constipation question(sorry wont be too detailed)

prettigirl01
prettigirl01 Posts: 548 Member
in Food and Nutrition
ive been dealing with this issue for a few weeks off and on and its annoying. im trying to drink more water and incorporate fiber into my diet. activia works but it gets expensive. can anyone suggest a natural or healthy way to deal with this? praying i can do something without having to go to the hospital AGAIN!
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Replies

  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    coffee and nothing else first thing in the AM gets me "going"
  • goshnames
    goshnames Posts: 359 Member
    Coffee and a banana in the morning!

    Or a few bowls of fibre 1.

    Hehehehe, I'm so immature. :)
  • dward59
    dward59 Posts: 731 Member
    Fiber One bars if you can add them to your daily routine.

    I've added Yerba Prima fiber caps too. Not my preferred way to get fiber, but it has helped.
  • madddonna
    madddonna Posts: 5
    An over-the-counter stool softener like Colace or the generic docusate sodium taken each night at bedtime or first thing in the morning can help. If that doesn't help after a week, you can safelly take two at a time. The generic is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the cost of going to the hospital. Steel Cut Oatmeal for breakfast can add fiber to your diet. Don't get the fast-cooking kind. It is not whole grain and doesn't have the same fiber content. If things get really bad, try over-the-counter magnesium citrate. Just hold your nose and gulp it down. Be ready to stay at home for a few hours afterwards. I am a nurse and I work with people with these problems all the time.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I drink 4 oz of prune juice in the morning followed by 2 large glasses of water 10 minutes later then breakfast. I also take 400 mg of magnesium citrate capsule at night. Never have a problem.
    Also eat lots of veggies and drink lots of water!
  • cloch123
    cloch123 Posts: 4
    Prunes are great. I keep them in the fridge in case this happens. I also like the metamucil crisps. They are cookies you can eat that are meant to regulate you. You only take them when you are constipated but usually within 24 hours you will go without any stomach ache.
  • kaylorraine44
    kaylorraine44 Posts: 135 Member
    Agree with the first reply. High-fibre breakfast cereal and coffee all the way.
  • Molly250
    Molly250 Posts: 15
    I've cut out starchy bland food, especially bread
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I just make sure to eat around 6-7 servings of vegetables and fruits a day, specially carrots and apples, and drink plenty of water.
    Exercise helps as well.
    At the worst, I echo the suggestion of prunes, have some dried prunes before bed, and a hot drink when you get up. That should sort it, but really, if you are getting enough fluids, fruits and veggies, this shouldn't be an issue.
  • 6spdeg
    6spdeg Posts: 394 Member
    stay away from any pills first of all... psyllium fiber is awesome.. its in metamucil and like kellogs all bran buds need a mix of soluble and insoluble fibers.
  • courtneytrisha
    courtneytrisha Posts: 32 Member
    psyllium husk!! works amazing and has no taste or anything, look into it!
  • emmietoby
    emmietoby Posts: 172 Member
    i find that if i eat sugarfree candy it makes me go . one some people it works as a laxative it states it on the package. good luck.
  • lilpocketrocket
    lilpocketrocket Posts: 26 Member
    I agree psyllium husks are brilliant...helps you feel fuller as well...I put it in my porridge every morning.
  • jen_mv
    jen_mv Posts: 21 Member
    I looked at your diary and for June you had only two days where you had adequate fiber; try to get at least 25g per day. Beans can add a lot of fiber, and opt for whole wheat products instead of refined (check the label to make sure that the first ingredient is "whole wheat flour"). Also try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (and more is better). Fiber one cereal, the kind that looks like little brown cylinders, is a good second option.
  • iWillGetCrowSomeday
    iWillGetCrowSomeday Posts: 311 Member
    Avoid stimulant laxatives unless your doctor tells you to take them. Your body can become dependent on them.

    Bottom line is (oops, sorry about the pun) is talk to your doctor. Make sure you don't have something else going on causing the constipation, since it's sending you to the hospital. "Normal" constipation doesn't do this. Chronic constipation can be a symptom of or can lead to some major problems.

    Generally speaking, though:
    Try to establish a "routine" and recognize the urge to go. Constipation begets constipation- meaning, if you're suddenly like, "Oh! I need to poo. Don't have the time right now, maybe in a little bit..." you're setting yourself up for trouble. When nature calls, answer. Especially if constipation is landing you in the hospital!

    Increased water intake is good, too. Try leafy green salads (spinach, spring mixes, baby greens, kale - not iceberg), dried fruits like prunes or figs, and avocados. They have healthy levels of magnesium (never take a supplement unless you know you're deficient- Mag can cause serious problems in too high a dose) which help you "go." Bananas are always good, so is applesauce.

    Soluble fiber will constipate you. It slows down the motility in your GI tract. Foods that have soluble fiber include oatmeal, oat cereal, lentils, apples, oranges, pears, oat bran, strawberries, nuts, flaxseeds, beans, dried peas, blueberries, psyllium, cucumbers, celery, and carrots.

