General I wonder if there is something wrong with his stomach or if it is ptsd?

[Never_falter2]

I told you my vet changed his diet month ago. Not 100 percent but he is trying to eat more healthy. I am trying to cook more healthy. Couldn’t find the old thread. He had constipation, he changed his diet. On the one hand it became better... but he still often has constipation... and diarrhea often while having constipation at the same time. I know sounds illogical but it is like this.
He still sometimes feels like he cannot eat.
He has trouble with stomach cramping. Actually always a while after he has eaten, he says after he has eaten healthy food but it doesn’t happen after he has eaten junk food. Is that even possible that he has this reaction only to healthy food or somehow psychological?
And he had several bladder infections in the last time. I think it is really unusual for a guy to have bladder infection at all, isn’t it?

I am a bit worried, tell him to eat more healthy. Tell him to see another gp (or at least see our gp again, where he only was to antibiotics but did not discuss all of this stuff with him) because ours said his problems would be gone if he eats more healthy. He is trying to eat halfway healthy now at least most of the time... but as I said it gives him trouble (cramping) and he often feels like he cannot get healthy food down (while he feels like eating chocolate).

Is this PTSD? Is there something wrong with his stomach?

He says sometimes after he has eaten something healthy his stomach hurts a lot and then he needs to drink cocoa or latte macchiatto with lots of sugar or something like this then it goes away. I am sure that he is not making it up but is there something physical that could cause it or it is psychological? He doesn’t want to discuss this with a doctor because he is afraid he would make fun of it.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Sometimes it takes awhile to adjust to a new diet... perhaps he’s just “coming off” sugar, especially if he is feeling better after drinking something sweet.

 

[Never_falter2]

But can you really become physically addicted to sugar. I guess he is sorrowful annoyed I monitor his health but then he talked to me about it how it physically hurts and goes away after he has drunken something sweet.

 

[Sweetpea76]

Im not sure if you can be “addicted” in the clinical definition of addiction, but there is definitely a craving/reward thing that goes on with sugars. I know I used food as a coping mechanism in the past. It made me happy. It made me feel comfortable. It calmed me down... and I’m not talking about healthy food either. There is a reason why “comfort food” is carby, starchy, heavy and sugary.

I’m a Type II diabetic. When I was diagnosed and had to give up sugar, I felt horrible for a little while while I was adjusting to my new diet. Headachy, cranky, a little nauseous... not to mention irritated at how difficult it was to find healthy foods that tasted as good as the sugary stuff (especially in the US, where everything is loaded with sugar and corn syrup). It didn’t last very long, and I felt much much better afterwards. My system had to adjust to not running on garbage food, and I had to mentally accept that I cannot eat junk as a regular part of my diet. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it was really a major lifestyle change.

 

[Never_falter2]

It didn’t last very long, and I felt much much better afterwards.

That‘s good to hear. Thanks for sharing. Maybe it’s just that. I am a bit afraid that he has got a stomach tumor or something like this and I hope I am being silly.
I mean I am happy that he is sharing with me when he is feeling unwell because he used not too.

 

[Justmehere]

But can you really become physically addicted to sugar.

Studies seem to indicate it's possible. Evidence for sugar addiction: Behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake It could be other things too, or some mild IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and/or stress. A doc is the best person to handle it - would he feel comforted if you went with him to the doc to talk to the doc about it? It's not anything a decent doctor would make fun of - but you and I know this, and he may not. :( Either way, I hope he feels better fast.

 

[Never_falter2]

The problem with our gp is that he doesn’t have the best social skills. He might or might not make fun of him thinking he needs to drink cocoa or latte machchiatto. To be honest it sounds a little odd. He won’t make fun of the rest.
But you know, that really sounds a little odd, people in our culture are very direct. Our gp doesn’t have the best social skills. So if there is no medical reason for that he might or might not made fun of it.
Actually gp made fun of Vet before. I assume he didn’t think it would hurt his feelings but was just teasing. However he also doesn’t want to see somebody else about it.

He was btw diagnosed with IBS-C before by another doctor. Sorry for the stupid question: is having those reaction to somewhat more healthful food typical for IBS?

 

[Justmehere]

He was btw diagnosed with IBS-C before by another doctor. Sorry for the stupid question: is having those reaction to somewhat more healthful food typical for IBS?

