Alright, here's an awkward topic but I need advice/insight

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Replies

  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    I've always had trouble and I know that, for me, it runs in my family. Fiber supplements make me worse. I can go 2-3 days without going at times. None of us have ever had any issues with it other than annoyance. If you are very concerned, I'd see a doctor. It is, quite literally, a pain in the butt.
  • ajohn252
    ajohn252 Posts: 158
    I feel your pain, once I started my new much healthier diet I had
    the same sort of problems, although not near to the same extent.
    One thing I've done is get a fibre supplement (Metamucil with vitamin B)
    and it has helped a little.
  • jenbusick
    jenbusick Posts: 528 Member
    If you've had a prolonged problem with constipation (I had a kid who did this once, sigh -- this is where I got my information), your bowel can get overstretched. It's a muscle, and when it gets overstretched it doesn't squeeze as well as it should, so, the problem becomes self-perpetuating.

    The solution in my child's case was for her to have a bowel movement every single day until her colon recovered from its overstretched condition. At first this had to be done with enemas; then with suppositories, then finally she could go on her own every day without those, at which point the bowel was considered to be "recovered." If your problem is severe enough that you can *see* your distended bowel, I would guess that you are in similar condition -- you're going to need to keep it cleaned out until it gets a chance to recover. If it were me, I'd start with the Colace (the stuff they give you before a colonoscopy...), and then I'd use an enema or suppository (the mildest thing that will work) plus fiber and lots of fluids to make sure I went every single day, until I could do it without those.

    Do not leave this untreated. If your bowel ruptures, you are in the... um... well. Take care of this. If your doc is not taking it seriously, go to the ER. This needs to be dealt with. It is potentially life-threatening.
  • Tzippy7
    Tzippy7 Posts: 344 Member
    see a specialist. There are huge ranges on what is a normal amount to poop, but anything that is causing you pain is not normal. please get it checked out!
  • I have the same problem. Im lucky if I can go once a week. My husband goes maybe twice a day. We make the joke about how food will make its appearance for him overnight and for me it takes about 5 to 7 business days. Lol. I would probably drop another 10 pounds if I could just freaking empty out. I sometimes find that coffee can help if I drink enough of it. Thats about it. Good luck!
  • LishaCole
    LishaCole Posts: 245
    A friend of mine had a very similar situation, and taking a couple of tablespoons of flax oil off the spoon helped her tremendously. Every day or two, helps lubricate the voyage. She is now also on probiotics and has no issues anymore. Make sure you are drinking enough water.

    But still, go to the doctor.
  • Shellitz
    Shellitz Posts: 188
    Definitely see a doc - my friend suffered this way for a long time...turned out she has an intolerance with protein, her body couldn't break it down properly. They just kept telling her she must be eating something wrong and then the 'healthier' she ate the worse it got....cos she was eating lots of lean healthy protein!
  • From a medical standpoint this is very dangerous. If your stool gets impacted it can cause necrosis in your bowel. That will get you sent to the hospital and they will have to remove the impaction along with part of your bowel....or you would get sepsis and die You don't want to end up with a colostomy bag.....or die I'd get to the bottom of this issue right away before it gets more serious. I'm surprised your doc didn't do anything about it.

    I hope you feel better soon! *HUGS*
  • lauralaurafish
    lauralaurafish Posts: 50 Member
    Here's where I get all motherly: you should be moving your bowels at LEAST once a day. It's normal to be constipated every once in a while, but it sounds to me like you may have a chronic condition and I would highly recommend you see your doctor or ideally a specialist, although your GP would be a good place to start.

    No offense to the people posting home remedies, but this is not a simple case of "Gee, I haven't pooped for a couple days."

    Not trying to freak you out, but you want to be feeling your best, right!? Go see your doctor!
    If you've had a prolonged problem with constipation (I had a kid who did this once, sigh -- this is where I got my information), your bowel can get overstretched. It's a muscle, and when it gets overstretched it doesn't squeeze as well as it should, so, the problem becomes self-perpetuating.

