Constipation Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Constipation Question
9
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 1:33pm
I posted this question on another board, and was referred here. I hope someone can help me out.

I know this may sound crazy, but has anyone ever heard of or experienced constipation due to drinking diet soda? I have been constipated for 3 weeks now, and the only thing that has changed in my diet is that I have switched to diet sodas. I usually have about 2 per day, 1 for lunch and 1 for dinner. I have tried laxatives and drinking lots of water, but nothing is really working. The laxatives just give me a "water" effect, if you know what I mean. I am seriously considering seeing a doctor about this b/c it has lasted so long. I usually expereince some constipation around my period every month, which I understand is pretty common, but it certainly never lasts for 3 weeks.



Does anyone have any suggestions, or have you experienced the same thing from diet sodas? What are some good laxatives or foods to try? Thanks a lot for any help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 10-13-2004 - 7:57pm

Hi and Welcome blondie121984,

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Thu, 10-14-2004 - 12:23pm
Thanks, Wren! I will try that apple idea. I just don't understand why this has happened. Nothing else in my diet has changed. I always have fruit for breakfast every morning (bananas, grapes, apples, etc.) and always drink water throughout the day. The ONLY thing that has changed in my diet is diet soda. I asked my mom about it last night and she said that the aspartame could do it. Another person on a different board also mentioned that aspartame could cause digestive problems. Have you ever heard of this?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Thu, 10-14-2004 - 3:26pm

I am over 50 here and in my life-

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 11:07am

Hi Blondie!


Yes, Aspartame can cause a lot of digestive disorders, and a lot of other problems too.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 10:47am
Thanks for all that info, Lynn. Where did you get it? It sounds rather biased, but I'm sure there is a lot of truth to it nevertheless. I couldn't help but notice that in that whole list of side effects, constipation was NOT listed. You'd think that they'd list every single side effect known to man that had ever occurred in anyone as a result of aspartame, yet it was nowhere on the list. I found that odd.

Do you know if C2 (the Coke with half the calories, not calorie-free) has aspartame in it? Do you know what kind of sweetener is used in it?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 8:11pm

Hey Blondie!


I know that diet coke is sweetened with aspartame and I am trying to find out from the company about the C2.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-11-2004
Sat, 12-11-2004 - 1:19pm

In addition to Asparatame (sp?) giving digestive problems, I would add Sorbital, another arStificial sweetener.

I found a few years ago that I would get bad stomach cramps after chewing sugar-free gum. I finally saw that Sorbital, another "fake" sweetener, was an ingredient. I researched it and found that Sorbital can cause gas and stomach pain; sometimes constipation or diarhea (sp). So now I never buy any food or gum/candy that contains Sorbital if I can see it on the label.

I like foods, etc., with Splenda...it's almost like sugar and doesn't cause pain. My husband hates artificial foods but likes Splenda (it is expensive) but it doesn't cause cavities to my knowledge or weight gain and he uses tons on his tea/cereal and I don't say a thing because it's a lot better than sugar!

I have always had (all my life, since a little girl) chronic constipation (runs in the family) though I eat fiber, exercise lots, drink water, etc. I have to watch the fiber intake (esp. apples unpeeled) because I will get bad stomach aches...I have had colonoscopies, ultrasound, gallbladder tests...nothing wrong.

Running and abominal exercises/yoga help, but it's hard to spend the time necessary to help, and I need to do the running, etc., every day or here comes the stomach ache. I have to eliminate every day or there's gss/pain. Sometimes I go to bed with a stomachache and the pain will awaken me early.

I've read of a natural grain coffee known as Kashi? (not the cereal) but can't find it. Anyone know of it? One "net" person swears by it.

Also, anyone have any ideas of nonaddictive herbs, teas, foods, exercises, etc. that help with elimination without a lot of gas? I do use whole grain cereals/breads and flaxseed.
Also Metamucil and such.

Thanks for any help out there!

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 7:04pm
so sorry to hear about your problems, i suffer with the exact same thing except for one exception; i don't get bad stomach aches. you talk about the artificial sweetners causing gas and cramps, i agree wholeheartedly. they affect me in the same way. another artificial sweetner to look out for is malitol, this one blows me up like a baloon and is incredibly painful. learn this one the hard way. phyzyme helps a little. as for the constipation, i am in terrible shape now with that. i have done everything to help the situation, from prunes to flax seeds. by the by, prunes is another that just inflates me. constipation also runs in the family on the female side; first cousins, aunts and mom. i excersize, i have fiber. the only thing that i can do is take a tbs of milk of magnesia every night if not every other not. if this is too much than a stool softner like senakot or i cant think of the name right now, starts with an f. i just went blank, so sorry. :) but i do know what you are going through. i tried metamucil and the other fiber bulking agents and no help. another thing that helps a little is to drink a cup of aloe vera juice (comes in a gallon at walmart, drug dept. about 7$)before bedtime and a cup first thing in the morning. it is all natural and should not have anykind of adverse effect on your system. check with your dr. or nurse if you should have any concerns but i can drink it and my system does not tolerate very much of anything. best of luck to you and if you find something that helps you aside from what i mentioned, please let me know. best of luck to you... Bet
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 7:16pm

Hi Linda!


Some herbs that I would suggest you try for gas would be: