Anyone experienced crampy stomach from supplement usage?

dingomate · 02-08-2010, 10:31 PM

Just wondering if I'm the only one this has happened to? For the last two weeks my stomach has been really crampy and bloated? I went to my OB/GYN worrying it could be something else and out of the blue she asked if I was taking supplements because this can cause problems. I do take a lot of them, but I don't want to stop them altogether? I eat a pretty healthy diet, no sugar other than fruit smoothies, lots of fiber, limited dairy so I am at a loss what could be causing this?

JE55ICA · 02-08-2010, 10:33 PM

Could be a build up of bad bacteria.
Are you taking probiotics?

regi1 · 02-08-2010, 10:42 PM

About two weeks ago I got sick after taking a multi-vitamin packet and even though I'm not a 100% sure that's what caused it I have not had the nerve to take another dose. Besides the symptoms you described, I had fever and was unable to eat anything for a good two days!

**fawnie** · 02-08-2010, 11:33 PM

Dingomate, which supplements are you taking? Maybe we can pick out the ones most likely responsible. Usually iron and B vitamins are hard on the stomach. Or acids like Vit C.
Be sure to always take supplements with food unless otherwise directed!

Regi, if you had fever I would think you had something viral or bacterial going on, not just GI upset from vitamins. Hope you're better!

LYDIASELLERS · 02-09-2010, 12:32 AM

maybe your taking to many. i get stomach pain from taking to many vitamin at once.

dingomate · 02-09-2010, 04:15 PM

I think I'm taking too many at once. I have no idea which one it could be.

I take Vit. C, Vit. D, Vit. E, Vit. B, selenium, Calcium, multi, alpha lipoic acid, biotin, folic acid, zinc, pycgonol (pine bark extract sp?), L Aceytl Carnitine, Barleans lemon flavored fish oil, CoQ10, magnesium, flax oil, ginko biloba. I'm sure there's more but I can't remember at the moment. I totally believe in supplements but all of the sudden something is killing my stomach.

Angel Hair · 02-09-2010, 04:54 PM

woah thats a lot!! perhaps split up the usage! half in the day and half at night after food!

dingomate · 02-09-2010, 07:58 PM

I know, for now I've stopped altogether but there must be others who take a lot of vitamins and supplements and not experienced this? Gosh, I feel like a trainwreck sometimes. If it's not an aching muscle, upset stomach, headache. What gives? It becomes ridiculous after a while!

**fawnie** · 02-09-2010, 08:29 PM

Dingomate I take most of those same ones and more! They don't bother my stomach, but I've become accustomed to them maybe. I just throw 'em down and drink a lot of water and take my protein shake with them. I agree with the idea of splitting them up maybe. Be careful tho - some, like MSM can keep you alert all nite! Phosphatidyl serine does that to me too!

chelsie · 02-09-2010, 08:34 PM

I find that if I take my vitamins with my green drink they are much easier to absorb, but just with water I spit them back up

dingomate · 02-09-2010, 09:26 PM

Good tips. Thanks you guys. For now I am not taking anything and am going to wait a few days and see what happens and maybe spread them out more.

regi1 · 02-11-2010, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by fawnie

Regi, if you had fever I would think you had something viral or bacterial going on, not just GI upset from vitamins. Hope you're better!

Thanks, Fawnie. I agree, but I thought that maybe the supplement batch I got was contaminated or something. I do feel a lot better but I lost about 5 lbs from this experience!

**fawnie** · 02-11-2010, 12:44 AM

Ohhhh that makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it!!! Maybe you could call the companies that made the supplements and tell them about it. Of course they'll deny it, but at least you warned them in case others complain too.

Glad yu feel better anyway!

regi1 · 02-11-2010, 12:50 AM

Thanks, Fawnie. It's a good idea, I'll give them a call tomorrow.

**fawnie** · 02-11-2010, 12:56 AM

Good idea regi. Out of curiosity, which ones were you taking? So I can NOT take them too!!!!

happytimes · 02-11-2010, 09:26 PM

Dingo, theres no doubt about it. Your stomach aches are attributed to taking so many supplements at the same time...That happened to me and Ive cut back and broken it up...makes a huge diff...good luck

**gymrat** · 02-11-2010, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by dingomate

I think I'm taking too many at once. I have no idea which one it could be.

I take Vit. C, Vit. D, Vit. E, Vit. B, selenium, Calcium, multi, alpha lipoic acid, biotin, folic acid, zinc, pycgonol (pine bark extract sp?), L Aceytl Carnitine, Barleans lemon flavored fish oil, CoQ10, magnesium, flax oil, ginko biloba. I'm sure there's more but I can't remember at the moment. I totally believe in supplements but all of the sudden something is killing my stomach.

Dingomate, I take all of these plus some. My guess is it could be your Vit C. Vit C is extremely acidity and can cause horrible stomach pains. Make sure it is a buffered Vit C, and this will alleviate most stomach problems. Also eating help.

Do you take all that you have listed here in the AM? do you take any in the PM? If not you definitely could break some of these up and take at night. Fish oil, flax oil, zinc, and ALA you could take at night. The other thing, check your multi and make sure you don't already have a few of these listed in there as well. You don't want to be on over load.

oliveir3 · 02-12-2010, 07:38 AM

supplements are no good.. eat a banana and a granola bar instead

dingomate · 02-12-2010, 08:57 PM

You know I am at my wits end with this crampy bloated stomach (sorry for the gory details). I have not touched a supplement in four days and still I have this problem. I've never experienced this before so now I'm thinking I have some sort of bug? It's seriously annoying and I had to cut my run short the other day because my stomach was hurting so bad. And to Jessica's question, yes, I do have probiotics and have been taking lots of them but it's not helping? Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I'm praying this goes away soon!

LightenNLift · 02-12-2010, 09:01 PM

dingomate, maybe you can go to the store CVS or any drugstore and get the powdered Psyllum Husk and mix about 1 to 2 teaspoons to a full glass of water and drink that twice a day with 8 glasses of water in between. This will clear your colon and be sure to eat a lot of broccoli, cereal, grain and fiber.