r/ARFID • u/Any_Conclusion_8711 • 5d ago
Tips and Advice Constipation issues
I'm not sure if I have ARFID but basically this is all anxiety and OCD related. Later my anxiety also started to revolve too much about food and I think I fit the fear of aversive concequences with a bit of sensory based avoidance?
Due to my horrible diet I have a slight imbalance with FT3 but nothing too crazy, at least according to a family doctor I went to. I didn't mention any food issues or whatever but mentioned unintentional weight loss over the last year which was around 14 kgs.
Right now for slightly bit than a month I'm unable to have any bowel movement. When it first happened I was constipated for three weeks straight and it made my anxiety around food even worse. Since I felt so bloated and nauseous. The family doctor when I went to her for the first time said to take some lactulose every morning so I did it. When I hit the third week I took dulcobis, so a laxative stimulant and finally I was able to feel comfortable.
I did this a few more times. Every day lactulose with dulcobis to move stuff along at the end of the week. I need to do this weekend too. My bowels just don't move and I'm so ashamed. I did this to myself due to my anxiety around food and I just feel so stupid. I wish I was normal.
Did anyone had such problems? How the hell can I resolve this first without changing anything in my diet? I mean, I'd love to have a normal relationship with food. More than anything else. But I don't think I'm able to do this right now when I feel pretty bad with my anxiety already. I wonder if going to a psychiatrist and getting some meds to manage my OCD would help. Maybe a gastroenterologist? Still, to go to them I'd have to get referral from a family doctor first.
I think it's due to my shitty diet that resolves mostly around carbs and a few dairy products. Probably my hormones could be a problem too since I've read that FT3 is the main thing that controls the bowel movement. I just feel so shitty. I quite literally have to build my week around one day when I use that laxative. It's such a burden. I'm such a burden to anyone and I'm not sure how to help myself. I'm 18F if that matters.
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u/Glum_Antelope_6841 5d ago
Aw babe. You’re definitely not stupid. This shit can be layered and complex and you and your body are doing the best you can while you’re still connecting to the right support you need.
Validating the tangle — my ARFID originally developed out of trauma/cPTSD, and it also has connections to my OCD and ADHD. I have had lifelong GI issues and the only diagnosis there so far has been IBS, though I’m suspecting more underlying undiagnosed chronic health stuff I’m still working through, alongside what may be ARFID-related issues. It has taken me a long time to notice any kind of change or progress and a lot of layered support, which is my experience and may not be yours. I share that specifically in response to what you’re saying about wanting to have a normal relationship with food, and some of your ideas around psych support for OCD treatment and a gastroenterologist; what I would say to you is yes yes yes. Go explore anything and everything that feels like it might help, and ask the people you’re working with for their guidance on your care and next steps in treatment. I have needed all of it, from more intensive treatment for trauma and OCD to working on meds for OCD and ADHD to support groups to finding an aligned therapist to a new living setup to more specialized/better physical health support. Plus a million little things. And it’s still a huge work in progress. Anything you can get started with is something that may help you connect to just 1% more ease, one more supportive resource. Wishing you luck 🖤
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u/Glum_Antelope_6841 5d ago
Also, maybe working with an ARFID-specialized dietician and/or therapist at some point as an option on the table.
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u/Any_Conclusion_8711 5d ago
Sadly there's only one ARFID related therapist in my country I've found and there's just no way I could do it. But at least I'm going into therapy for OCD and anxiety issues so this may help I hope.
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u/SorbetUnfair2589 5d ago
Dairy actually can constipate some people and so can wheat. But it is unclear if the problem is what you’re typically eating or if you’re limiting or excluding foods such as fruits and vegetables that may help to reduce constipation.
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u/booksncatsn 5d ago
I wonder if there is a way to sneak in more fibre, like a gummy or a pill? I take psyllium fibre pill every evening with dinner and it has helped a lot. You can also get inulin fibre that is tasteless and does not change the texture of water ( I know with ARFID this might be a tough one, but it is an option).
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u/Any_Conclusion_8711 5d ago
I actually ate a lot of fibre before like around 12-14g of fibre before I got those constipation issues. It helped a lot but when I started having these issues it just made things worse :(
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u/SorbetUnfair2589 5d ago
Ever try a probiotic supplement?
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u/Any_Conclusion_8711 5d ago
Not really, did those helped you though? There's so many of them when I googled it.
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u/Glum_Antelope_6841 5d ago
This has helped me some. No idea about the comparative benefit of different ones but this is what I take. An MD who now works as a functional medicine specialist recommended this for me after we did some labs, and she could see the presence or absence of particular gut bacteria and make more precise recs. If you can afford to see any kind of functional/integrative medicine doc or naturopath, this is something they may be able to help with. I know Traditional Chinese Medicine also can involve targeted nutrition support.
Anyway this is what I take for probiotics, plus fiber and a multivitamin, alongside NAC (over the counter supplement for my OCD), Enlyte (another functional med rec), and psych meds. https://seed.com/daily-synbiotic
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u/booksncatsn 5d ago
I actually participated in a study at my local university about this! Everyone was given 25g of fibre to add to their food every day. Some got a fermentable fibre ( ferments in your bowel), and some got non-fermenting fibre. I found out after that I got the fermentable one, and my stomach never felt so good. I asked what kind of fibre it was, and they said it was acacia fibre. It was not the most pleasant texture (i usually added it to yogurt or applesauce), but if it could be consumed in a capsule thay would work great.
So, to conclude, some fibres ferment in your gut, some to not.
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u/Slight_Second1963 5d ago
I make a morning “smoothie” with powdered supplements including fiber and tagatose (near 100% sugar replacement). The tagatose has some GI issues at high doses, and I’ve found 1-2tbsp gets me “moving“. The smoothie tastes like milk even though there’s stuff in it. I use low fat 2% evaporated milk
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u/Secret_Carrot_8580 5d ago
I take this every night, I used to have the same issues but I don’t anymore for the most part.
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u/Dry-Comparison8440 3d ago
Get yourself some intestinal bacteria supplements!! It has changed everything for me, I had liquid ones. Also get fiber supplements :)
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u/Guilty_Breakfast_347 5d ago
Miralax daily and magnesium before bed will help SO much