Does Lactic Acid affect the gastrointestinal system?

[cherinyc]

Bicycling magazine had an article this month on stomach upsets, you should look for it. Basically, it said that people shouldn't overdo the carbohydrates while riding--sports drinks or food carbs, but diagnosed this guy's problem as his system couldn't handle too much.

Hello everyone - bikerbarb - I did read this article in Bicycling, a couple days ago actually. Don't think that's my problem though.
I do have IBS, and know my sensitivities. I typically don't eat much before a ride - maybe a Lara bar or something. But my point is that I am perfectly fine on the ride. The effect isn't happening until many hours later, or the next day. Nothing terrible, it's just that my IBS is the "stopped up" kind. The more stressed I am, the longer it is between....BM's. (sorry, TMI)
So, since I am not someone who really has that everyday, regularness...it is surprising to me that after a long ride, I have to go like 3-4 times the next day. Like everything wants OUT. It's not that I have eaten a huge meal or anything either. I don't know where it all comes from. this is embarassing to talk about.

[chickwhorips]

cheri don't be embrassed. from other things we've talked about on here this is nothing!

i would keep a close eye on the ibs thing. it does weird things to you. i got the tummy fiber from here: help for ibs and it helped big time. being up here i don't get a lot of veggies and fruits so my fiber intake is low. i noticed personally if my diet had lots of fiber in it my ibs didn't bother me. that websight is good for a bunch of other stuff too, not just the tummy fiber. i did this dr natura cleanse and it helped with the ibs (and weightloss).

happy movements

[im4smiley]

Hi, I noticed on my longer rides if I drank gatorade endurance during the ride, as soon as I stopped riding my tummy would start gurgling. And the next day I would go more (kinda soft). So I have been trying different things. Last night I tried just regular gatorade and tummy was ok. So maybe you just have to experiment with differnet drinks? just a thought

[Bikingmomof3]

Hello everyone - bikerbarb - I did read this article in Bicycling, a couple days ago actually. Don't think that's my problem though.
I do have IBS, and know my sensitivities. I typically don't eat much before a ride - maybe a Lara bar or something. But my point is that I am perfectly fine on the ride. The effect isn't happening until many hours later, or the next day. Nothing terrible, it's just that my IBS is the "stopped up" kind. The more stressed I am, the longer it is between....BM's. (sorry, TMI)
So, since I am not someone who really has that everyday, regularness...it is surprising to me that after a long ride, I have to go like 3-4 times the next day. Like everything wants OUT. It's not that I have eaten a huge meal or anything either. I don't know where it all comes from. this is embarassing to talk about.

Do not be embarassed. I have the same issues, so you are not alone. I do not know why it occurs after big events, it just does and for me, I just know it will happen and expect it. Not fun, but it is what my body does and I have learned to except it. If it is really distressing you, it is definitely worth a talk with a doctor. I just wanted you to know you are most definitely not alone.

[cherinyc]

I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone. And especially since, most of time I feel like I have to go to the bathroom (gas, gurgling, bloating, etc) and I can't go,iIt's actually, ummm....refreshing? when I feel like I have "flushed" out everything
I am laughing to myself at all the puns and jokes that are just flying around in my head.
Anyway - I have been eating for my IBS (monitering fiber intake, etc) for many years, so I really don't think it's what I am eating.
My other thought was that I have been fairly nervous, before and during these rides - afraid my lungs would give out, or I wouldn't be able to go the distance. Maybe just the relief of being finished with the ride is relaxing my colon (which is usually very very spastic).
Mosaic's explanation of the blood moving away from that area and then moving back after the ride kinda makes sense too. Like how I get at the beginning of my period.

[Bikingmomof3]

I think you summed up everything quite well. Yes, it is how I am as well. On the upside I know where every restroom in the area is located. My family has been very tolerant. I too watch what I eat, yet there are times when the nerves just kick in. Hang in there, you have a lot of support.

[Kitsune06]

that was actually what I wanted to ask, but I didn't want to go out on that limb until it'd been reached by someone else. I've found the 'stopped up kind' reacts wildly with that much physical activity. Yeah, it's cleansing, but I know what you mean thinking "Okay, ENOUGH ALREADY!"

I think the best way to 'treat' this problem is both knowing that it's the result of being 'stopped up' and the activity moving things along, and that you'll have to just keep proper fiber/hydration in mind all the time to minimize being stopped up. =(

D*mn inconsistent guts!

[KnottedYet]

I'm not IBS or Crohn's, I've got gluten enteropathy. It's also autoimmune, and also gets grumpier with stress. As soon as I read the first post of this thread I thought...

GATOR GUT!!!

I cannot drink Gatorade much at all without a serious case of the runs-bloats-gurgles later and the next day. (same thing with alcohol, but that's the price I pay...) I switched to the most natural/normal sugar drink I could find and that was Clif Electrolyte. Oh, happy joy! Not only do I have no nausea etc with Clif, it also helps calm my gut down when it's in a bad mood.

So I'm a Clif devotee: Clif Electrolyte, Clif Bloks, and Clif Recovery. (the Recovery is fun, but not so important)

My gut handles it just fine. Try a few different drinks/energy foods and see if one works better. I also eat a lot of candied ginger when I'm having a bad day, and that helps.

[cherinyc]

You know, I don't think my tummy, and other parts like Gatorade either.
Also, the bf and I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on Luna bars, Clif Bars, Powerbars, Lara Bars, and a Clif - Nectar bar.
Turns out that soy really really bothers me. Which sucks, because it seems to be in EVERY DAMN THING!!
Except the Lara bars and the Nectar bars, which are nuts and dates, pretty much.
I actually like Tofu too - but I have found that consuming even a little bit of soy - anything - causes gastrointestinal distress for like 2 days. Edamame is the worst. Seriously, it causes the "I wish I lived alone" type of bad.
Oh well.