Flaxseed for constipation / slow colonic transit

[ButtterflyLady]

Hi all

I have recently started taking 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed/linseed a day for my slow colonic transit disorder. Previously I took 15g of psyllium which worked ok but I think/hope flaxseed will be better, and it is easier to take. I assume it's not a good idea to take both at the same time. Should I take more than 2 tablespoons a day?

Anyone who has used flaxseed for constipation or SCT - how long did it take to work? It's hard for me to tell if it's working or not. I am trying to be patient, and to drinks lots of water, which I'm not finding that easy.

Thanks

 

[ButtterflyLady]

http://www.healthinfo.org.nz/patientinfo/Lactulose.pdf

If taken in responsible quantities, minimal farting will be the only side effect

Thanks, I've already tried lactulose. My GP says it doesn't do much for slow colonic transit.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Ugh, this constipation is so annoying. It's morning here and I've been awake for 2 hours and still have zero appetite. I'm not going to eat a meal until my appetite improves. I've had two cups of coffee and one of the boiled eggs I keep in the fridge, as I think my body should have some calories to work with. I hate eating when I don't feel like it. Can anyone relate?

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Did you ever eat beetroot to see how long your actual transit time is? Colour indication showing switch from brown to purple.

Did you hear about transcutaneous electrical stimulation? There is something quite interesting which you could try with getting yourself a TENS device for home use..

The beetroot test sounds interesting, lol. I've had an x-ray test done that involved swallowing a capsule with little pieces of plastic that show up on x-ray. That showed that the pieces took longer than normal to leave my system. Way longer.

The TENS therapy sounds promising. I wonder where I could find out more about trying it. The machines are fairly cheap to buy but I'd want to make sure I was using the right kind of machine.

 

[Patch]

Flax is bloody good stuff. Flax Seeds, Milled Flax, Flax Oil - all great stuff.

Ever heard of "Minute Muffins"? I make 'em in a wide'ish plastic bowl (5" dia.), and use 'em as low carb burger buns. It's a GREAT way to get Flax into your body!

There are TONS of recipes online for 'em, but my basic version is:

4 tbspn of milled Flax
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking powder
salt/pepper/seasoning to taste
Hand full of grated cheese

Just mix it all up in a bowl (some recipes say use a mug...) and then microwave uncovered for 1 minute. It will rise up, and make a fluffy burger bun type roll. You'll need to experiment a little with the seasoning until you get a flavour that you like. I found adding the cheese REALLY helps with masking some of the flax flavour.

Also, it's a good idea to let the raw mixture sit for a couple of minutes, then re-stir before microwaving. This is just to make sure that all of the egg is absorbed into the flax meal.

You can make sweet ones by (leaving out the cheese and salt!) adding cinnamon and sweetener. You can split 'em and toast 'em like muffins. Lots of people use 'em for breakfast like this...

 

[tim2000s]

I stick milled flaxseed into a complete chocolate protein shake.Hides the taste of flax and makes for a very filling breakfast on the way to work.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I've been feeling worse each day since I started this thread. I'm going to skip the flaxseed for a day just in case it is actually causing blockages... probably due to not drinking enough water. It's really hard to drink more water. Not yet summer here.

 

[axle 222]

Hello I totally empathise with you....I have like you gone through many tests but constipation became worse regardless of trying flax,psyillium husks lactulose,etc etc... I know how you feel not wanting to eat or drink.....I eventually had a colonoscopy which discovered my left traverse colon is kinked,hence no matter what I used it didn't solve the problem.....I am now now on a medication called laxido ,it is cumulative so helps things move through. The gastroenterologist said no matter how much fruit (I personally can't digest fibre) it won't work because the colon is too twisted to make for smooth passage. As you have tried many things perhaps it's time to consult a gastroenterologist to check your colon. Hope this gives some help..........

 

[Indy51]

The one fibre that works brilliantly for me without giving me any nasty side effects is acacia fibre which is totally soluble fibre and recommended for IBS.

Every time I've tried flax seeds, they tasted rancid to me so I gave up trying and psyllium just makes me more constipated.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hello I totally empathise with you....I have like you gone through many tests but constipation became worse regardless of trying flax,psyillium husks lactulose,etc etc... I know how you feel not wanting to eat or drink.....I eventually had a colonoscopy which discovered my left traverse colon is kinked,hence no matter what I used it didn't solve the problem.....I am now now on a medication called laxido ,it is cumulative so helps things move through. The gastroenterologist said no matter how much fruit (I personally can't digest fibre) it won't work because the colon is too twisted to make for smooth passage. As you have tried many things perhaps it's time to consult a gastroenterologist to check your colon. Hope this gives some help..........

Thanks for your empathy, it really help to know others understand. Over the years laxatives and fibre products have relieved the constipation so I think a structural issue is unlikely but I will keep an open mind about it. Have tried laxido and found it made my stools too soft and caused other issues for me. Currently I take laxsol (senna and dulcolax) and lactulose. I saw a gastroenterologist a year or so ago about the SCT and the above meds and psyllium she prescribed fixed it for a long time. Perhaps it is time to ask for a referral again. The wait will be many months though.

I'm seeing my GP today about something else so will tell her about these issues. It just occurred to me I could ask about an oral cleansing solution that is used as a prep for procedures... that might relieve my acute symptoms and enable me to make a fresh start. It's better than waiting another week and ending up in A&E.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

The one fibre that works brilliantly for me without giving me any nasty side effects is acacia fibre which is totally soluble fibre and recommended for IBS.

