TMI--but haven't gone to the bathroom since Saturday

kos19

I don't know what's going on--these past few months I've been going to the bathroom less and less. Plenty of water, fiber in check, upped the protein a bit due to more strength training--but barely go once every 3-4 days, and even then it's not much. I've definitely been eating--so I don't understand what's going on.

Can anyone give me some advice--so sick of laxatives and suppositories. I feel like I'm just carrying around extra mass in backed up food.

Sorry if this totally offends anyone, I'm just at my wits end.

DeeDee2211

Try cooking with a bit of olive oil, that helped me. I've also heard prunes are good for that too.

barbielovesgym

Coffee always helps me LOL

tweakz20

If you are actually feeling backed up, you could have a GI obstruction which laxitives can't aleviate. Go to the ER or family doctor if you have bad abdominal pain and feel like you're backed up.
If you're not backed up it could be a dietary thing. If you're eating natural whole foods and not processed crap that can't be absorbed, it may all be getting absorbed with little waste.

sdavis0224

Coffee always helps me LOL

I agree coffee helps me too, black coffee. But I also take target brand of miralax everyday just to keep me from feeling the way you are cause I hate that feeling. Wish you luck on finding something that helps....

jumadey

Flaxseed. I've been having ground flaxseed with my breakfast quite alot over the last few weeks and it's increased my regularity (I'm going at least once a day). I got them from Holland and Barrett.

krazyforyou

Miralax, one glassful a day does the trick.

satxtrap

Psyllium seed husks mixed in with orange or grapefruit juice. Just small spoon of it will do. This stuff isn't a laxative but a "bulkifier". Each husk swells up to 10 times its size as it passes through and helps things happen. It's really amazing stuff and all natural. Google it.

onikonor

Like someone else said if you have abdominal pain you should go see a doctor ASAP. 3 tb of mineral oil daily until lose bowel movement helps as well.

When I was eating lots of veggies, protein shakes, and meat I did go less frequently - once every couple of days but I did not feel backup up though.

If you still have problems after a couple of days definitely go see a doctor.

erickirb

make sure you are taking in enough dietary fat, the fat help lubricate the digestive track, You can also take mineral oil by the tablespoon.

If you are on a low fat diet this could be your issue, since your diary is not public I cannot tell for sure. I would suggest getting a 0.35grams of fat per lb of body weight. So if you weigh 150, aim for 52 grams of fat, which if on a 1200 cal/day diet would be almost 40%.

londongirl2012

soluble fibre found in in porridge oats, oat bran, beans, lentils, fruit and veg should help as well as ground flaxeed or psyllium husk powders added to drinks if the food doesn't help, lots of water and exercise are good as you mentioned you already do, some people find caffeine can be a stimulant so a black coffee might help each morning?

futuremalestripper

Take a multi-vitamin with milk on an empty stomach. It won't take long...

laulyn

Psyllium seed husks mixed in with orange or grapefruit juice. Just small spoon of it will do. This stuff isn't a laxative but a "bulkifier". Each husk swells up to 10 times its size as it passes through and helps things happen. It's really amazing stuff and all natural. Google it.

I have used mineral oil also. It is was my dr recommended previously.

ivikatasha

I would see your doctor for advice on this.

But, having a bowel once every 3 days is normal, if goes to 4 then that is pushing it. People have a misconception that a bowel movement daily is normal and healthy. You can have one every 2-3 days and it is still normal and healthy.

Frequent use of laxatives and stool softeners is not a good idea at all, unless your doctor prescribes that for you. It causes you to become dependent on them and lose normal bowel function, which means you have to use them to have a bowel movement. It sounds like you have used them a lot in the past.

From the sound of it, your diet does not seem to be the issue. Could always try prune juice though, that is supposed to help.

This is stuff I learned in nursing school btw.

deniseearheart

nothing like a shot of milk of magnesia to get it moving fast :-)

cloggsy71

Some people will think I'm turning into the 'water' Police, but what is your water intake like?

