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Citracal worsening IBS

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/2/2008 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
I recently started taking Citracal Calcium due to Osteopenia. I'm taking 1000mg a day. In additional I've added Orange juice and yogurt. I'm having uncomfortable stomach cramps, right beneath my rip cage. and the IBS is acting up big time. Prior to Citracal my IBS on a scale of 1-10 was a 4 and I was a happy camper. Does anyone know if Citracal on its own would make the IBS worse or is it the added items in my diet, yogurt, juice?

thanks and have a nice day.

Kimb

Posted 10/3/2008 7:00 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe the orange juice, some find issues from the acidicy from oranges and orange juice...yogurt has probiotics in it and that should help things not make things worse (I take probiotic supplements as well as eat yogurt), I'd cut out the juice first and go from there....it may even be the citracal.

:)
Posted 10/3/2008 12:12 PM (GMT 0)

Hi PB,

Thanks for the reply. My tummy was fine upon waking up this morning that was until I had my orange juice, hmmm. So I think I will eliminate that and see what happens. 

Have a great day!

Kimb

Posted 10/3/2008 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I believe that calcium citrate can cause diarrhea, and calcium carbonate has the opposite effect. Docs may put you on the citrate becuae it absorbs into bones better, but it has this side effect that may be causing you grief.

Posted 10/3/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Mitzo,

I will have to figure out what the culprit is. As long as I don't eat, I'm fine. Its very weird. The cramps are almost like intense hunger pains. I need the calcium because of the bone thinning and my diet just doesn't give me enough ugh.

Have a good day.

Kimb

Posted 10/3/2008 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
You should be taking a fibre supplement daily and indefinitely, it's what my GI told me to do for my IBS and my crohn's disease and it's done wonders...along with a good probiotic daily and indefinitely as well.

Hope you get things figured out and feel better soon :)
Posted 10/3/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)

PB,

Ugh, that fiber stuff! My doctor tells me everytime I see him that I need to add fiber. I find it difficult to do. I did buy that powder from Heather's something (sorry can't think of the name of it). I bought it and I should be using it. I'm bad, I know. I will say that since I've changed my diet, eliminated meats, replaced with fish, eliminated most dairy and replaced with soy, my IBS has improved. The only thing throwing it off now is this citracel and acid items :(.

thanks :)

Kimb

Posted 10/3/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
They sell psyllium supplements OTC that are easy breezy to take, they are in capsule form. FiberCon is another good one. Seriously, fiber should do you WORLDS of good. Americans don't get nearly enough of it in their diet. You should aim for at least 35 grams a day!
Posted 10/3/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sarita,

Hmmm, tablets I think I can do. Will fiber make me go more often though? This past week had been bad. I was in the bathroom 14 times in two days; difficult when you are at work :(

Posted 10/4/2008 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Kim, the fiber should bulk up your stool. It might give you the added substance you need to get it away from D and to something more formed and solid. It could definitely reduce your number of bathroom visits.
Try taking the pills... they are MUCH better than the powders. Make sure to start slow and drink LOTS of water with the fiber.
Posted 10/4/2008 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
It won't necessarily make you "go" more, the main purpose of it is to help bulk up your stool, I've been told by many docs that enough fibre, probiotics, and exercise all daily and indefinitely is key to helping control IBS C or D or A.

:)
Posted 10/4/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hi 7lLIL

I will buy it over the weekend. At least its a step in the right direction :)

Thanks and have a good night

Kimb

Posted 10/5/2008 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure if you have constipation or diarrahea but calcium can constipate you.  I have found constipation can cause hunger feelings.  Acid reflux can be from the IBS.  If you have constipation it can cause reflex.

Posted 10/5/2008 9:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Jimmyp

thanks for the post. I actually have a bit of both :(. So far today no pain. I think I will keep a food diary and see how that works.

Have a good night

Kimb

Posted 10/6/2008 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Agree with Jimmy. All I have to do is get near a little calcium and I'm in trouble...in fact I very recently had a diverticulitis flare and  found myself severely impacted from  a bit of calcium and iron in a multivitamin.  I didn't even know the severity until I had an xray...just that I was ill.    

