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constipation, what works for you?

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Posted 7/1/2010 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have constipation most of the time. blush   I'm embarrased to talk about this but others may benefit from my asking. I've been taking stool softeners (with limited results) but don't know how long it's safe to take them. As long as I'm passing a little bit I won't get into too much trouble. I have gotten into troubles in the past. I forgot what I was going to say. Sorry. What works for you?
Posted 7/1/2010 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking Senecot S but my doctor recently recommended something called Laxaday. It's a powder you stir into any liquid that is completely tasteless and it mixes without any residue...so I use that once a day now.

I'm still not completely rid of constipation (I have IBS as well), but it definitely helps. Apparently, it's the only laxative used at our Children's Hospital.

Occasionally, I do need to use an enema, which generally always helps. I just hate the thought of becoming dependent on them - it's really not at the top of my list of "fun things to do with or without your spouse"/

Good luck and I hope you're able to find something that offers you relief. Don't forget, you can always talk to your pharmacist for advice...that's what they're trained for!

hugs,
Pam
Posted 7/1/2010 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Same problem here. Me and my cat both - - it's an ongoing adventure! I take Citrucel every day, Miralax about every other, senna-s and dulcolax recently (I went gluten-free for a month and that somehow made everything even more sluggish!?) eat and drink all the right stuff, I think. My gynecologist wants me to take whatever measures neccessary to assure that my pelvic exam next week is not - um - impeded in any way.....how embarassing! Hopefully we can help eachother!

Achey
Posted 7/1/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have found that Senna works excellent. No bloating or gas or pain. I just get the generic kind at Walmart, and have even used it on my kids. Good luck!
Posted 7/1/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Plumsweet plum juice every day (not prune, yuck!). I also cut back on dairy when I'm having an especially difficult time. My gyno recommends an apple followed by a glass of warm water, but I haven't tried that yet. Hope you feel better soon; it can be so miserable.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 7/1/2010 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Grapenuts!
Posted 7/1/2010 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
A secret many doctor's wont tell you, fiber goes two ways. It wll either soften you or firm you up. Many fruits will contain fibers, such as prunes and apples. You should also take a fiber supplement. It worked for me in the past, but now I do a different approach. I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance, and have "issues" with my bowels when I injust it. So when I was actually hospitalized and had this problem due to post surgerical I told the nurse to give me a milk shake. Kid you not, I had a bowel for the first time in a week within 30 minutes of that milkshake. They were dumbfounded til I told them I was lactose intolerant and it makes me too soft so I figured I'd do it smart and natural verses the stool softner.
Posted 7/1/2010 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
 I was just visiting my GI and he said take Miralax.  I'm confused because I told him I'm either one way or the other.  He had me taking Benefiber, which clumps things up - good when taking Colestid for cholesterol, which makes things pasty.

I know some meds, like senna, are for occasional use only.  Is it ok to use Miralax all the time?  It makes me feel nauseous, so I may not stick with it anyway.

Posted 7/1/2010 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
If it makes you sick, then its probably not good to take it. You can just do the benefiber. Like I said, fiber works both directions. Extra fiber can loosen you or firm you up. Finding the right dosage of fiber to keep one steady is the key. LIke 2 apples and a benefiber a day thing.
Posted 7/1/2010 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
I've tried everything, I swear, and it's SO frustrating!  Why can't they just run a scanner over your body like they did in the old Star Trek and tell you what you've got and what will cure it?? cry  No ifs, ands, or buts? 

Achey

Posted 7/2/2010 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Try Cascara Sagrada. You can get it at walmart in the vitamin section. It is an herbal supplement. Along with the stool softeners. I find that it works rather well. I also drink a lot of water and walk as much as I can, so I don't have a lot of trouble with constipation anymore. I also use to eat a bowl of bran flakes at night. That does help keep you regular too. Also eating apples helps.

Best wishes to you all.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/2/2010 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Blessed,

I have some things to share that work for me.

As per constipation specifically, granny smith apples have a lot of malic acid and so are very cleansing. These work great for me to keep me regular or unstop things. Also, diluted apple juice - i.e. about 1/8- 1/4 cup in a glass of water several times a day helps to clean things out and get things moving. (I don't suggest the latter every day as sometimes it can cause diarhea if you do it longer than your body needs. Just take it as you need it.)

Other things that help: a bit of prune juice before bed.

Also calcium-magnesium helps keep things moving, stools soft. I take between 500-750 mg. some days in a 1:1 ratio and citrate form. Other days dont' need as much.

Warm water first thing in the morning with gentle stretches can help get things moving.

Also calcium buffered vitamin C - 500 mg every hour or so (I have also done 750 mg. or so every hour)...Basically once your body has reached it's maximum capacity to absorb the C diarhea will result. It's not like you can overdose on vitamin C as far as I know - but causing yoru body to 'go' in this sense is a more aggressive approach than some other things and so best to only use when you really need to. I have used this on several occasions and it never failed me.

Flax oil can help soften stools and may help improve constipation.

Yogurt can also help, though too much might have the opposite effect since dairy seems to for some people.

Eating fruit first thing in the morning is cleansing and may help get things moving.

Drinking LOTS of water!

Beet juice is great. Probably beet salad would work too. I buy beet juice powder from the AIM companies and mix it with water. It is an excellent product and helps immensely with keeping things regular. Is also very cleansing for the liver.

