I have a problem that comes up all the time for me lately. Whenever I have an athletic competition my nerves seem to do a number on my bowels. I’ve tried taking Imodium AD and that works, but I’d rather have something natural.
Since I have a triathlon this weekend I’d rather not have to worry about going 15 minutes into the event. There has to be a better way to take care of this.
I’m sure leiu has some good ideas, but maybe someone else does too.
Aren’t metamucil and other fiber supplements used to loosen the bowels? I know that when I switched to an extremely-high fiber breakfast cereal (for unrelated reasons), I had low-to medium-grade diarrhea for about a week until my body adjusted.
I was led to believe they’re for regulating bowels. They harden when they need to, soften when they need to so stool is at a more “normal” consistency. If it’s stress chemicals that are causing the problem, though, there’s probably not a lot you can do. Of course, YMMV.
I had very soft stools since an operation a year ago. The Dr. recommended fiber supplements, which will add bulk to too soft stool and soften too hard stool. It did an OK job and is worth trying.
IIRC, loperamide would come up as an opiate only on the less sophisticated screening testing assays. The more sophisticated ones (which should be performed on the sample once a screening test becomes positive) should recognize it for what it is. And any federally mandated urine drugs screens (such as for the DOT drivers) should be able to exclude this drug.
Besides, if giving a urine sample for a drug screen, always report all medication used within the previous 48 hours, including over the counter medicine.
I’m guessing that I will have to try more fiber then. That may explain why when I was in Italy I actually didn’t have this problem even though I was in a major competition. Lots of good pasta and cheese. I guess I’ll find out this weekend if I have to change my undies at every transition.
I know how you feel. Since my surgery I have …non hard poop. I try to minimize the oil in foods that I eat and that helps. I have always been wary of trying something like metamucil because I, also, was under the impression that it made your stool softer. If it doesn’t do that, then I might give it a shot…