Question...

Hi. I am new to this chat room . I stumbled upon this as I was looking for insight to my question. I had a subtotal colectomy in Dec 03 and I had many surgeries since then. However, 2007 was the 1st year I have made it through with zero surgeries!!! My question for yall is this: Has anyone ever tried to Flax Seed (milled) and had horrible cramping and gas pains from it?

This past weekend was terrible. I tried the milled flax seed in a smoothie on Thur and Fri... starting Thurs night, I became so sick!! The cramping and gas (that would NOT come out) continued on all weekend until yesterday. I almost went to the emergency room. The only thing I new to do was to increase my intake of my perscription laxative. I know... I had my colon removed and still have to drink a prescription laxative everyday!!!! So, I drank 6 glasses of it... and that did the trick. I am not sure if it was the flax seed... that is the only thing that I added to my diet.

Has anyone ever experienced this before? I was 22 yrs old when I had my subtotal colectomy performed... so this is all still new to me. Thanks in advance for your replies.

Hi AJ,

Welcome to Healing Well. Congratulations on being surgery-free for over a year! I've never tried milled flax seeds, so I don't know if they can cause gas. I usually put flax seed oil on my salad and have not had any problems from it.

Take care,

Cecilia

Flax seed can be REALLY rough on the gut. I had a total colectomy for colonic inertia in February and prior to my surgery I had tried ground Flax seed a few times because it is supposed to help constipation and be really good for you. I also had horrible gas, cramping, and bloating along with worsening constipation and had do a bowel cleanout just to get relief. Since my surgery I tried the ground flax again. BIG mistake, after a couple days I had horrible gas, cramping, and bloating. I was also not passing any solid stool, just a clear liquid. I finally had to go to the ER it was so bad and after some abdominal x-rays it was found that the flax seed had actually caused a blockage. It is supposed to be such a good thing to use to prevent constipation, but for me it was quite the opposite. I had to be given a series of enemas and drink multiple jugs of GoLytely just to clear it out. It gets in your gut and almost hardens like concrete, and I drink LOTS of water. I would stay away from the flax seed. If you were taking it for the health benefits, you can get cold-pressed flax oil (it is refrigerated) and it will provide the same benefits. Hope this helps you and you are feeling better!