Colon cleansing?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Colon cleansing?
11
Sat, 08-11-2007 - 9:52pm

Hello, everyone. I am new on this board. I'll tell you a bit about myself: My name is Sabrina, and I'm 28 years old. I have endometriosis, and when it flares up I often have bowel issues along with it. I tend to be more constipated when I'm having my period, anyway, even if it's not a bad month with the endometriosis. I regularly take metamucil just to avoid constipation once or twice a day, but even when I have regular bowel movements, it's like the constipated feeling comes on so quickly!! I can have 2 or 3 bowel movements in the beginning of the day, and then by evening feel so bloated and gassy, and have small, constipated bowel movements, all in the same day!!

I think I have always had some sort of bowel issues, as I remember having to take metamucil even when I was younger. I can't remember what the issue was then, exactly, but I must have been prone to constipation then too. Lately, along with the metamucil, I have been eating All-Bran buds once or twice a day, and that seems to help too.

I recently heard about a colon-cleansing thing that you can purchase...the one in particular that piqued my interest is called Dual-Action Cleanse, created by a guy named Klee Irwin. I was curious about it, and even though it's pricey, I was thinking it might be something I'd like to try. They were talking about how toxins build up in your body because of the way we eat in this day and age, and how your bowel can be full of all kinds of crap (literally LOL!) that your body can't break down and can't process. They named off all kinds of symptoms that you can have as a result of this (fatigue, gas/bloating, etc.), a lot of which sounded so familiar to me! I have also had a lot of problems with nausea and indigestion, especially within the last 9 months, but I had been attributing that to stress, since my oldest sister was killed quite tragically and unexpectedly, and I had only started having the indigestion around that time. It also seems to flare up when I'm stressed out. After hearing about this bowel cleansing thing, it got me thinking that I could really benefit from something like this, but I'm not sure I want to spend the money on a product like this. I'm also concerned about possible side effects, since I do have high blood pressure as well.

I would appreciate some advice about colon cleansing, and maybe some alternatives to the one I mentioned. Nice to meet you all! ~Sabrina

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Sun, 08-12-2007 - 12:25am

Welcome, glad you found us!


Personally, I find colon cleansing to be unnecessary. Here is an article that you might want to read...


http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/gastro.html


I also had many bowel issues during my menses, but never felt that my endometriosis really caused any bowel problems, but maybe I was lucky? I do know that Endo can cause many internal problems, so I am not dismissing that possibility.


Is it possible that you've 'trained' your body to think it needs the Metamucil, or other laxative type assistance? Our bodies should work just fine without this stuff, if we eat properly. I take heavy duty pain medications and know it can cause constipation, so I am aware of the need to eat enough fiber and drink a lot of water. I've never needed laxatives to help things along.


Why do you feel the need to have so many bowel movements per day? I am just curious, since another poster was also trying to tell me that we need bowel movements after every single meal and I still disagree with that.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 08-12-2007 - 9:02pm

I'm not a big fan of these instant fix detox programs. I think you are paying a lot of money for herbal laxatives.


Personally I think the best thing to do to detox is to consume healthy foods (ie. natural foods, not processed food or fast food or prepared conveneince foods), drink lots of water, and eat enough fiber. Your body will cleanse itself on it's own over time (not a quick fix).


I went to a herbalist once who was convinced that people needed to have a bowel movement after each meal - but aside from that any doctor or naturopath I've seen are happy with once a day.


Rather than spend money on a detox program why not visit a Naturopathic doctor to discuss your situation. Link to help you find one: http://www.cand.ca/index.php?findnd&L=0


Wishing you all the best

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2007
Wed, 08-22-2007 - 11:10am
Sabrinajoy: I suggest you try psylium . It comes in husk and powder. Husk is easier to take. I mix about 50-50. This is the active ingredient in Metamucil with out all the other gunk. You can find it in any food store.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2007
Wed, 08-22-2007 - 2:32pm
Sabrina, please don't get involved with these sort of things. They can be dangerous and it is only a temporary fix. You said you go a couple times of day and then still feel bloated. You would be much better taking something like a Probiotic and see if that balances you stomach out. Please don't buy into this hype. It is the lastest "trend" If you feel like you do need a cleanout use Dulcolax or if you want to really clean out you can use Phospho soda by fleets that is what they use for colonscopies but they use 2 bottles. They are gross though. It might help to see a gastro Dr. and get an antispasmodic which would also help cramps. I use a combo peppermint, ginger and fennel capsule when I get bloated. During that time watch what you eat and make sure it is not gassy food like soft drink, broccoli, beans. Just don't buy that stuff.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2007
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 12:31pm

Sorry - I don't have any colon cleansing advice...but I do have problems very similar to yours. I am 24, female, and for the past 3 or 4 months I have had major issues being regular. I have tried so many things. I drink lots of water, I eat fruit. I take a teaspoon of ground up flaxseeds in the morning with cranberry juice. I drink slim fast and I eat activa. Each have pretty much the same result. It may help me "go", most of the time...but it's an incomplete feeling. Although it makes me feel a little better...it hasn't solved the long term issues. I still spend most of the day feeling heavy and bloated. I remember what it's like to be regular...I wish I could find a way to get back to those days!!

Someone asked about why you felt you had to go a few times a day. In my case, it's the incompleteness of my movements. I don't feel like i'm done.

I went to the doctor about this and was told that it was probably stress related and that I should try Benefiber. I was really hoping for a more proactive approach...tests and stuff I guess. Maybe I should go to a gastro dr?

Also, I put in my symptoms on WebMD and Colon Cancer came up as a possible diagnosis if my symptoms were not treated. Does anyone know more about this??

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 5:45pm

Hi, thanks for your reply. Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, but I've been going through a really rough time this week, since my boyfriend and I broke up and I'm taking it very hard. I haven't been online much.

I don't think I have trained my body to need the metamucil, because I only take it once or twice a day, and even though it does help for my bowel movements, it's not the only reason I take it. I like to take it because it ensures I get enough fiber in. When I was very young, I remember having problems with my colon, most likely constipation. It was after my father's death, so it's possible it was stress related, but I was very young (8 or 9 years old, I believe). I had to take metamucil then, and my mom would make me take it every morning. I believe I was taking it once a day at that point. But I think whatever the problem was, I grew out of it, because there came a point when I stopped taking it. I think at some point I was just taking it out of habit, but eventually I stopped and didn't really need it anymore. Then when I started having problems with endometriosis about 4 years ago, and my bowel issues started up again, especially around that time of the month. The way I see it, taking metamucil isn't a big deal, because it's a mild, natural laxative. Can you really become dependent on something like that?

It's not that I feel I "need" to have so many bowel movements a day, it's just that that's the way it normally goes. I find it strange that I can go from having lots of bowel movements in the first part of the day to feeling constipated by the end of the day. What could be the reason for that? ~Sabrina

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-28-2007
Tue, 08-28-2007 - 10:32pm

Hey Sabrina,
Its comforting to read that other women have some of the same problems that ive had for a long time. I researched a lot of different colon cleanses and even went so far as to try Colonics. That was definitely not a great experience and did nothing to alleviate any symptoms. Then i tried a 30 day complete system called Clearstart. You eat normal, obviously healthier the better, and take a fibre drink in the am, some detox herbs, and a tea at night. It was natural , i felt amazing while taking it and have not had any problems since i finished. Through the company , it costs about 110$ but i found a rep and he was like my personal assistant throughout the entire experience. And it was like 80$ through him. Best of luck, its definitely something i would recommend, and if you want my contact info let me know.

Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 8:28am

Then i tried a 30 day complete system called Clearstart. You eat normal, obviously healthier the better, and take a fibre drink in the am, some detox herbs, and a tea at night. It was natural , i felt amazing while taking it and have not had any problems since i finished.


Just because a product claims to be "all natural" doesn't mean it is necessarily safe. What about this caused you to feel 'amazing' while taking it?


I am curious as to why so many folks have this compulsion to take products, natural or not, in the never-ending search to totally purge the digestive system of its contents.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 8:23pm

I am curious as to why so many folks have this compulsion to take products, natural or not, in the never-ending search to totally purge the digestive system of its contents.


Elise - your comment made me smile. One herbal presentation I went to was done by a herbalist who said that when people come to him looking for a 'detox' or a 'cleanse' that he'd tell them to increase their water intake, walk each day and eliminate wheat, sugar and processed foods from their diet for one month and then come back to see him to set up a herbal program.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 8:46pm

Thanks for your comments Joann! It is good to know that I am not alone in wondering why so many feel the need for these 'detox' products. I guess some see this as simpler than eating properly, drinking enough water and doing some walking each day. Granted, some situations can cause bowel issues, like the heavy-duty meds I take daily, but some simple adjustments to my diet, extra water and making sure I am not sedentary have helped keep things 'moving along' just fine for me!

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