You need to drink plenty!

Barbellerella

Take a magnesium supplement, and aloe vera gels before bed every night! Helps a ton.

david081

I wonder if you are drinking enough water, as this really helps with digestion..

Phaedra2014

More water. Prunes. Cherries. Spinach.

peggles49losing20

My doc suggested Magnesium capsules. Works like a charm.

NAcetoLang

Take a magnesium supplement, and aloe vera gels before bed every night! Helps a ton.

Magnesium supplement is the way to go... take it regularly to stay "regular". Magnesium helps with so many other things too... mood and absorption of other vitamins

hawaii86442

I have had this problem as well. I have found certain foods make it more severe.(eg processed foods and red meat-sugar based drinks and desserts).
I step up my fluids and add fruit to my diet-a little flaked coconut helped me a lot. Also I find eating green beans and also eating avocodos help immensely. Good luck-been there and done that-it is miserable.

mamo1014

First of all, make sure it's not a medical problem. As for me, I take Flaxseed daily. That helps but when things get "slow" I like to drink LaxaTea by Celestial. It's gentle and hasn't caused cramping. It also tastes good. You can find it in the tea isle at most grocery stores. Watch out for some diet teas...they can give you cramps and "explosive" results.

MFPBrandy

From the series of docs we saw for my daughter, try prune, apple, pineapple or pear juice. Lots of sugar, but hey, if it works...
Dried apricots are so effective on me, I have to stay away from them altogether.
Good luck!!!

CynthiaCollin

I used Eliminex.... it is a herbal tea.... usually two cups in a day gets things going the next day. But not to be consumed for a long period of time.... read the box if you buy it.

tmm01

I'm on a very low cal diet - 1100 cals per day. I have the same problem, but find if I have a bit more fat in my meals it makes me go. (I had my gall bladder removed 6 yrs ago - ever since then my body can't handle fat, so gets rid of it very quickly!!) I also use prunes, figs, sprouts, beans. These help, but I think my body has become less regular due to my calorie intake, as if I go over on occasions, i don't have the problem. If you are in any doubt though, go and see your GP, they'll be able to sort it for you.

chrikoko12202007

I had the same outcome when i started drinking protein shakes. proteins in meats and such dont effect me at all but for some reason the protein powders back me up. are protein shakes part of ur daily routine? if so based on my experience id just turn to other sources to help with ur daily protein needs.

MaryJane_8810002

1. Smooth Move tea used to work for me when I used to fast years ago

2. I had this same problem when I was on this purity kick. I used everything, suppositories, enemas, psyllium husks, colonics, etc. You HAVE to talk to your doctor or go to the Emergency room, psyllium husks (or metamucil) can sometimes build up of not taken properly.

Avandel

I had a bowel obstruction once & there was no pain until 6 hr before I got to the ER. The pain faded off after the first bout but was in full agonizing swing 5.5 hrs later. The only thing I did have was a niggly little ache in the fronts of my thighs, up near the groin, for a few weeks beforehand. I would go to the Doc now to be on the safe side because if it is an obstruction, the pain is worse than anything you could imagine!:flowerforyou:

kaleas

I also haven't gone since Friday. I had a massive bought of going, sorry if it's TMI. I had been eating grapes all week. This was followed by a weekend of the worse stomach pain I've ever had. I could barely eat. It finally eased up on Monday. I've been trying to gradually up my fiber again but have been going light on the fruits.

However I am painfully bloated, gassy, and feel like I need to go but can't. It's an extremely annoying problem.

Enigmatica

I'd recommend checking for thyroid problems or food intolerances, both of which can develop at any time.

I had similar issues (or lack of issues, LOL) and it turned out that both cowmilk products and anything containing wheat/gluten were creating lock gut (and giving me nasty headaches). Eliminating those foods from my diet solved the problem. But thyroid changes can do the same thing so my doc had to rule that out along the way.