    The solution in my child's case was for her to have a bowel movement every single day until her colon recovered from its overstretched condition. At first this had to be done with enemas; then with suppositories, then finally she could go on her own every day without those, at which point the bowel was considered to be "recovered." If your problem is severe enough that you can *see* your distended bowel, I would guess that you are in similar condition -- you're going to need to keep it cleaned out until it gets a chance to recover. If it were me, I'd start with the Colace (the stuff they give you before a colonoscopy...), and then I'd use an enema or suppository (the mildest thing that will work) plus fiber and lots of fluids to make sure I went every single day, until I could do it without those.

    Do not leave this untreated. If your bowel ruptures, you are in the... um... well. Take care of this. If your doc is not taking it seriously, go to the ER. This needs to be dealt with. It is potentially life-threatening.
    ^^ THIS

    PLEASE go to a different physician as soon as possible. Not having a bowel movement in that amount of time should concern you, but most importantly, if you can "see" your bowel protruding that should be extremely alarming to you! In fact, you should probably get off the internet on health issues like these and go directly to the ER
  • reneegee23
    reneegee23 Posts: 232 Member


    Thank you for being motherly :) Yes, I think you're right. I should go get this looked at. I have been negligent about it

    Of course! And you're gonna be fine - in fact, you'll be great once you get a direction from a specialist on how to handle your issue! (It sounds like your GP has been brushing you off, mine's done that in the past about other health probs and I find it frustrating.)

    Good luck!
  • jessmars
    jessmars Posts: 131
    only advice I'd give is to go see a doctor ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!

    If your doctor still just talks about your diet as for a referral to a specialist. After 3 days of no bowel movement you are medically considered constipated(especially if its been weeks and happens often) and the stool becomes hard in your colon therefore becoming even harder to pass.

    While I believe everyones suggestions on laxatives, enamas, colon cleanse & stool softeners are given with nothing but kindness and support to help you situation I would avoid using them until you seek medical attention. People can become reliant on laxatives and stool softeners therefore the body becomes adapted to those medications in order to have a bowel movement. The term "if you don't use it you'll loose it" is very true here in the process of bowel movements. You body can forget how to have a bowel movement and forget what the "urge" is like if someone becomes dependent on stool softeners, laxative and ememas. PLus if there is something else going on that you don't know about, you never know if these remedies are creating more of a problem.

    Best of Luck and Positive Thoughts in hope you have a bowel movement soon!
  • atjays
    atjays Posts: 797 Member
    Fairly high fiber intake here, I go at the same time every day.
  • I used to be like that too..maybe go once every week / week and a half.... ..then i started drinking more water....i was already drinking alot..but i started drinking as much as i could....like at least a gallon/day ...or sometimes half my body weight...(ex.300 lbs = 150 oz/day)...that shot it out like a waterslide! Additionally off brand coffee makes it move faster... hope that helps!
  • Iamjulez
    Iamjulez Posts: 48 Member
    There is that yogurt that you can eat to help make you regular on that end :) I forget what it's called, but you see the commercials alot. That really does work.

    I go once a day. I think it's incredibly abnormal to be that bound up and incredibly unhealthy because all of the poisons are intoxicating your insides. Not good at all. After a couple days of not going you should be figuring something out as in, fiber, laxatives, natural laxatives, lots of water, or if you need it medicine to get the problem taken care of.

    Don't ever let it go that long again.
  • lincolnpalmer
    lincolnpalmer Posts: 28 Member
    The question isn't how many times a week, the question is how many times a day...

    When you eat, and especially chew, it should trigger a natural contraction of your bowels called peristalsis which moves things through. This happens for me almost every meal.

    The longer matter stays in your bowels, the more unhealthy it is.

    If you have an open mind, go to this site:
    https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php/Store/5-Day-Bowel-Detox-Program-Capsules

    I've done this cleanse and it works miracles. All natural.

    If you try it you WILL move!

    Some people just have naturally slow bowels and it takes some waking up and exercise for them to act regularly.

    I am sorry - but there is absolutely no need to do a cleanse and you do not need to "GO' multiple times a day.

