Constipation ruining my life.

Hi looking for help. I've had UC for 6 years now, under control via 50mg 6mp and pentasa. However last few months I've suffered from severe constipation and unable to go to the toilet for 4-5-6 sometimes a week! It's causing me huge weight fluctuations and cramps pains general unwell and bad skin.

I have tried every laxative from Senna to lactulose , movicol, laxido etc with no luck. My diet is very healthy I eat no processed food or red meat etc. All chicken fish veg brown rice etc. So lots of fiber. I've tried taking lots of digestive enzymes , magnesium , psyllium husk and aloe to try shift but no luck. Any suggestions as I'm at a total loss? Thinking of getting a colonic irrigation or using suppositories ? Thanks.

Everyone's gut is different but I control constipation several ways:

1) Don't eat fibrous foods which cause my gut to stop moving, probably because it cannot handle fiber. Yes it seems counter-intuitive when everyone says "eat more fiber" but fiber makes me worse. No nuts, no oatmeal, no fibrous veggies, no popcorn, etc.

2) I eat as much oil as I can stand. Luckily my gut loves butter so I put it on everything. Also olive oil and coconut oil. Think of it as lubrication and it is kinda because good oils are anti-inflammatory and inflammation is our gut's enemy.

3) Well cooked spinach is my gut's best friend with lots of butter and just a little grated parmesan (not the pre-grated kind which may have other no-good ingredients).

4) I take Citrucel fiber pills daily. Not all fiber is the same. I tried 4 different types before finding the one my gut liked and of course it is the most expensive. There must be a reason for that or else my gut is just a diva. (I tried generic Citrucell and swear my gut knows the difference so switch back to name brand).

5) Drink lots of water and less caffeine.

6) Gluten and other grains also slow my gut down so they are on the "out" list maybe forever. Some people say red meat does this to them but honestly my gut love NY strip with nice fat in it. (I was a vegetarian before getting UC so this was surprising to me).

7) Eat potatoes as often as possible. resistant starch is proven to be beneficial to the gut. Yes you can dissolve potato starch in water and drink it but potatoes are yummy in any and all ways. Well maybe skip adding cheese to them because cheese is binding (I eat hard cheese now with no constipation problems).

I tried digestive enzymes too (have several diff. kinds in the cabinet) but they never seemed to do much so quit them. Probiotics however may be beneficial for you. I used VSL#3 with very good results but now use Cardioviva probiotic because it's got a good gut probiotic and good for heart too.

Hope these ideas are helpful.

edit to add: YES on using rectal meds but first start with enemas at night because they reach more area then you can rachet back to suppositories when you are regular again.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 4/2/2016 4:36:34 PM (GMT-6)

brown rice has insoluble fiber, perhaps part of your constipation issue.

yeah, it is probably from all the fiber you are eating. is there any wiggle room for other fruits/veg that have less fiber?? cucumbers, tomatoes, jicama, radishes, and zucchini have more water and less insoluble fiber especially if you peel them.

good alternative carbohydrate for rice is potatoes (see #7 on my list)