Every time I've tried flax seeds, they tasted rancid to me so I gave up trying and psyllium just makes me more constipated.

Thanks for this recommendation, I will give it some serious thought. Psyllium did work for me in the past but I think things got out of whack due to not taking it every day for a while, and eating less fruit and veg, and drinking less water. I thought flax seeds would be dramatically better but so far I think the effect has been neutral or worse. Luckily I don't mind the taste of them.

 

[axle 222]

Thanks for your empathy, it really help to know others understand. Over the years laxatives and fibre products have relieved the constipation so I think a structural issue is unlikely but I will keep an open mind about it. Have tried laxido and found it made my stools too soft and caused other issues for me. Currently I take laxsol (senna and dulcolax) and lactulose. I saw a gastroenterologist a year or so ago about the SCT and the above meds and psyllium she prescribed fixed it for a long time. Perhaps it is time to ask for a referral again. The wait will be many months though.

I'm seeing my GP today about something else so will tell her about these issues. It just occurred to me I could ask about an oral cleansing solution that is used as a prep for procedures... that might relieve my acute symptoms and enable me to make a fresh start. It's better than waiting another week and ending up in A&E.

I too have resorted to that in the past......!!! Wishing you good luck you've certainly tried to find a remedy.....

 

[donnellysdogs]

2 tablespoons with 1 tablespoon of chia all together at my one meal of day in the evening.

Yep, have slow colonic. Works beautifully for me. Ran out a while back for 3 nights (own fault) and 2 days on ended up being hospitalised. I will never forget them on my shopping list again or run out.

I was prescribed the standard movicol which the GP changed to a cheaper version which the consultant was mad about because the one he switched me too was not suitable for slow colonic.

Found my own natural way of dealing with. Only had 1 admission into hospital since in 30 months since- and that was my own stupidity...

 

[donnellysdogs]

I now have max size hospital enemas incase I miss flaxseed accidentally again... Just to save the paramedics, morphine & paracetomal drips and wasting A&E time and resource. GP was more than willing to prescribe them.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I now have max size hospital enemas incase I miss flaxseed accidentally again... Just to save the paramedics, morphine & paracetomal drips and wasting A&E time and resource. GP was more than willing to prescribe them.

I have some fleet enemas for acute episodes, and they are about 200ml I think. Are the ones you have bigger? It might pay for me to get some.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Well, I am feeling a bit more positive after seeing the GP. She has prescribed some oral solution - she suggested it before I got a chance to ask for it. It's called Lax-sachets and contains macrogol, which I don't mind taking short term in this situation.

She said I should go back to using psyllium daily and I think I will. Once things are more settled I may try introducing a little flaxseed slowly, and it will be summer so I will be drinking more. I quite liked the flaxseed and I think it has other benefits.

This experience has been a reminder to never let constipation get out of control again. The nausea, headache, stomach fullness, reflux and total loss of appetite are not worth it.

 

[Indy51]

Chris Kresser has published a new interview with Dr Mark Pimentel of Cedars Sinai who is considered to be at the forefront of IBS/SIBO research. He talks a lot about constipation, slow motility, etc. so might be of interest to sufferers and especially the connection of methane producing bacteria in severe constipation:

http://chriskresser.com/sibo-update...pimentel/?mc_cid=20b3e0c7ea&mc_eid=6bed1d9edd

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Chris Kresser has published a new interview with Dr Mark Pimental of Cedars Sinai who is considered to be at the forefront of IBS/SIBO resarch. He talks a lot about constipation, slow motility, etc. so might be of interest to sufferers and especially the connection of methane producing bacteria in severe constipation:

http://chriskresser.com/sibo-update...pimentel/?mc_cid=20b3e0c7ea&mc_eid=6bed1d9edd

That's great, thanks. I think there is a large number of diabetics with slow motility, and if it's mainly their lower GI tract affected they may not know they have it. I think Dr Bernstein claimed that a third or more of T1s have gastroparesis... it's very sad, because I think these effects can happen in T1s even if they have excellent control. It seems to just be the nature of diabetes. I think it's clear though that for any diabetic, the better control they have, the less chance they have of complications or effects like slow motility.

In my case I'm pretty sure my slow motility is not diabetes-related, because I am T2, and I have had it since childhood, and several family members have too. We joke about it being [surname] syndrome, lol.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I don't thonk my slow motility is diabetes related either.
Once bitten by changing or forgetting what works, boy, you won't let it happen again.
Mine is only 128ml (huge compated to the 5ml micralax.. Just says "phosphates enema BP, formula B" - worst thong is trying to hold the liquid up the bowel for 45 mins!!

 

[ButtterflyLady]

I don't thonk my slow motility is diabetes related either.
Once bitten by changing or forgetting what works, boy, you won't let it happen again.
Mine is only 128ml (huge compated to the 5ml micralax.. Just says "phosphates enema BP, formula B" - worst thong is trying to hold the liquid up the bowel for 45 mins!!

Actually I guessed wrong, the delivered dose is 118ml. I loathe microlax... causes intense burning for me.

I think the ones you have sound very similar to the ones I have. According to the info below, it works in 1-5 minutes:
http://www.fleetlabs.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ICS5_1198F01_08209_M1.pdf

There are also other kinds now, which sound better:
http://www.fleetlabs.com/type/enemas/