Tag: digestion

Stress Poops, Hormonal Bloat, and Other Things Nobody Talks About 💩🙃

Posted in Skin care-gut connectionLeave a comment

Let’s get real for a second. If you’ve ever been running to the bathroom before a big presentation or felt like a balloon during “that time of the month,” you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not weird. As a nurse with a love for all things skin, gut, and wellness, I can confidently say: our bodies are hilarious, confusing, and beautifully complex.

So today, we’re talking about the “taboo” stuff: stress poops, hormonal bloat, gut mood swings—and yes, how all of it can affect your skin too.

💥 1. Stress Poops Are a Real Thing (And Totally Common)

Ever noticed how your belly has zero chill when you’re overwhelmed? That’s your gut-brain axis at work. Stress activates your sympathetic nervous system (hello, fight or flight), which speeds up your gut motility. Translation: 💨 everything’s moving fast—maybe too fast.

You might experience:

  • Loose stools or urgency
  • Cramping
  • Gas or bloating
  • Flare-ups if you have IBS

Nurse tip: Deep breathing, walking, or sipping peppermint tea before stressful events can help calm your vagus nerve—your gut’s best friend.

💃 2. Hormonal Bloat: Not Just a “Period Problem”

Hormones are bossy little things. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate throughout your cycle, and these shifts can slow down digestion, increase water retention, and cause major bloat.

You might notice:

  • Puffy face (hi, mirror!)
  • Sluggish digestion
  • Skin breakouts (especially around the chin)

Nurse tip: Drink more water (yes, it actually helps with bloat), add magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens or pumpkin seeds, and support your liver with foods like cruciferous veggies. It all helps detox those excess hormones.

😳 3. Anxiety and the “Nervous Tummy”

Ever had to scan the room for a bathroom just in case your nerves triggered your stomach? That’s not just in your head (well… it kind of is—but also your gut). Emotional stress changes your gut flora and affects your entire digestive process.

What helps:

  • Journaling or therapy (mental health = gut health)
  • Adaptogens like ashwagandha (check with your doc!)
  • Probiotics (especially strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG)

🧖‍♀️ 4. Gut Drama = Skin Drama

Here’s where it gets juicy. When your gut is inflamed or stressed, your skin gets the memo. You might see:

  • Acne
  • Redness
  • Dullness
  • Dryness or excess oil

It’s not just what you put on your skin, it’s what’s going on inside too.

Nurse-approved glow tips:

  • Hydrate like it’s your job 💧
  • Eat fermented foods 🥬
  • Get enough fiber (think chia, flax, berries)
  • Limit ultra-processed foods (your gut and skin will thank you)

🧠 You’re Not “Too Sensitive”—You’re in Tune

Your gut feelings are valid. Poop, bloat, and skin freak-outs are often messages, not malfunctions. They’re clues from your amazing, interconnected body.

You’re not broken. You’re incredibly complex—and that’s kind of awesome.

Final Thoughts from Your Favorite Gut-Obsessed Nurse 💁‍♀️

We don’t talk about these things enough, so here’s your permission slip to stop suffering in silence. Whether you’re dealing with hormonal swings, post-stress poops, or unexplained zits on your jawline—your body is trying to communicate.

Start listening. Start supporting. And laugh about it when you can. 💩😅

⚠️ Disclaimer (Because I’m a Nurse, Not Your Nurse 😉)

This blog is for general education and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your doctor, dietitian, dermatologist, or wound/ostomy care specialist—especially if you have specific conditions, allergies, or a medical device like an ostomy. What works for one person might not work for another (especially if we’re talking ileostomy vs colostomy vs urostomy—big differences, folks!).

Want more skin-gut-wellness real talk?

Don’t forget to check out my other posts on wound healing nutrition, poop-friendly meals, and my favorite skincare products for nurses on long shifts. 🚽✨

💧 Hydration Habits: Why Water Is a Free Anti-Aging Tool

Posted in ostomy care, Skin care-gut connection, Wound CareLeave a comment

Let’s talk about the real MVP of your skincare routine—plain ol’ water. Not a fancy serum. Not a $150 cream with a name that sounds like a European vacation. Just H₂O—available from your tap, your bottle, or that emotional support water tumbler we all carry around now. (I see you 👀)

As a nurse with 22 years under my belt—and as someone deep in the trenches of wound and ostomy care—trust me when I say: hydration is not optional. It’s the unsung hero behind healthy skin, better digestion, and smoother poops (yep, we’re going there).

🧴 Water = Skin’s Natural Moisturizer

Dry skin isn’t just about what you slather on. If you’re dehydrated, your skin will show it. Think dull, flaky, fine lines that suddenly look less “fine” and more like “deep concerns.”

Hydration helps:

  • Improve skin elasticity
  • Reduce the appearance of wrinkles
  • Keep your skin barrier happy (hello, fewer breakouts and irritation!)

💡Pro Tip: Drinking water won’t erase your crow’s feet overnight—but it will give your skin a fighting chance. Plus, hydrated skin heals better. And if you’ve got a wound (or even just a stubborn zit), healing matters.

💩 Gut Check: Water Keeps Things Moving

Constipated? Crampy? Bloated like a balloon at a toddler’s birthday party?

You might just need more water.

Your digestive system needs hydration to keep food moving, absorb nutrients, and keep your poop from turning into bricks (especially for folks with an ostomy—output consistency is key 🔑).

🌀 Fun nurse fact: Even your colon has feelings—when it’s dehydrated, it holds onto water like it’s prepping for a desert trek. That means slower motility and, you guessed it, poop problems.

💥 Dehydration Looks Like…

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Dull, saggy skin
  • Funky breath
  • Cranky gut (gas, constipation, sluggish digestion)
  • And yes… more pronounced wrinkles 😬

🥤 Hydration Habits That Actually Work

Let’s keep it simple, nurse-style:

  1. Start your day with water before coffee. Your gut will thank you.
  2. Aim for 8 cups a day—but adjust for activity, climate, and personal needs.
  3. Add fruit or cucumber for flavor if you’re bored (hydration doesn’t have to be bland).
  4. Track it if you’re forgetful. (We all are. Nurses are chronically dehydrated from shift life.)
  5. Eat your water – cucumbers, watermelon, lettuce, and bone broth all count!

🧪 For My Ostomates:

Hydration is CRUCIAL, especially for those with an ileostomy, where water absorption is reduced. Low hydration = thicker output, which increases the risk of pancaking, leaks, and skin issues. Not fun.
💡 Electrolyte balance matters too! Consider low-sugar oral rehydration drinks when needed.

👵 Bonus: Hydration & Aging Gracefully

Water won’t stop time—but it can soften its effects:

  • Hydrated skin = plumper appearance
  • Better digestion = fewer breakouts, more glow
  • Fewer UTIs, better circulation, more energy—what’s not to love?

Basically, water is the Botox of the gut-skin connection… but cheaper and with fewer needles.

⚠️ Disclaimer (Because I’m a Nurse, Not Your Nurse 😉)

This blog is for general education and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your doctor, dietitian, dermatologist or wound/ostomy care specialist—especially if you have specific conditions, allergies, or a medical device like an ostomy. What works for one person might not work for another (especially if we’re talking ileostomy vs colostomy vs urostomy—big differences, folks!).

Now go refill that water bottle, friend. Your gut, skin, and nurse-brain will thank you. 💦🧠✨