Stomach Cramps in Abdomen

[a-life-verbatim.livejournal.com]

I was a bit constipated early this morning and I guess I sat on the toilet a bit longer than usual. A few minutes after I left the bathroom I started getting cramps down in my abdomen, under my belly and just above my vagina (if that makes sense).

It's the part where I have stretch marks from when I lost weight. Does anyone know why I'm getting these cramps? I've gotten them before, they last about ten minutes and they're very, very strong.

Comments

[ninaf.livejournal.com]

Do you eat enough fiber?

[a-life-verbatim.livejournal.com]

Yes I do - cereal sometimes and beans.

[ninaf.livejournal.com]

That is certainly not enough fiber unless you are eating like 4 servings of each. You should be getting at least 20 grams of fiber a day. I am inclined to believe this is due to lack of fiber in your diet. Maybe watch how much you eat and try to eat more? Or visiting the doctor.

[a-life-verbatim.livejournal.com]

I don't know that much about fibre, would it be okay for you to tell me which foods contain the most fibre? Thanks :)

[ninaf.livejournal.com]

What food source is the nutrient found in?

There is no RDA for fiber. However, the National Cancer Institute recommends consuming 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day, with an upper limit of 35 grams. This should include a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber. Most Americans eat about 14 to 15 grams of fiber per day.

Following are some common sources of soluble fiber: · apples · barley · beans · citrus fruits · many vegetables · oats · peas · psyllium seed · squash · strawberries

Common sources of insoluble fiber are as follows: · bran · breakfast cereals · corn · flaxseed · peppers · potatoes · skins of fruits and vegetables · whole-wheat and whole-grain products

Most popular American foods are not high in dietary fiber. When choosing a cereal, check the food labels for a cereal with 5 or more grams of fiber per serving. Use whole grain breads such as: · corn bread from whole, ground cornmeal · cracked wheat bread · oatmeal bread · pumpernickel bread · rye bread · whole-wheat bread

Grains that have been refined have had the fiber removed. White flour, for example, is whole-wheat flour that has had the fiber removed during refining. Whole-wheat flour is a good source of fiber. White flour is not. Be aware that just because bread is brown does not mean it is high in fiber. Look for the words "whole-wheat" or "whole-grain" to make sure the product is made with wheat flour and has fiber in it.

Legumes are the best source of fiber. This food group includes dried peas and beans.

[nephron.livejournal.com]

Basically wholegrains, vegetables, fruits and legumes. If you're eating a reasonable variety of these in decent quantities, you should be OK.

[dragonfly1867.livejournal.com]

that sounds about where your intestines would be. I have had intestinal cramps that were pretty intense. You said you were constipated, could you perhaps be having some dietary issues? I don't think the stretch marks have anything to do with it, stretch marks are just on your skin.

[a-life-verbatim.livejournal.com]

the stretch marks comment was just to explain where the pain actually was :) I couldn't really pin-point it properly.

I just changed diets recently so maybe that's it. Thanks :)

[nephron.livejournal.com]

It does sound like an intestinal thing. First off try to make sure you're eating plenty of fibre. If that doesn't relieve it, you might need to look into other things- maybe you're (just a little) lactose intolerant, so you could limit milk intake and see if that helps?

There's lots of steps you can go through if it's a dietary thing. Hope it's just a lack of fibre, that's easy to fix :P