Earlier this month I got it into my head to start taking fiber supplements. Ever since my gall bladder surgery back in 2011 things haven't been right with my intestines.
For instance, things that didn't bother my stomach now do like alcohol. The discomfort from a couple of margaritas was unbearable and not worth the buzz. So, I quit. And Brian did, too, because he didn't want to drink alone. Not that we drank that much, but it was nice to sit outside and watch the sunset, you know? I still miss those times. Tuna fish. Tomato soup. Grilled cheese sandwiches.
I quit eating after six in the evening. So many changes. The reflux got pretty bad and I'm on daily omeprazole pills (prescribed).
Well, this has all played havoc with my, uh, how to put this delicately...bowel movements. They are not consistent. We quit walking a couple of years ago because we'd be half a mile from home and it would hit me. Uh, oh, we have to hightail it home right now. The enjoyment of walking up and down a hill with butt cheeks squeezed tightly together was one of the lowlights of my life.
I mentioned it to my doctor last year and she mentioned a colonoscopy. Yeah, no. The procedure itself isn't a problem, the prep is. Not so much visits to the bathroom, but I was hungry. My last one had me in the kitchen crying because Brian was making a peanut butter sandwich and it smelled so good. I was standing at the stove, stirring some brown water. The can said "broth", but it was really just brown water. It was nasty.
Anyway, I get it into my head (yeah, another one of these great ideas that never pan out) to start taking fiber. Pumpkin seeds (yummy). Fiber gummies (yummy). Cut back on bread (not a problem for me at all).
I did this for a couple of weeks. I was amazed that I wasn't as hungry as I had been, I was feeling fuller and wasn't eating as much. This made me happy.
Until last Monday.
You know how fiber is supposed to regulate? Well, uh, it can also go either way. Constipation or diarrhea are another couple of alternatives.
Sunday, I had a big breakfast. I had a half of a sandwich for lunch. I had two slices of pizza Sunday night. My morning bathroom schedule produced nothing. Monday I had horrible heartburn. It wasn't reflux. I thought maybe I just needed a big burp and what has helped me since my twenties was baking soda and warm water. I did burp, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't much better Tuesday. Everything was still just sitting somewhere between my neck and my butt. Tuesday I figured I'd just clean the system out of anything stuck in there. I didn't eat. I took two Dulcolax laxatives. Later in the day, I was feeling a lot better. Wednesday, I was almost back to normal.
I haven't had a fiber gummy or handful of pumpkin seeds since last Sunday.
Yeah, I found out why it's advised to start slow with fiber. I hope I learned my lesson.
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