40+ grams of fibre but things still aren't moving

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katemarjoram
katemarjoram Posts: 203
in Food and Nutrition
The title kind of says it all. I've been on a certain medication for a back injury since March and it has caused chronic constipation. I have increased my fibre and generally consume between 40-55 grams per day but it hasn't improved things. My GP prescribed a medication but it didn't help either. My diary is open and I am open to any suggestions as I am so fed up with constantly feeling so ordinary.
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Replies

  • sitstaygimmeeakiss
    sitstaygimmeeakiss Posts: 130 Member
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    I have (had?) diverticulitis & had to have part of my colon removed due to complications, so I consider constipation to be serious - believe me, it's no joke. Extreme constipation can eventually cause those pockets in the colon, and if they get inflamed, then it's very dangerous. Never would I want anyone to go through that operation - and I discovered later that I was one of the lucky ones - it isn't successful for many people.

    Doctors aren't trained in nutrition, sad to say, but I'd talk to him or her about switching your pain meds to something that might not has as severe side effects. If it were me, I'd also try just raw veggies & fruit smoothies for awhile, too, just until things are 'back to normal.'
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
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    I would talk to the Doctor.
  • katemarjoram
    katemarjoram Posts: 203
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    I have spoken to both my GP and my specialist. This is the fourth pain med they've tried on me since November. All have caused side effects and some haven't given me any relief. While this current med is causing awful side effects it has been the most effective in controlling my pain. I have no choice but to stay on it until I have surgery. My doctors are out of ideas and have told me to try and find a balance between pain relief and managing the side effects by playing around with my dosage :-(

    Any ideas on any other dietry changes I can try to try and make me more comfortable?
  • aflane
    aflane Posts: 625 Member
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    I know what those back meds can do to your digetstion, since I've been in the same boat. You're eating plenty of fiber, but you need to cut WAY back on the amount of dairy in your diet. Dairy products can cause constipation. I used to be a greek yogurt every morning person -- and while eating yogurt, I would go for 4-7 days without having a bowel movement. Now, I've cut most of the dairy out of my diet, and am pretty regular.

    Just convince yourself that you're lactose intolerent.
  • Des92
    Des92 Posts: 309 Member
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    This may sound pretty obvious, but are you getting enough water? my doctor told me that fiber can have the opposite effect you want from it if you don't supplement it with LOTS of water.
  • katemarjoram
    katemarjoram Posts: 203
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    I drink at least two litres of water per day plus two to six mugs of herbal tea (winter is coming here and I love hot herbal teas in the cold weather).

    I have only increased my dairy in the last few weeks since going into maintenance mode. Prior to that I was consuming very little - just a little milk on my cereal and about 100 gems of yoghurt a few times per week and I was still terribly constipated.

    Maybe I should try reducing it again or trying to cut it out. If I switched to soy milk would that help?
  • ascrof
    ascrof Posts: 34
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    it's the analgesics....chill with the pain meds for a while and things will start to move
  • katemarjoram
    katemarjoram Posts: 203
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    I would love to ditch the meds but without them I end up pretty much bed ridden. The meds I'm on aren't analgesics, I have ditched those completely.

    I have to stay on the meds I just need to try and come up with a way to manage the side effects as best I can.
  • katemarjoram
    katemarjoram Posts: 203
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    Bump.
  • WitherAway
    WitherAway Posts: 13 Member
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    Prunes and Prune Juice....Almond Milk isn't as constipating as dairy products.
  • deadmittens
    deadmittens Posts: 536 Member
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    Maybe try some "smooth move" tea. Don't get the Dieter's Tea, because it will give you the craps... But the smooth move/gentle laxative stuff works pretty well.

    If I'm really backed up I try two tea bags in one cup to give it an extra bump.
  • nikkit321
    nikkit321 Posts: 1,485 Member
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    I'd suggest prunes and/or dried apricots. My grandpa swore by a couple of handfuls of peanuts.
  • catfuzz
    catfuzz Posts: 2
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    You should be taking stool softeners daily along with your meds....not sure what country you are in, but try docusate sodium 100mg 2x's a day or something similar...the bottle has the maximum amount you can take in 24hrs, If I were you, I would keep increasing my dose if I didn't get any relief, but don't go over the max.

    Along with that, I noted your diary doesn't have much substance to it...I am not a dieter person, but I eat alot of the Bob's Red Mill 10-grain cereal ...usually for breakfast and possibly lunch too. I see you are taking fiber pills, but if you can get the fiber from food, it is usually a better qualitly of fiber.

    Good luck!
  • momoftheyear
    momoftheyear Posts: 7
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    You should be taking stool softeners daily along with your meds....not sure what country you are in, but try docusate sodium 100mg 2x's a day or something similar...the bottle has the maximum amount you can take in 24hrs, If I were you, I would keep increasing my dose if I didn't get any relief, but don't go over the max.

    I agree with this. If you are on pain meds you need a stool softener daily. You may need to get the one with senna in it at this point to get things going. I'm not sure dietary changes will really have an affect on your constipation because the meds make the bowels pretty sluggish. If your drinking enough water and taking in enough fiber, my only suggestion would be to add a little more fat/oil. I know they add calories but it can help.
  • aflane
    aflane Posts: 625 Member
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    it's the analgesics....chill with the pain meds for a while and things will start to move

    It's not the analgesics that cause problems. It's the anti-inflammatories and the anti-spasmatics. They calm your system down to the point where your intestines just aren't pushing things along.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,239 Member
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    I second the oil/fat thing. It can really help things alone. I would also suggest speaking to a nutritionist about this and add that fiber is real foods is generally better than fiber pills or mixes.
  • eveunderground
    eveunderground Posts: 236 Member
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    As far as dietary changes, I'd suggest increasing your vegetable intake...things like broccoli, brussels sprouts, shredded cabbage, green beans...i.e. really dense bulky fibrous vegetables. You could also try fiber one cereal...but make sure you have lots of water with it otherwise it will have the opposite effect. Also, incorporating beans and legumes into your diet may help, they are also high in fiber...again make sure you have lots of water with them. Keep in mind all these suggestions may tend to bloat you until you get things moving, so that part may be uncomfortable..so you may initially want to try a stool softener as others suggested, perhaps ask your doctor to recommend one that is gentle and not habit forming.
  • katemarjoram
    katemarjoram Posts: 203
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    Thanks for the suggestions. The fibre supplement I have been taking makes up only 3 grams of the 40+ grams of fibre I have been consuming each day the rest coming from veggies, multigrains, prune juice, lentils and fruit (fresh and dried). I have tried the stool softeners with senna several times but lets just say the problem went to the other extreme for 24 hours (to the point where I can't leave the house) before returning to the chronic constipation.

    I have heard of coconut oil and aloe vera juice as possible remedies. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of these?
  • frats
    frats Posts: 96 Member
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    I have been having the same problem for quite a few days. We are both usually under our calorie limit but I have been trying to eat more stuff. Since I have been eating back my exercise calories for the last few days, things have been 'moving' a lot better. I am not sure if there is a connection, but it might be worth a try?
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,239 Member
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    I have no experience with them, but oils are helpful to get things moving so I am guessing the coconut oil will help. No idea on the Aloe Vera, but it might be worth a try.

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