    Insoluble fiber is what you want if you want to get things moving. They add bulk without constipating. They include fruits and veggies with skins (cucumbers, grapes, squash), root veggies with skins (beets, potatoes), whole bran (NOT in flour form- nothing is "whole" anything in flour form), dark leafy veggies...
  • zagon_the_ultimate
    zagon_the_ultimate Posts: 115 Member
    i find that if i eat sugarfree candy it makes me go . one some people it works as a laxative it states it on the package. good luck.

    this is because most sugar free things are sweetened by sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol, and maltitol mainly), they also function to a lesser degree as a laxitive. this is because your body cant fully absorb them, or break them down, this makes your body dump them (pun not intended) by flushing them out.
  • lemonmon1
    lemonmon1 Posts: 134 Member
    I checked through a few days of your diary. Maybe it's related to too much wheat gluten (cereal, pasta, sandwich bread) and other starchy carbs, and not enough vegetables and fruit for fiber. I don't eat cereal for breakfast anymore. I have a fruit and kale smoothie. My bowels are never stopped up! I hope you get moving soon!
  • jess1992uga
    jess1992uga Posts: 603 Member
    I have had this issue too and I use fiber one cereals (lots of store brands). Also prunes or reduced sugar craisins seem to help.

    For istant relief though heated up prune or plum juice works for me. Sunsweet has a Plum Smart that is 60 cals and a prune light thats 100 cals :) The full juice works best if you don't care about the extra cals :)
  • paintlisapurple
    paintlisapurple Posts: 982 Member
    6 oz. of prune juice followed by a chug of water usually gets the job done! Good luck! :flowerforyou: <-- air freshener. :laugh:
  • aelunyu
    aelunyu Posts: 486 Member
    Fiber. 40g a day. start tracking!
  • tados
    tados Posts: 68
    Probiotics , you can purchase at any health food store. Will definitely get you regular.
  • KezRi
    KezRi Posts: 7 Member
    I have been dealing with the same problem for a couple months. I told my mother about it and she told me to EAT ORANGES! And to eat the "guts" too, which is the little sack thingy the pulp is in.

    I've eaten an orange a day since then, and my bathroom visits are SMOOOOOOOTH. So smooth that I do a little triumph dance right after, heh.


    Also Pineapple, the core of the pineapple that people usually cut out and throw away is loaded with natural fiber, I've used it to rescue myself a few times. Now I try to incorporate both fruits, when I can.


    Here's a list of high fiber foods you can incorporate into your diet:
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/90636-fiber-filled-fruits-vegetables/

    Hope I've helped :)
  • jen_zz
    jen_zz Posts: 1,011 Member
    Some citrus fruits + coffee with creamer.
  • jtangcs
    jtangcs Posts: 37 Member
    If no one has suggested this yet, try prune juice/prune nectar on an empty stomach. It works wonders.
  • stacilee43
    stacilee43 Posts: 8 Member
    I agree with the people who say if at all possible, do not deny the urge - EVER! Years ago I found that when I did that, it meant guaranteed constipation later and that pretty much cured me of my fear of public restrooms, lol. My health (actually my physical comfort) is more important than my irrational fear. Nurses say that even plain old hot tap water first thing in the morning stimulates your system and it doesn't have to be much.

    Oatmeal for me. Also, of course, lots of water every day. I can't begin to tell you (anyone) how water is the most important for me regarding regularity. I have a problem of poop that's too soft and oatmeal not only promotes smooth movement, it bulks up and sweeps it out cleanly. Yeah, sorry I'm so graphic, but what are we gonna do? It's a natural process :D Quaker High Fiber instant oatmeal - one serving has 10 grams o' fiber, plus I add 1/4 to 1/2 cup regular oats to it because it's too sweet for me. Unfortunately, this makes my carbohydrate counts pretty high on those days...I've had a heck of a time trying to balance things, but that combination for breakfast or even dinner is so worth it for me. I don't eat it every morning, I get burned out or if the weather is too hot I just can't do hot cereal. Quaker Breakfast Square cold cereal works for me, too. :D I have an incredible number of food allergies and this precludes me from eating most fruits and veges, so I have to make up the fiber with oatmeal. I love raw veges, but can only tolerate a few cooked ones.
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    I can't see your diary but I will say that this does happen with many who try to lose weight.. One of the more obvious points is this... EAT ENOUGH... If you have insufficient intake, constipation is likely... After all, you can't poop what you don't take in... You have to have enough bulk to move it through your system. I am not saying that this is what is going on in your case... but I am sure it happens in some instances.. There have been times when I have gone a few days with less intake than I should have had and had some problems moving waste through my system... Of course, fruits and veggies are the best... they are low calorie and contain bulk. Best wishes on finding a good solution to your problem...
  • johnhubbs
    johnhubbs Posts: 33 Member
    Flax Seed
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    bananas and fiber one bars.......
  • 122ish
    122ish Posts: 339 Member
    Chlorophyll and chia does the trick for me. Have it at night go first thing in the morning. Try prunes too and some times a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil help. Elevate your legs while on the toilet too
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
    Looked at a few days worth of you food diary. I think you need to add more natural fiber ( as in whole grains, fresh fruit and veggies). This may not be representative of your daily diet gut it SEEMS like you are eating a lot of convenience/fast food. A better choice might be to make your own, bring your own fruit. While it's fine to indulge once in a while, in the long run these are not healthy choice. For breakfast, you re having a lot of carbs - why not have a cup of fruit ( real, fresh fruit, not " packaged apple slices") instead of or in addition to what you are eating

    And as others suggested, coffee on an empty stomach, drink a lot of water throughout the day, and exercise.

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