Today's reflection is about-acid reflux and constipation. Yes, you read correctly. Boy have I learned a lesson about these two topics! This might be kind of gross, if you are one of those fidgety type of people.
As I have fell off the wagon a couple of times, I have noticed that when I gain my weight back and get to a certain weight (256 pounds to be exact), I have severe acid reflux. In the past six months this has happened to me about three or four times.
The first time this happened, I was in a hotel and the only thing that would alleviate the heartburn was tums, pepto bismol and pepcid. And believe me, I popped the pills like crazy because I was desperate. And then...I couldn't poop at all. I mean, I really couldn't poop. Nothing. I had to go and get a laxative and I was so constipated and compacted that I...well, you REALLY don't want to hear all of the details. Trust me! Oh, and by the way-don't ever get a laxative if you are constipated because all it does is just push what you can barely get out of you. Instead you need to get a stool softener type laxative.
Later I looked online and I found out that overuse of antacids might cause constipation.
As if I didn't learn from the first time, this holiday season I have hit that magical weight again and last week I started having acid reflux again. I was in so much pain and so desperate that I started popping the meds that I mentioned before and lo and behold-I was all stopped up again! But this time it was worse because I had also been stuffing myself with holiday treats and I'm sure that the tons of fatty food and cheese plugged me up even more!
Well, this time I tried to unplug myself naturally, by eating tons of high fiber foods, beans, and taking metamucil. Nothing was working. It was so horribly painful the first time that I went to the bathroom and I either tore something or have a huge, broken hemroids because...well, just trust me.
For days and days I took fiber pills, ate high fiber food, drank metamucil, ate tons and tons of beans and veggies and nothing has really been working. I am still in severe pain and honestly might go to the doctor if the bleeding doesn't stop soon. One thing that I have noticed is that my stools are softening up just a tiny bit but whatever I busted inside of me is just making me miserable with pain.
I started walking again and dropped two pounds and the acid reflux suddenly disappeared. I have noticed that after thirty minutes of walking that I need to immediately go to the bathroom, although it is very difficult and painful to pass stools. I am going to keep up with the walking and high fiber until my poor little behind feels better.
Lessons learned:
- Losing even a tiny bit of weight curbs my acid reflux. Why don't I just keep on losing it so that I don't have to deal with this again?
- Walking helps me go to the bathroom when I am constipated. They've always said that exercise keeps us regular, right?
- I should never take antacids again unless I also do double duty fiber therapy at the same time. But if I keep my weight down and eat well, I won't have to take anything.
- If I eat well in the first place, I will keep myself regular and won't have to deal with this nonsense!