    Right. I only go the bathroom once every other week and I don't need to clean anything out?

    Going multiple times a day is extremely healthy. What's not healthy is having fecal matter stuck in your bowels for weeks on end.

    But I'm just one voice in a sea of people who, individually, know everything.
  • TheChocolatePrincess
    TheChocolatePrincess Posts: 137 Member
    I suggest you see another doctor, because obviously your doctor isn't listening. You could have a bowel obstruction or some other condition that is causing this.

    I do wonder if you drink a lot of water. The more water you drink the easier it is to go.

    But, get a second opinion from someone who is willing to run tests.
  • 17DayDietGal
    17DayDietGal Posts: 27 Member
    Here's what's helped me and some others on this diet....

    Here's some ideas for getting past constipation:

    * Green tea is KNOWN to be constipating. Back off on it or eliminate it completely (I don't drink it as it constipates me and it's not impacted my loss at all)

    * Eat more fiber-rich foods.

    * Make sure you're getting a *minimum* of 64 ozs of water

    * You can add some flaxseed meal to your yogurts -- this has helped *keep* me regular

    * Someone recommended 250mg of magnesium twice a day -- this took care of the problem for me

    * Over the counter laxatives like Benefiber or Citrucel per Dr. Mike

    HTH,
    Simmie
  • ambitious01
    ambitious01 Posts: 209 Member
    and water doesn't help? Or salads? I hear you, but I've been where you are now my whole life. I just have a slow digestion.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    only advice I'd give is to go see a doctor ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!

    If your doctor still just talks about your diet as for a referral to a specialist. After 3 days of no bowel movement you are medically considered constipated(especially if its been weeks and happens often) and the stool becomes hard in your colon therefore becoming even harder to pass.

    While I believe everyones suggestions on laxatives, enamas, colon cleanse & stool softeners are given with nothing but kindness and support to help you situation I would avoid using them until you seek medical attention. People can become reliant on laxatives and stool softeners therefore the body becomes adapted to those medications in order to have a bowel movement. The term "if you don't use it you'll loose it" is very true here in the process of bowel movements. You body can forget how to have a bowel movement and forget what the "urge" is like if someone becomes dependent on stool softeners, laxative and ememas. PLus if there is something else going on that you don't know about, you never know if these remedies are creating more of a problem.

    Best of Luck and Positive Thoughts in hope you have a bowel movement soon!

    Very good advice.
  • Fit4Evolution
    Fit4Evolution Posts: 375 Member
    first you need to drink more water , without water you cannot pass anything its going to be hard and painful.
    you may want to look at what you are eating too much iron , alcohol will dehydrate you , and if you are working out this will dehyrate you as well.. psyllium husk is good and i would start on yogurt in the morning. and also start on probiotics especially if you needed to take antibiotics for a period of time .. not sure if any of this is the case. but its a start
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    The question isn't how many times a week, the question is how many times a day...

    When you eat, and especially chew, it should trigger a natural contraction of your bowels called peristalsis which moves things through. This happens for me almost every meal.

    The longer matter stays in your bowels, the more unhealthy it is.

    If you have an open mind, go to this site:
    https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php/Store/5-Day-Bowel-Detox-Program-Capsules

    I've done this cleanse and it works miracles. All natural.

    If you try it you WILL move!

    Some people just have naturally slow bowels and it takes some waking up and exercise for them to act regularly.

    I am sorry - but there is absolutely no need to do a cleanse and you do not need to "GO' multiple times a day.

    Right. I only go the bathroom once every other week and I don't need to clean anything out?

    Going multiple times a day is extremely healthy. What's not healthy is having fecal matter stuck in your bowels for weeks on end.

    But I'm just one voice in a sea of people who, individually, know everything.

