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12 week Vegan and STILL have loose stool (sorry--poop talk)
Started
by Shannon
on May 21, 2010
Any advice would be appreciated! I've been vegan for about 12 weeks now and doing well following recipes from The Kind Diet. However, as soon as I cut out dairy and meat I immediately had loose stool--not much bloating or gas--just loose stool. I never ate much meat but I was a dairy addict. I used to have 100% normal bowel movements. My Dr. started me on NOW's Candida Clear and probiotics in case I had an overgrowth of yeast in my gut......but that hasn't worked. I'm also taking Calcium Carbonate to try to firm up my poo but after 7 days it still isn't helping. Any suggestions? I've only lost 2 pounds (I could lose 20) and I've been eating really well. I do need to up my exercise amount. I think even my Dr. doesn't know what to do with me!
I'm not going to pretend that I know what is happening with your situation. The biggest concern on diarrhea is dehydration and that you may not be absorbing the minerals, etc that you need. As well, while you have only lost 2 lbs, that can be good news right now, meaning that your body is still taking in a lot of what it needs (very loose stool and rapid weight loss is a sign that something is going awry). In reading that you were a dairy "addict" that could have something to do w/ it in the sense that dairy can cause a lot of constipation, so maybe you are just not used to this new found consistency?? As most people who switch to a vegan diet do, you have probably ramped up your intake of vegetables, which can change the consistency. Keep in touch with your doctor about the matter. You could probably stop taking the calcium carb. since it doesn't seem to be working.
Good luck!
I'm curious if by going vegan you increased the amounts of other foods in your diet to replace the dairy/meat (and congrats on cutting the dairy despite the addiction - thats so hard to do!)? If, for example, you had a food sensitivity to soy and you weren't eating much before and now are eating a lot, it may be manifesting in looser stool. Just a thought, from someone who is riddled with food sensitivities and whose stool are quite spectacular (in a dysfunctional sense!) as a result.......
Thanks Laura and Ann for the responses!! My Dr. was talking about that dairy is a constipator so my body is still getting used to not having it. I'm definitely eating more veggies, brown rice, and rice milk than before. And I never used to eat lentils but do now. Maybe I should cut out the lentils? I'm only eating soy sparingly......I'm hypothyroid and have been told to avoid soy. I feel okay, my energy is good.....it's just the loose stool....not really full blown diarrhea (ha...that sounds funny). Before going vegan I had firm, well formed poo 1-2 x day. Now it's still 1-2 x day but loose. I'm keeping Cottonelle moist wipes in business!! I just thought after 12 weeks of no dairy my body would be balanced out. Thanks again for your replies. I appreciate it.
When I worked in a kitchen (in a nurcing home for elderly), they always gave bananas and rice to the people that had diarrhea. Maybe it will work for loose stool as well.
Be sure to drink enough!
I had a breakthrough this weekend!!! I'm not sure why but my poo is getting much firmer. I've narrowed it down to: I started taking a digestive enzyme with each meal OR I gave up Rice Milk. Those are the only 2 different things this past weekend. We'll see.................
Just found this, and I am having like the EXACT issue! It has been closer to a year for me, though, and it all started when I started my journey into veganism. Recently, I have had more meat and dairy (long story), and it has firmed up again, and so I think that it really is the vegan diet.
My doctor had me go off of gluten and dairy to see if there was any change...nothing. It's not like RUNNING to the bathroom or I won't make, but when I have to go, I HAVE to go, and it isn't exactly "solid." It's not watery.
It has been driving me CRAZY!
I thought it could maybe be soy also, but I'm not even sure.
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