like Doctors Best --- better and their High Absorption Calcium is very good. With both of these your digestive system just absorbs it without having to break it down as an ion. The Calcium also contains D, Zinc, manganese and Boron. And their are others probably just as good on the market.
Copper and magnesium have no problem together as far as I know but high levels of C and zinc can reduce copper levels. High amounts of fruit sugar(fructose) can cause a copper deficency worse. Copper needs to be carefully balanced with iron, zinc and calcium if you have eye problems.
As you know Magnesium is used in alot of laxatives. I have heard that one way to tell if you're getting too much magnesium -- your stools start getting loose and alot softer. I don't know if it's true because we are all so different and our sensitivities are not the same??
You may not be taking enough. You know you can have blood test for calcium and magnesium.
To test for magnesium deficiency a procedure called intracellar (momonuclear cell) magnesium screen can be run -- it's more sensitive than the regular serum test. I have read nearly all diseases are made worse by low mag levels. It's very important to heart patients.
About 70% of your mag is in your bones what you need is the best so it can be absorbed properly and get into your cells for spasms, cramping pain. I really don't know any other way to do it or measure the results.
I wish you well---Harry
NanG
01-09-2004, 12:55 PM
Thanks Harry! This makes so much sense. I think the magnesium oxide was helpful before, however, since starting Aciphex in September, I notice some changes. I think it is an absorption problem. Although the aciphex is helping with the reflux, it seems everything is going right through me. I've printed out your message and on my way to the vitamin store.
nan
Nan
Magnesium oxide is Ok if you are young and have alot of stomach acid to break it down-- it is an inorganic form. The daily recommened reqirement is 400 m grams. If you take it is one dose you probably only absorb about 10% if you take it 3 times daily the absorption will go up to about 30%. And, the same for calcium. So you may not be getting enough at the cellular level to solve your problems.
Kal puts out a Magnesium glycinate that is organic and more readily absorbed.
I like Doctors Best --- better and their High Absorption Calcium is very good. With both of these your digestive system just absorbs it without having to break it down as an ion. The Calcium also contains D, Zinc, manganese and Boron. And their are others probably just as good on the market.
Copper and magnesium have no problem together as far as I know but high levels of C and zinc can reduce copper levels. High amounts of fruit sugar(fructose) can cause a copper deficency worse. Copper needs to be carefully balanced with iron, zinc and calcium if you have eye problems.
As you know Magnesium is used in alot of laxatives. I have heard that one way to tell if you're getting too much magnesium -- your stools start getting loose and alot softer. I don't know if it's true because we are all so different and our sensitivities are not the same??
You may not be taking enough. You know you can have blood test for calcium and magnesium.
To test for magnesium deficiency a procedure called intracellar (momonuclear cell) magnesium screen can be run -- it's more sensitive than the regular serum test. I have read nearly all diseases are made worse by low mag levels. It's very important to heart patients.
About 70% of your mag is in your bones what you need is the best so it can be absorbed properly and get into your cells for spasms, cramping pain. I really don't know any other way to do it or measure the results.
I wish you well---Harry
nan
Nan
Magnesium oxide is Ok if you are young and have alot of stomach acid to break it down-- it is an inorganic form. The daily recommened reqirement is 400 m grams. If you take it is one dose you probably only absorb about 10% if you take it 3 times daily the absorption will go up to about 30%. And, the same for calcium. So you may not be getting enough at the cellular level to solve your problems.
Kal puts out a Magnesium glycinate that is organic and more readily absorbed.
I like Doctors Best --- better and their High Absorption Calcium is very good. With both of these your digestive system just absorbs it without having to break it down as an ion. The Calcium also contains D, Zinc, manganese and Boron. And their are others probably just as good on the market.
Copper and magnesium have no problem together as far as I know but high levels of C and zinc can reduce copper levels. High amounts of fruit sugar(fructose) can cause a copper deficency worse. Copper needs to be carefully balanced with iron, zinc and calcium if you have eye problems.
As you know Magnesium is used in alot of laxatives. I have heard that one way to tell if you're getting too much magnesium -- your stools start getting loose and alot softer. I don't know if it's true because we are all so different and our sensitivities are not the same??
You may not be taking enough. You know you can have blood test for calcium and magnesium.
To test for magnesium deficiency a procedure called intracellar (momonuclear cell) magnesium screen can be run -- it's more sensitive than the regular serum test. I have read nearly all diseases are made worse by low mag levels. It's very important to heart patients.
About 70% of your mag is in your bones what you need is the best so it can be absorbed properly and get into your cells for spasms, cramping pain. I really don't know any other way to do it or measure the results.
I wish you well---Harry