tummy ache :( - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

Jonistyle2 · 12-21-2005, 11:43 AM

So i don't know if anyone has any suggestions or advice but here's the situation: I'm currently recovering from anorexia and trying to gain some weight. I'm 6 feet tall, 123 lbs, female, exercising moderately and eating 3000-3100 calories a day to try to gain. (This probably isn't really related, but the weight gaining is NOT going well. I've been eating this much for 3 weeks and haven't gained 1 stinkin' pound.)

Anyway, here's the problem: I am having the absolute WORST stomach aches, etc. you can imagine. Cramping, constipation, just roll into a ball cuz it hurts so bad PAIN. I am eating a TON of food (which i'm okay with), but it's getting to be really hard because i'm always in pain and "backed up" and it's hard to eat all the stuff i'm supposed to when my belly hurts like this. this happened for about 4 days a couple weeks ago, then it went away, now it's back. my stomach hurts BAD and i haven't gone "number two" in about three days.

anyone have any ideas what the heck is going on? To rule out a few potential suggestions, let me mention a few more things: I eat a lot of fiber and drink a lot of water, so it's not that. I didn't just suddenly start eating this much per day. we gradually worked up to it, and before that, i'd been eating around 2400-2500 per day for a few months. It could be an intolerance/food allergy, but i'm basically eating the same foods/drinks i was before, just more of them. I'm confused! the only things i can think are either A) I'm just eating too much dam* food and my body is saying "No!" or B) I have an allergy to some food and it's screwing my tummy up.

Somebody please offer some help if you can! I know this is a long post, but I wanted to give all the pertinent info. so you could see the whole situation. This is really friggin' painful . . . any advice???

6foot3 · 12-21-2005, 11:48 AM

Since you were an Anorexic you might have slowed Pancreatic Enzyme production and now your eating again infact a lot so you may want to try Digestive Enzymes until your body readapts!! later!!

Jonistyle2 · 12-21-2005, 12:48 PM

what's a digestive enzyme? (for all my "knowledge" about food, i honestly don't know!) is it a pill or something that you take?

amethystle · 12-21-2005, 01:42 PM

I have a lot of stomach problems and there have been times in the past where I have not eaten any solid food for months at a time (due to pain after eating solid food). Afterwards I became constipated very easily. It seemed like my intestines had quit working as well after not being used for a couple of months (my theory). Anyway, long story short, I now have a bad case of IBS-C and have to take mutilple medications to try and control it. My symptoms revolve aroung very bad pain like you were describing.
My advice: go to a doctor and tell him/her exactly what is going on, limit refined foods such as bread and sweets, and eat mostly vegetables and lean protein. If you are worried about gaining weight, try eating natural almond or peanut butter, they have lots of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Jonistyle2 · 12-21-2005, 03:15 PM

thanks for the advice. i'll definitely try to stick to the natural foods over the ultra processed ones. i just talked to my therapist and she thinks i might be actually taking in too much fiber and it's just bloating and cramping me up. she told me to actually try to eat more "binding" foods (dairy products, etc.) does that seem like a good move? i don't take in freakish amounts of fiber (oatmeal, an apple, an orange, some good grains daily . . . probably not even enough to meet the "daily recommended 25 grams, but i like my carbs!) the only reason i'm hesitant to start piling on the dairy is because i've always had minor constipation issues (plus i don't like it that much) any advice?