My opinion on fiber: Fiber is good...but the amount and type is a very individual thing. its not a one size fits all deal. We are all different just as IBS is different and we tolerate different foods and have different needs IMO. Those who blithely say here"Fiber is good" miss the larger point...and if we are bloaters psyllium can cause misery! I do better with Citrucel and must use simethicone  and probiotics even with that. cooked veggies only, zero raw and must avoid so many.....we have differing needs when it comes to fiber!!

I am angry how patronizing my doc was through my recent flare: I was treated like this was 'just a little constipation problem'  altho I was truly ill...; I finally had to educate myself and do trial and error to see what my gut could stand foodwise, etc. My doc was little help. Nothing my doc said worked. I'm still waiting to see a GI and I''ve had to problemsolve on my own to stop  rapid weight loss and keep myself out of the ER.

So I say, shame on the medical community for caring so little. when we cannot eat, our bodies cannot be nourished and we starve our beings. That doctors do not care say so much about who they really are. Many are small, small men I can say this because I've ben a nurse for 30 years (now disabled) and I have heard them out of earshot of their PATIENTS and I have struggled to get my patients cared for in hospitals while they groom their enormous egos.

Hang in there I empathize with everyone here...we can all share here.   As your own  hormone levels (men too) change you too  may find you need to make diet and other life changes to accomodate as I have. I read  on a GI doc's website  he felt hormonal shifts played a role in GI disorders. Makes sense to me.

Blessed be.

Deb (mattsmom81)

 

Posted 10/6/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Deb,

Thanks for your post. I do agree that what works for one may not work for another. The problem I have is that I must take calcium due to my recent bone density results. If I don't change this around I will be on Evista or Actonel and I've read horrible side effects from this drug. I feel like I'm in a catch 22. Dairy/Calcium aggravates the IBS and lack of calcium is causing me to lose bone mass. I excercise 6 days a week, eliminated meat, the only thing I need to improve on is the addition of veg's and fruits. I'm trying my best cry . I did eliminate the orange juice and that is a step in the right direction.

Have a nice day everyone

Kimb

Posted 10/7/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for responding, Kimb.... altho we are all different but share a similar frustration. I also cannot tolerate OJ (tried OJ  with calium without the vitamin calcium too, no go) and had to stop...all too acidic for my tender GI tract. Had to toss all my MVI's with calcium and iron. GI couldn't handle  any of it. Ah well.

We sure do the best we can and many of us are indeed in Catch 22's with our health and make the best decisions we can.

Good luck to all here, know its not easy.

Mattsmom

Post Edited (Mattsmom81) : 10/6/2008 9:04:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/7/2008 5:36 AM (GMT 0)

Kimb said...

Hi Deb,

Thanks for your post. I do agree that what works for one may not work for another. The problem I have is that I must take calcium due to my recent bone density results. If I don't change this around I will be on Evista or Actonel and I've read horrible side effects from this drug. I feel like I'm in a catch 22. Dairy/Calcium aggravates the IBS and lack of calcium is causing me to lose bone mass. I excercise 6 days a week, eliminated meat, the only thing I need to improve on is the addition of veg's and fruits. I'm trying my best cry . I did eliminate the orange juice and that is a step in the right direction.

Have a nice day everyone

Kimb

Kim, I don't know how old you are but from what you say you have very bad osteo. There are many new drugs including IV's now which you might ask about . I am not recommending them but they are there and they say safer than the pills.  The other thing I would check out if you are young is hyperparathyroid disease. It is a fairly simple test and should not be overlooked as once it it cleared up you will start to build bone again naturally. Please ask your Doctor for the blood test and urine test.


Posted 10/7/2008 12:32 PM (GMT 0)

That's interesting info. I do have hyperthyroidism and take medication for it. I have 3 nodules on my left thyroid and one of them is overacting which is causing my thyroid to work overtime. I should check further into all of this. Maybe they it is connected.  However I am nearly 55 years old (ugh) can't believe it and I am post menopausal so that would account for the lack of bone loss too. I'm just surprised with the 25 years of excercise, that I'm losing bone. What I have is Osteopenia which is a pre-condition of osteoporosis. 

Thanks for the info I appreciate it. Have a good day

Kimb

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