Our provider Bre Like the Cheese (I guess she isn't lactose intolerant) used to work as a pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) doctor. She has been kind enough to guest
Enough said -- here you go!
Sometimes people say “Get your head out of your ass” or “ I have butterflies in my tummy”
Well the truth is… our head is directly connected to our butts and guts!
The stomach is highly innervated and its common for our feelings/stress to manifest in our stomachs. Its doesn’t mean “it’s all in your head”, in fact, the science shows that its really in your gut! The pain, constipation, diarrhea, and sensations are real! But there’s things you can do to help.
It is important to have chronic abdominal pain, or chronic diarrhea or constipation worked up to be sure there is no other medical explanation.
Once that is done the best thing is to treat the anxiety, stress, or whatever feelings are manifesting physically. While doing that, there are things you can do in the meantime to help with your tummy trouble.
CONSTIPATION
Your provider might recommend you do a “cleanout” to get thing back on track. Then you can do some of the following:
Continue Miralax 1 capful in 8 ounces of water ONCE A DAY *** 1 CAPFUL= 4TSPS***
Adjust dose as needed by 1 tsp to aim for 1-3 soft pudding like stools daily
Increase intake water, fruits and vegetable
Encourage the "P" fruits (prunes, pears, pineapples, peaches, papayas) to diet, remember “P fruits make you poop” (not as true for the fruit juice as the pectin is often in the skin)
Maintain fiber 10-15grams/day
Take 2 tsp of Benefiber/Fibersure daily OR fiber gummies 1-2 gummies daily
Limit dairy products, breads, bananas, and pastas- these foods are constipating
Limit milk to no more than 2 glasses a day
Encourage activity
Sit on toilet after lunch and dinner for 5-10 minutes to remind your body that we poop after we eat
Keep a stool calendar
Functional constipation is the most common type in school age children. Thyroid issues, celiac disease and too much calcium in the body can cause constipation (which your provider can test for). Dysuria (which means pain while peeing) is very related constipation, and some people get urinary tract infections related to constipation.
Encopresis (poop accidents) is usually the result of long standing constipation secondary to stretching of the rectum and loss of sensation and urge to have a bowel movement. Usually aggressive treatment of constipation results in the return of sensation and ability to have the urge again. Occasionally in children with other behavioral issues encopresis is a behavioral/emotional problem and can be helped with behavioral modification.
IBS
Do you have alternating constipation and diarrhea? This is a common finding in Irritable bowel syndrome. The best way to help this is to take good care of your mental health. Other things that can be helpful, once medical causes are ruled out, are:
Medications that reduce acid production
Sometimes a medication called an antispasmodic can be helpful for that nerve related abdominal pain
Imodium as needed to slow diarrhea
Benefiber/Fiber sure 2 tsp. daily or 2 fiber gummies or increase fiber in diet
Avoid: Fried or spicy food, juice, chocolates, soda, sweets, tomatoes, junk/processed food
Consider Lactose free diet
Consider FODMAP diet (but requires complete elimination which can be difficult), very effective
Some have said red dye exacerbates their symptoms, consider elimination
Exercise/yoga
Counseling for stress and anxiety management
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