A good question for a medical doc, but I understand he's not willing. This article might help: https://www.webmd.com/ibs/ibs-triggers-prevention-strategies#1 In that article, they point out that too much fiber at once, rather than a gradual increase, like all of a sudden eating the skin of fruits and veggies (generally healthy foods) a lot more often, might be a trigger for IBS. Reading about IBS friendly diets might help.

 

[Never_falter2]

Thanks. I will read it.

 

[OrangeJulius]

and diarrhea often while having constipation at the same time

Look into encopresis and see if it sounds like what he goes through. Generally a condition in kids but can also be adults. Basically you get so constipated and have a large hard stool stuck and watery diarrhea can get by it and leak out. It has both psychological and physiological components to it. My sister had it as a child (and still has to acticely manage it as an adult to avoid the worst parts of it) and she saw both a gastroenterologist and psychiatrist for treatment.

I am sure that he is not making it up but is there something physical that could cause it or it is psychological?

See above. Can totally be both.

But can you really become physically addicted to sugar

Yes. On a brain chemical level sugar is more addictive than cocaine. People go through withdrawal from it with uncomfortable symptoms.

 

[Chris-duck]

Hey.

You've made a few posts about your vet and his eating/stomach issues. And that's not a criticism, obviously his health matters a lot to you and that's good. It just does always seem to circle back to "but he says it's because *reason*" so I wonder how much of a problem he sees it as. Cos as frustrating as it must be, if he doesn't see this particular problem as priority then I guess it's something you kinda need to ride out til whatever dies down n he wants to focus on food issues.

Just my opinion obv. Feel free to discard :)

 

[Friday]

There are so many possible things it COULD be (worms or other parasites, too much fiber, too little fiber, dehydration, diverticulitis, krohns disease, stenosis, lesions, adhesions, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, impaction, partial obstruction, smooth muscle issues, perfusion issues, nerve issues -people with back injuries often have gut issues stemming from nerve damage- localized infection, hernias of several different kinds, benign tumors, bile duct issues, celiacs, food allergy, etc., etc., etc.)... soooooo many possible things that cause his symptoms...
it’s a real shame that his GP won’t refer him to a gastroenterologist, or recommend more than a single solution to all problems (eat better! You’ll feel better!) :rolleyes: (did the doctor get his licence from a crackerjack box? :banghead:

So I have to agree with your husband, going back to him is fairly pointless. It can be very difficult to get a 2nd opinion in DEU, or to see a specialist without going through your GP, I know. Maybe a private doctor could be arranged for the referral? Or seeing a family member’s GP during a holiday visit?

Yes. On a brain chemical level sugar is more addictive than cocaine. People go through withdrawal from it with uncomfortable symptoms.

No.

Withdrawal is the body responding to an unnecessary substance as if it’s a necessary substance. Sugar IS a necessary substance. So when the body is reacting to it being missing? Headaches, confusion/shaking/fevers/chills/sweats/puking/arrhythmia/etc. (homeostasis failing), seizures, and death? That’s not withdrawal from an addiction. That’s what happen when we’re missing a vital component to life. Whether it’s oxygen, water, sugar (carbs), protein, lipids, vitamins, or minerals... the only difference is how fast their absence kills us, and what kinds of damage we sustain before we die.

Unless you’re counting death as the uncomfortable withdrawal from life? ;)

Sharing a psychological component of addiction in wanting something you don’t need, or have decided to change your lifestyle? (Meaning you’ve chosen to reduce, rather than eliminate sugar from your diet, and the reduction levels are still high enough to sustain brain function ...but want an apple or cake, because you want it, and want it now, and so are going to misbehave if you don’t get your way?) Is like any other kind of childishness, or difficulty in breaking a habit. Not all -or even most- habits stem from addiction, nor are all emotional outbursts. <<< The physiological symptoms from reduced -but sustainable- levels of sugar, however, are no more psychological &/or addiction based than altitude sickness is, when people who are acclimated to sea level head up into the mountains or high plateaus. Doesn’t mean you’re addicted to oxygen, because you get altitude sick. It means your body is having to adjust/reprioritize interconnected systems used to a surplus, now on short supply.

The prioritizing of oxygen, sugar, & water “over” proteins, lipids, vitamins, & minerals? Has 2 very common sense causes - We die, quite quickly without them, but we also cannot store them. The body eats itself to keep itself alive & we have stores of the other 4 throughout our bodies that allow us to do so. But air, sugar, & water are very limited resources as air and sugar can’t be stored at all, and water can only store in very limited amounts for short periods of time.

Anatomy & Physiology is just wicked cool, right? :woot: