A pretty crappy subject...

mjterp

Some background first; about 6 years ago, I got to my lowest adult weight of 137lbs, but every pound towards the end was a struggle as I started experiencing some really severe constipation. I was barely eating 1200 calories a day and not drinking nearly enough water, and it wasn't necessarily healthy. That said, I actually wound up in the hospital. Shortly after, my weight-loss stalled (due to the constipation in part, I'm sure) and I gave up, gained all the weight back PLUS about 96lbs.

Fast forward to now. I eat 1400 calories a day (yesterday was a light day for more, but generally I hit my 1400 plus SOME exercise calories back). I WAS down to 160lbs as of last week, but the constipation (along with some stomach pain) is starting again in the last few weeks, and this week I'm up a pound. It all feels really familiar, and I hate for this pattern to repeat (I stop losing because I "back up", I get discouraged, I give up). Honestly, I feel mentally in a much better place than I was back then, and I have been at this for over a year and feel pretty comfortable with my eating, so I'm not thinking I will give up but I do have the fear in the back of my head, just given past experience.

I have an appointment with a GI doctor but it's not until June, and I am trying to see my family doctor in the meantime but it's been difficult to get in. It's been a week now and I am considering the hospital again. Has anyone ever experienced constipation this severe with weight-loss, and if so, what did you do to help? Last week the only way I was able to go at all was magnesium citrate, which the hospital recommended to me all those years ago. It was fine for a one time thing but not something I want to do regularly as it's really harsh.

I drink my water, eat my veggies and don't take in a lot of dairy (mostly because I don't care for much of it). I don't drink coffee, and probably need to cut down on my carbs some but does anyone recommend anything else to help me along? Thanks everyone, sorry for the personal nature of the subject but I could use the advice!

When I had issues, my doctor recommended Miralax which is now over the counter. Tasteless, mixes without turning to pudding, and works within a couple of hours. ALSO non habit forming. But my favorite thing is orange essense or lemon essence pitted prunes. (though I like plain prunes well enough, too.) Seems you are doing great with your water and veggies. Definitely worth the talk with your doc. In the mean time, to avoid a hospital emergency room visit, maybe try the over the counter stuff first? Fleets if you are desperate. I know I would do everything over the counter before subjecting myself to ER visit, but that is me. Do what is right for YOU.

Good luck. You are not alone!

tj1376

As a bariatric patient, I dont get alot of Fiber so one of the requirements we have to have (or should) is Miralax. Its a stool softener and helps prevent the problems you are having if you arent getting enough water to keep your system flushed out.

It goes in anything you want to drink and is pretty easy to use. I use it once or twice a week and I have had no problems.

mjterp

Wow...sorry to hear how this journey is affecting you. I'm not sure how much the doctors can do if this is recurring. I don't know if you are into natural remedies, but ginger works wonder for my stomach. I have issues with dairy (which I don't each much of, but when I do, oh boy....), beans/legumes affect my stomach as well, which again, I won't give up, and occasionally some foods that I eat regularly just don't sit well with me. I began drinking ginger tea almost every day, and I can say it eases all of my stomach discomfort. I buy the ginger root and boil it, add a couple of cinnamon sticks - with a little honey, it tastes awesome. Has a little kick to it, but you can get used to that. The beauty about ginger is that it's a natural laxative, fat burner, and helps to detox the body, so it's something too look into. I hope this helps, and get better soon.

THANK YOU for this recipe!!!

willrun4bagels

Well there are also Haribo Hell Bears. Google it. The Amazon reviews are hysterically funny.

Edit: But strictly toilet humor and not necessarily safe for work.

I am actually crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard at the Amazon.com reviews. Crying.

:laugh: Another reason it's not safe for work, unless your office happens to be boisterous!

Oh man... it had been a while since I'd seen the reviews on them. Some of the most recent ones are great. I'm also crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard after reading the one about the train trip to NYC.

katnb1124

Prune juice or prunes work well. However, that is a pain sometimes. I typically prefer other foods. I started taking daily FiberCon and have not had trouble since. Sometimes once a day cuts it, but sometimes twice a day is needed. I have a history of constipation no matter how much fiber I eat/drink. I get to the point where I have pain and am very uncomfortable. Just get more fiber in your system.

roosevelt

I also had the same type of problem with constipation and ended up having a flexible sigmoidoscopy and was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. When first diagnosed, I used Miralax for a time and that helped as well as good probiotics and prebiotics. I then did research on a "diet" to help with IBS. Since researching this and implementing some dietary changes, I've basically had no issues. One thing I do find, however, is that I can't eat large amounts of protein or I'll have problems all over again. You might want to mention IBS to your doctor when you see him and also take a look at IBS dietary changes. Just a thought...

quirkysterks

I definitely do a cleanse to help, er... regulate.

When I wake up I drink at least 1 liter of water (with lemon). I then follow with coffee.
If this doesn't work, I then follow with stronger supplements. I use senna. You can get it in tea form (that's the "Smooth Move" tea), or pill form. I take it at night- that way, when I wake up in the morning and "flood" my body, things get moving. I've never had an issue that wasn't resolved from this experience.

I took Yakult for awhile for probiotics, too- it was really pleasant, but I didn't necessarily experience a "difference"

My mom swears by Activia, but I don't like yogurt all that much.

Hope this helps! Good luck

astralweeks82

Thanks everyone, I will try a lot of these suggestions. Hopefully something will work for me.

kuolo

Short term, senokot (senna tablets) to try to save you a trip to the hospital. These really work for me whereas 'normal' laxatives do nothing but give me wind and pain. Dried apricots, flax seeds, and fat in general, too. Simple volume of food often helps too, esp high fat high carb food (+ some fibre). Also certain body movements/exercises can help, as someone else suggested.

I'm curious, why is too much fibre bad for you? (I eat quite a lot now I'm worried!)

Wow the MRI sounds utterly horrific - over here they tend to stick a camera up you instead, which I thought was bad enough!

503pdx

Just curious, what cleanse do you use from AdvoCare?

I completly understand.

I've had GI issues since I was a baby, and I feel like all of my posts on here so far have involved some sort of poop talk. Wait, no, they have, they definetly have.

Here's my advice - my opinion only, as I'm sure some people may disagree and point out the negatives...

1. Just FYI, a GI Doctor may want to do an MRI and it's a horrible, horrible experience, I suggest buying a bottle of vodka and hiding in your basement when its over, and maybe crying a little too.
2. My PCP and GI recomended over the counter Miralax. I used to take Metamucil but it didn't do anything. The miralax helps. I've take 1-2 capfulls a day, and it keeps me regular. For the past few months I've triend to completely cut it out of my diet (mainly to save $$) and it's worked 85% of the time... I now only take it once a week, at most.
3. What I've done to change - fish oil - maybe it doesn't help everyone, but it's definetly helped me. Do your research and get a good one.
4. I drink 130 oz minimum water every day, take a double dose of fiber pills every morning, and have cut out dairy as much as possible (which sucks, because I could eat a block of cheese for every meal). I still eat a little cheese, I just stay away from milk, and yogurt unfortunetly... but...again, it's helped.
5. Probiotic is always a good idea. I've been told the "best" ones are the refridgerated ones...I don't know much about them but I like the way they make me feel, so it's worth it for me.
6. "cleanse" (enter the negative coments). I "cleanse" with an over the counter metamucil type drink and herbal supplement (I buy them from Advocare) about every 4 months. Again, I just like the way it makes my system feel, so I do it, and I feel like its better than taking polyethylene glycol every day... and cheaper!! I do it for ten days and it's generally the best I feel in that entire 4 month span (lighter, increased energy, and pooping lots!)
7. The obvious - water, water, water, fruit, prunes, veggies, fiber, etc. That works for alot of people, unfortunetly i need more, diet alone doesn't keep me "regular" but i'd suggest starting with the obvious then moving down the line... and try the fish oil! Im really becoming a believer in it!
8. Back to #1, I'm serious, it was horrifying.

CarolinkaCjj

Well there are also Haribo Hell Bears. Google it. The Amazon reviews are hysterically funny.

Edit: But strictly toilet humor and not necessarily safe for work.

I am actually crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard at the Amazon.com reviews. Crying.

:laugh: Another reason it's not safe for work, unless your office happens to be boisterous!

Oh man... it had been a while since I'd seen the reviews on them. Some of the most recent ones are great. I'm also crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard after reading the one about the train trip to NYC.

+2 more crying with laughter - just shared this with a colleague who's husband and son are diabetics and she has gestational diabetes - she had a brush with the hell bears (but she escaped by the grace of her of her husband's knowledge of the bear's effects). A good way to end a busy week with a laugh.

parkscs

It's worth noting that while upping the fiber is a common (and oftentimes good) suggestion, fiber can actually make the problem worse for people suffering from chronic constipation. I'd experiment to try and figure out what works for you and definitely talk to your doctor as soon as you can.

stealthq

I recommend going here: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/digestive_disorders/symptoms_of_digestive_disorders/constipation.html

You should be able to learn everything you never cared to know about the subject. One cause they mention that is not common is a simple reduction in the volume of food - might be your problem:

Less common causes of constipation include specific medical disorders (see Table 4: Some Causes and Features of ConstipationTables), such as intestinal obstruction, and certain metabolic disorders and neurologic disorders. Constipation also can occur during any major illness that requires prolonged bed rest (because physical activity helps the intestines move stool along), with decreased food intake, with use of drugs that can cause constipation, and after a head or spinal cord injury. In many cases, however, the cause of constipation is unknown.

Kobclarke

Mix 1/4 cup of Kellogg's All Bran Buds with your morning yogurt. It's 55% of your daily recommended fiber, only 80 cals and has B vitamins for metabolism. A lot of pregnant women have this problem and recommend this as a natural remedy for relief. It takes a couple of weeks of taking it daily to start working so stick with it.

craftywitch_63

Well there are also Haribo Hell Bears. Google it. The Amazon reviews are hysterically funny.

Edit: But strictly toilet humor and not necessarily safe for work.

I am actually crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard at the Amazon.com reviews. Crying.

:laugh: Another reason it's not safe for work, unless your office happens to be boisterous!

Oh man... it had been a while since I'd seen the reviews on them. Some of the most recent ones are great. I'm also crying at my desk right now from laughing so hard after reading the one about the train trip to NYC.

Preston Tucker's story always makes me laugh.

jmv7117

Have you tried prunes or prune juice?

MissMissle

Just curious, what cleanse do you use from AdvoCare?

They have a ten day cleanse under their "well" section - its actually part of the 24 day challenge everyone raves about - but you can buy it seperatly - its like $30 ... again, I mean, it's alot of money...buuuut Im kinda at the point that Im willing to pay any amount of money to keep me, um, regular.

ImaWaterBender

I would sure shoot for 25-40 grams of fiber a day and lots of water. If that won't make you go, nothing will. My GI specialist recommends this across the board. Try metamucil with your foods, as a fiber supplement.

jennk5309

I agree with the poster who said to add fat. It really does help. Also, dried cherries work better for me than other dried fruit like prunes.