Hope everyone is feeling more 'regular' soon. :0)

manyembers

Post Edited (manyembers) : 7/1/2010 10:50:19 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/2/2010 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have this problem a great deal during the past few months.  It seems to be related to my taking Iron supplements for anemia.  It seems as if I can be doing everything right (eating the right foods, exercising, etc.), but nothing seems to help if I am having a really bad bout with it.  I have had some success with eating Activia yogurt in the past, but you must eat it everyday in order to benefit from eating it (I keep forgetting).  Smurfy Shadow, I am also lactose intolerant, and have gotten relief from drinking milkshakes before. It seems as if sometimes they are much easier on my system than using laxatives.
Posted 7/2/2010 10:54 AM (GMT 0)

Well...I get up, strip naked and look at myself in a full length the mirror.  Yikes!  yeah

Activia did work for me but also gave me gas.  Miralax did not work that well.  I take magnsium citrate now and that seems to help.

Donna

Posted 7/2/2010 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Embers...you know the Vit C trick, not many people do. It can be used for a colon clense if needed.
The main ingredient in many like bene-fiber is phyllisum husks. You can buy them at an herbal shop.
Vesta...I think doing the same would scare it out of me too.

Nana Monster
Posted 7/2/2010 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
I love the suggestion of stripping naked and looking in a full length mirror!
Thanks for the laugh! Just might work,
Posted 7/2/2010 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Since I don't eat any kind of grains which docs recommend to keep you regular and I don't want to depend on meds for regularity, I started to eat raw bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower along with meals and it works for me.  Years ago a nurse told me to eat corn and carrots but since I'm on a low carb diet, I don't eat them.  So for breakfast I eat an egg (prepared in any way), a nice floret of cauliflower and one of broccoli, a ring of a green bell pepper and another one of a red bell pepper, sometimes half of those little cucumbers, and a slice of turkey or chicken cold cuts.  I also have these veggies on a little plate at lunch and/or dinner and I might add a lettuce leaf too.  Since I started this, I've never had a problem with constipation.  Also, you know you should drink more water and try to get some physical activity in everyday if you can.  Warm prune juice helps a lot of people too.  In my case, I need to pay attention to carbs but I also wanted to stay as natural as possible and this works for me.
Posted 7/2/2010 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Benefiber is wheat dextrin. Psyllium husks are from plantago. I don't get gas from Benefiber, although some people do, but I do have gas from psyllium husk. Psyllium absorbs more water than wheat dextrin, but both make a gel. Although wheat dextrin is "gluten free" that only means it has less than 20ppm.

Don't take vitamins at the same time as fiber, as some will be absorbed by the fiber.

Embers - I really enjoyed your suggestions, will try some of them and chuck the Miralax for now. It hurts too much!
Posted 7/2/2010 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have Crohns Disease also and always suffer with more constipation. I take stool softners nightly and they really help to keep things softer and easier to pass. If I don't use them one night, I am in a world of hurt. Asked my GI recently if there is a problem taking them nightly and he said no they are safe to take daily. Good luck!
Posted 7/2/2010 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Manyembers,

It is so good to see you posting. You had some really good suggestions. Hope to see you continue to post.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/4/2010 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I too  have fibro..I have had problems with constipations since birth..stool softeners, etc.  A friend recently told me about Magnesium Citrate..start with 200 mgs every night and work up to what works for you..I take 600-800 mgs. nightly. I still try to eat fruit and drink lots fo water, but most every morning I have a normal bowel movement..I don't know why I hadn't heard about this years ago.  I can't believe how much better I am now..Good luck.
Posted 7/4/2010 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
NM - The Vit. C. would work for a colon cleanse - wow, that's an interesting idea. Hadn't considered it that way before. Thanks for sharing.

Karen, thanks for the kind words. You are always such a wonderful encouragement!!

This thread sure has a lot of good creative ideas from everyone!
Posted 7/5/2010 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
My wife had always been plagued with constipation since menopause onset. She starting doing a massage technique on herself and now enjoys daily movements rather than the once every three days she used to have. This is the technique she uses:
http://www.ehow.com/video_6029343_natural-constipation-relief-through-massage.html

Hope this helps someone!
Posted 7/6/2010 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Great suggestions in here.

I have ibs and lactose intolerance. My bathroom habits can go either C, D, or normal, too.

I've read that citrucel is less gassy for those of us with IBS.

For me, I find eating prunes daily on the days of C helps a great deal. That, and make sure you get at least 6, better if 8, glasses of water every day to keep you moving. If you take a fiber supplement you need that water, or the fiber will just turn to a rock within you - not good.

Prunes don't only work because of their fiber, but the sorbitol (type of sugar I believe) helps the reaction. I love prunes, and I wish I could eat more of them without consequences on days when I don't "need" their help.

Some people seem to be sensitive to the types of sugars in fruit juices. Apple juice in particular can be a strong gi irritant for these folks, causing a clearing out of everything. Drinking a glass of apple juice, I have read, is equivalent in natural sugars to 6 apples -- hence the extra cleaning powers if you're sensitive. (I'm somewhat sensitive I think.)

Lactose, in high enough doses, even for those who can digest it in regular amounts will act as a laxative for anyone. There are limits to how much even non-lactose-intolerant people can digest. If they can't digest it all - D follows - or at least loose bowels and flatulence.
Posted 7/6/2010 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
Oh - almost forgot - exercise does help. Nothing strenuous - but even standing in place and pretending you're hula- or belly-dancing for a few minutes is beneficial to getting your insides to wake up a little bit. Hula-hoops are also good for this type of movement.
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