[FunSize]

Okay, the last 2-3 weeks I've been slowly converting to a plant based diet..
I lost my first 30lbs eating a low calorie standard american diet with pretty much rarely eating any veggies or fruits. Lots of frozen foods, fast food, etc.

So my typical day looks like now:

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ 1 packet stevia & 1 tablespoon almond butter
Lunch: Green Smoothie (2 handfuls spinach or kale, 1 banana, 1/2 orange, 1/2 cup frozen fruit)
Snack: 1 or 2 pieces of various fruit & 1 cup almond milk
Dinner: Lentil Salad Wrap (whole wheat tortilla, lentils, mashed avocado, chopped pickle, mustard, chopped peppers, mixed chopped lettuces ontop)

So, right around I started the switch I've had these horrible gas pains up my bum?? Every time I google it I get results for endometriosis and various things. It really hurts to pass gas (I feel like I am going to pass out) and I seem to have A LOT of it. I read one site that said it's trapped, built up gas can cause shooting pains.
I feel better once I've "eliminated".. but every few days the pain comes back.
I am wondering if it's the almond milk since I gave up dairy. So I am going to cut it out and see if that's it.

It's just frustrating that I am eating healthier than I ever have in my life and I've never been in so much pain!
I am just wondering if could also be my body is just not use to all the fiber? I went from never eating a vegetable to eating mostly veggies & grains. And if that's the case what am I suppose to do? I drink a ton of water.. I fill up quart size mason jars through out the day.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[fitbyforty]

I am not an expert but I think it is your body adjusting to your new diet.I think it is a temporary thing.

[shr1nk1ngme]

I would see a gyn just in case. It may be a coincidence that the gas developed at the same time as the change in diet, and gas can be related to gyn issues.

In the meantime, it might not be a bad idea to go to a health food store and buy a digestive enzyme supplement, or even just pick up some bean-o. My daughter used to get a lot of tummy aches so I had her take a supplement which included several different enzymes to deal with various food-related issues (beans and milk, mostly). It seemed to help her.

[canadianwoman]

My first thought is, how much water are you drinking? You might not be getting enough water with the extra fiber you are eating.

[Arianwen]

Did you have a hard stool that was hard to pass, that hurt upon exit? I wonder if you have an anal fissure. Like the previous poster said, increase your water intake.

It should heal up on it's own, but you will re-tear it if you don't drink enough water, ie: to keep your stools healthy and easy to pass.

Try cleaning yourself after you have a BM in the shower, not with toilet paper, too.

[Unna]

I don't think you need to go to a doctor just yet - it is the lentils! Funnily enough, I have a diet very similar to yours.

The smoothie, fruit, oatmeal - no problems.

Beans have the tendency to cause painful gas. Try replacing the beans with tofu or seitan for a few days. I would bet money that your terrible gas will clear up.

In addition, don't forget to chew well!

I also have to be careful with cauliflower and whole chickpeas.

[FunSize]

Originally Posted by Unna

I don't think you need to go to a doctor just yet - it is the lentils! Funnily enough, I have a diet very similar to yours.

The smoothie, fruit, oatmeal - no problems.

Beans have the tendency to cause painful gas. Try replacing the beans with tofu or seitan for a few days. I would bet money that your terrible gas will clear up.

In addition, don't forget to chew well!

I also have to be careful with cauliflower and whole chickpeas.

Oh no! Guess what I cooked myself for dinner last night?? LENTILS!!!

I really hope it's just because of my diet. The pain gets so bad I feel like I am going to pass out. No pains in my abdomen or anything though.. All the pain is like in my "tract".

I am going to make a diary of the pain & what I ate to see if there is a correlation or not.