New (to me) remedy for constipation

This is such an odd subject to bring up, my bowel habits, but from previous posts I know that many of us struggle with constipation. It is a side effect of many medications, and there are many ways to combat it.

I have eaten so many prunes I get sick of them! Then I have to turn to stool softeners and laxatives, which ironically I found out your body can become dependent on for bowel movements.

A friend of mine gave me an idea she got from her mother, who is in her late 80s. She used to place a halved or quartered lemon in water and leave it in the fridge. This water was the only water she drank, at least 4 eight ounce glasses a day, and kept refilling the pitcher. She said to leave the lemon in there for a month....but I change mine every week. I drink a lot of water.

I tried this for the last two weeks, and now I am off of the stool softeners and laxatives. It works very well! I also have to keep up my fiber intake, but that is my normal now.

The idea for me is to keep rotating if I need to, if one stops working, or just do a combination of the lemon water and prunes to balance things out on days I can't be home with my water. I have also started adding lemon balm and lemon grass with peppermint tea to help my stomach issues and have noticed a reduction in anxiety as well as slight improvement in the GI issues.

I hope this helps someone as it did me!
Mindy

This is useful to know, thanks! I have found peppermint tea works quite well. I guess most people on here know to be careful not to get too constipated but I had a scary experience. I don`t use laxatives as a couple of times I`ve been really constipated with my meds but haven`t realised it until it was overdue. Then I took one or two laxatives and it made it very painful to pass stool and I was bleeding a bit, I actually thought I was going to have to go to the hospital, I had cold sweats and all. Luckily it was ok. But I know now you have to be very aware of this. I think it was just overdue but that can`t be healthy so just be careful to make sure you are regular or it can be a lot of pain.

Hi Screaming Eagle

Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I might ask at the pharmacy. It wouldn`t hurt to have one just in case. That is not something I want to experience again.

Take care,

Di.

 

Hello, new to the forum but not to chronic pain.

Some good suggestions here for sure.  I've always drank lots of water which has helped to a point.  My best remedy for me along with daily water has been a 1/2 bowl of kellog's original all-bran(not flakes)cereal every day to start and then every other day.  I was thankful that something natural(mostly) actually worked for me.