Back in the good old US, and my bowl movements are back to normal.

esanch36 says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:28:

bump

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jaramillo says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:31:

It is a common occurrence with traveling. It may related to some of the things that you mention (diet, alcohol, etc.). Stress (airports, airplanes, less familiar surroundings, etc.) is also one of the culprits (activation of the sympathetic nervous system is not conducive to good digestion). Poop is an important issue. How's that for a signature?

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:34:

I'm glad we get to discuss topics as important as this one.
It truly warms my heart to talk about doody with everyone.

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La_Huella says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:39:

Change of diet. I've been here 4 months now and the first 2 months it was a problem.

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:41:

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/how-to-tell-when-colombia-finall...

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:43:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kIx1CDwMbI

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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Dec 10, 2008, 08:52:

Thank god I live in MIAMI and I eat so much Latino food from ALL of Latin America that it is such a smooth transition. I would really suggest eating very lightly the first couple of days. Simple foods, rice, grilled chicken, potatoes. Good Luck.

"PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!"

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tropicalshirt says on Dec 10, 2008, 09:01:

Yep, it was the arepas that got me. Deep fried like Scottish mars bars. Con papa, con carne, con pollo. So once it was x2 con carne, x2 con pollo, x4 con papa = nada por dias!

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Mononoke28 says on Dec 10, 2008, 09:34:

It's all about the diet, not a lot of fiber in most Colombian cuisine. Noni juice will do the trick.

Diana

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esanch36 says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:06:

I tried to balance the starch and meats with a lots of fruit and veggies when im in colombia....I think it might be the stress of traveling, seeing family and chasing colombianas around

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:10:

Esanch, Did you make it down to Neiva this time? We will be heading down in January. Unfortunately, my wife wants us to stay at her parents' house. This would mean no A/C in that hot ass city, so I am going to try to convince her that a hotel is in order. In any case, I can't wait to get down there so I can pig out on good steaks ot Fruppys, hot dogs at Guacamayas, and achiras from this little place in el centro.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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Darloup says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:14:

Actually, the main staple food in "the costa" is rice (I don't know what it is in other parts of Colombia)... And, as we know, rice helps A LOT with intestinal transit...

I'm sure this community would LOVE to know where you actually stayed and what you actually ate during your stay... ;)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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Lowell says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:24:

Perk up on fruits and juices and water. About once a week I over do it a bit to clean my intestines. I also like a coctail of fresa yogu, con granola y coco.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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Shortiao says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:51:

I've been in Colombia for 1 month. I noticed that after the initial week of doing practically noting on the toilet. Now, everyday, I'm producing 2 monsters. I'm guessing its my new diet thats the cause.

In France I was drinking lots of wine and having lots of skittery moments. Now I'm producing nice big healthy swiss rolls. Bowel movement-wise, I don't think I've ever been this happy.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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Mononoke28 says on Dec 10, 2008, 10:52:

Oh gawd... =X

Diana

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Shortiao says on Dec 10, 2008, 11:01:

Deep fried like Scottish mars bars

*****************************************

this is a myth. In all my years in Scotland (25 of them), I've never seen a mars bar been deep-fried. I have however, seen pizzas battered and deep-fried and burgers....

we deep-fry and batter most things....but not Mars Bars....its an anglo-saxon conspiracy.

"cuando una persona toma otro pasaporte....pierde su identidad!" - Shortiao

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Mononoke28 says on Dec 10, 2008, 11:15:

I thought it was Snickers bars, not Mars Bars. =\

Diana

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turnmeon says on Dec 10, 2008, 11:20:

that happened to me when i moved back to Colombia

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nine inch nails says on Dec 10, 2008, 12:09:

I would of thought all the extra alcohol would of had the opposite effect making the system more watery not to mention the liver bile ducts not being able to form the poops as hard and long since so fatty...

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Darloup says on Dec 10, 2008, 12:22:

It's actually utterly fascinating that a whole thread can be dedicated to "bowels motions"...

Perhaps it's more serious than we all thought, and maybe "Montezuma's revenge" should be adequately renamed as far as Colombia is concerned...

Hmmm, any replacement for "Montezuma" to fly the Colombian flag?

P.S.: Any foreign travelers to Colombia immediately starting on a diet of fried food and fruits should get his head (his stomach?) examined! ;-)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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dualta says on Dec 10, 2008, 14:34:

I heard that pitaya fruit will sort that problem.

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La_Huella says on Dec 10, 2008, 17:19:

The pitaya is a POWERFUL natural laxative, be careful!

I have the opposite problem, I have to carry baby wipes with me everywhere, now actually it's not such a problem but still a good idea. People are shocked that I can go No. 2 in a public bathroom, but really I have no choice in the matter :P

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Dec 10, 2008, 17:31:

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Dec 10, 2008: Actually, the main staple food in "the costa" is rice (I don't know what it is in other parts of Colombia)... And, as we know, rice helps A LOT with intestinal transit...

==========

Maybe I'm missing the context, but I thought it was just the opposite -- that milled, white rice was LOW in fiber (it might plug ya' up), low in nutrition (not much in the way of vitamins and minerals) and high in calories/carbs/on the glycemic index scale. All in all, not that good of a food, even though it's a staple for hundreds of millions around the world.

Less rice, more beans! Or fruits and vegetables.

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

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La_Huella says on Dec 10, 2008, 18:41:

I think the best is meat fish seafood fruits and veg and that's it.

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Darloup says on Dec 10, 2008, 18:50:

Tinto,

Rice absorbs intestinal fluids and is an excellent remedy against Montezuma's revenge. Interestingly, even the water in which the rice is cooked has the same properties and is often used as a cure.

I know that the OP referred to the opposite problem, but since diarrhea is normally the norm among travelers, eating LOTS of rice and avoiding fried dishes and fruits/raw vegetables normally cure that particular problem within 72 hours...

As far as the opposite effect is concerned, I do agree that lots of fruits should act as a mild laxative. And I'm pretty sure the Colombians have just the right fruit for that!!! (did you know that Colombia was the country in which can be found the largest variety of fruits and berries in the world?).

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

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lpdiver says on Dec 10, 2008, 18:52:

Darloup...that is catagorically false. There are far more varieties of FRUITs in Cali...fornia!

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

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La_Huella says on Dec 10, 2008, 20:00:

I'd rather have soltura than have to eat rice. Guacales. Rice is nasty and bad for you too. No thank you!

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 10, 2008, 20:18:

My buddy - Colombiano but lives in the States, gets constipated when in Colombia. He blames it on the cheese. Myself, gringo to a fault, have no problem in the elimination department when in Colombia.

Things that bind some people up - and are quite common in Colombia: platanos, bananos, queso, y arroz y yucca.

Try some street vendor peanuts, semi-raw chicken, or fresh picked green mangos. That'll clean you out.

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La_Huella says on Dec 10, 2008, 21:35:

I always have Immodium with me when I travel, but it's for real emergencies. That ain't healthy to stop your body up when it needs to go.

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esanch36 says on Dec 11, 2008, 08:03:

Unfortunately I did not make it to Neiva this trip( This was site of where i clogged my aunt's toilet because nobody told me i could not put paper down the toilet, the result was both vile and disgusting but funny at the same time)

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Dec 11, 2008, 08:26:

Ha Ha. La Huella, I do the same thing. However, I rarely have problems of the soltura variety in Colombia, whereas in the US, I have to watch what I eat in restaurants. Still, when I used to go on dates in Colombia, I would bring along some Immodiums and pop one before a meal. I'd rather be a little plugged up as result than have to run off and leave some girl at the dinner table.

I'm so hip, I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis.

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Mononoke28 says on Dec 11, 2008, 10:18:

dualta says on Dec 10, 2008, 14:34
I heard that pitaya fruit will sort that problem.
----------------------------
This is the first fruit my ex-brother in-law absolutely loved when he went to Medellín. He ate like 5 in a row not caring that other people were telling him to stop. Then he goes out with my sister while she got her new cédula and that's when it began. He was sweaty and making all kinds of faces until they found a Kokoriko nearby. He went in, saw that they didn't have any toilet paper, grabbed a ton of napkins from a table and went to town. He came out relieved, yet shocked to see that the toilet didn't have a lid on it.

Diana

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rhydewithdis says on Dec 11, 2008, 10:34:

I eat McDonalds a few times a week when I am having these issues. It usually fixes everything.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 11, 2008, 12:45:

rhydewithdis - me too. Especially if the McRib is being served.

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misterfinger says on Oct 9, 2009, 22:55:

TSA And the Airport Turbulence bring this in my travels for sure...

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