    I did NOT say every couple of weeks is OK so I am not sure where you got the idea that I did.
  • jessie1480
    jessie1480 Posts: 132 Member
    I don't know if I'm being repeditive or not, I did not read the whole thing, but too much fiber can gum up the works. Just a thought. I hear drinking alot of water can help. From what I understand more than 30 g of fiber can be too much. Maybe a second opinion in the medical field might be a good idea.
  • I used to suffer chronic IBS with constipation. It never got as bad as yours sounds but I "fixed" it with tons of fiber and TONS of water each day. Now I go comfortably twice a day. A real gastrointestinal Dr. will be your best bet. You really need to see a specialist to make sure it isn't food allergies, obstructed bowel, etc! Please go to a specialist. A primary care can help but won't have a real answer for you.
  • DataBased
    DataBased Posts: 513 Member
    I experience something similar if I don't drink at least 8 glasses of non-caffeinated liquids a day. I know there are a lot of people who say the water adage is just a myth, and maybe for them it is. But the more water I drink, the better I feel, the better my skin looks, the better I eliminate, and the better I lose weight. I count herbal teas as water, but not coffee or juice. I would definitely get checked out, though.
  • lincolnpalmer
    lincolnpalmer Posts: 28 Member
    The question isn't how many times a week, the question is how many times a day...

    When you eat, and especially chew, it should trigger a natural contraction of your bowels called peristalsis which moves things through. This happens for me almost every meal.

    The longer matter stays in your bowels, the more unhealthy it is.

    If you have an open mind, go to this site:
    https://www.herbdoc.com/index.php/Store/5-Day-Bowel-Detox-Program-Capsules

    I've done this cleanse and it works miracles. All natural.

    If you try it you WILL move!

    Some people just have naturally slow bowels and it takes some waking up and exercise for them to act regularly.

    I am sorry - but there is absolutely no need to do a cleanse and you do not need to "GO' multiple times a day.

    Right. I only go the bathroom once every other week and I don't need to clean anything out?

    Going multiple times a day is extremely healthy. What's not healthy is having fecal matter stuck in your bowels for weeks on end.

    But I'm just one voice in a sea of people who, individually, know everything.

    I did NOT say every couple of weeks is OK so I am not sure where you got the idea that I did.

    But you did say, you don't need to cleanse, which seems ridiculous since the entire point is to eliminate (cleanse) the fecal matter from the bowels.

    And you did say you don't need to go multiple times a day. While technically this is true (proven by the fact the OP is still typing after not having had a BM for two weeks), the fact still remains that having frequent bowel movements is healthy, and it IS the body's natural reaction to try to eliminate waste after eating. Sometimes that reaction is just slowed down by dietary and hereditary factors.

    "Cleansing" (aka, eliminating the festering fecal matter) using natural products can strengthen the bowels and make future, regularity possible, because it stimulates the peristalsis response.

    Seeing a doctor is a great idea. They will, however, most likely treat your symptom and leave you with a sluggish bowel.
  • dolldreams
    dolldreams Posts: 245 Member
    When you don't poop, you have a tendency to re-absorb the toxins from the waste in your bowel back into your blood stream too.
  • dolldreams
    dolldreams Posts: 245 Member
    @17DayDietGal Green tea is commonly used as a laxative. Don't know why you would think it causes constipation:

    Benefits of Green Tea

    Green tea has been connected to cancer prevention, lower cholesterol and diabetes control. Green tea also is used to treat inflammation of the bowels, especially in patients with Crohn's and colitis. In ancient and traditional medicine practices, green tea is used as an astringent and diuretic. Because of the caffeine content in green tea, it promotes excretion of bodily fluids, including urine and stool. Consult with your physician before using green tea to treat a medical condition.

    Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/481474-is-green-tea-a-laxative/#ixzz1tDLY66Sc
  • jennyredfern
    jennyredfern Posts: 94 Member
    smooth move herbal tea, Trader Joe's colon cleanse, both with LOTS of water and fiber in bulk... makes everything great. I did the Master Cleanse diet last year and both helped me A LOT!
  • Decrease caffeine, increase water intake, take fiber supplement, move your body, like at least walk 30 minutes day, warm soak in a tub each day.
  • G5beauty
    G5beauty Posts: 17 Member
    Try hot grean tea and lemon, once in the morning and afternoon, after your meal.