HELP!! sorry if TMI!! difficulty with bowels
dawnemjh
Posts: 1,465 Member
I have been having trouble with constipation for months!! I get at least 40gms of fiber in per day, drink at least 100 ounces of water, take fiber supplements...and still having trouble. Anyone that struggles with this have any tips?? i would like to avoid stimulants (senna) asit has been thought by some GI specialists that these can alter the nerve response in the intestines and make you dependant on them to go. I have had success with the liquid maalox but not the pills, but the taste (both plain/mint/and cherry) is enough to make me gag. I have put on 4 pounds since yesterday d/t bloating and am sooo uncomfortable. Dont know what else to do. HELP!!!!
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Is it possible you are getting too much fiber? I believe it's recommended to get around 35 a day so if you get to 40, maybe the supplement is too much. I thought I've heard that too much can have the opposite effect, but don't quote me, I may be wrong. I don't get enough fiber so I use the benefiber orange twice a day and it works.0
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I have the same problem, i have tried everything as well0
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You might be getting too much fiber. Cut down on some of it but still drink that water. Hope you feel better.0
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Try Triphala- it's an Arurvedic herbal supplement. Or Smooth Move tea. Hope you feel better!0
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I strongly suggest seeing a GI specialist.0
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Ever rub the bottoms of your feet? It helps me with constipation. Rub gently on the bottom of your feet, above the heel, in kind of the fleshy part of your foot that touches the ground....from a Reflexology standpoint, this is the colon reflex. When I feel bloated and constipated, I rub that part a couple of times a day and usually within 12 hours I find some relief. Good luck!0
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Seriously, try some prune juice...maybe 6 or so ounces daily.0
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Drink lots of water and take a probiotic. You can get them over the counter in the vitamin section. They are the good bacteria for your gut like what is in yogurt. Eating yogurt, preferably plain with no sugar will also help. Apples are good, too. Prunes. Plum Smart juice. The probiotics are the best solution. It will help regulate things and keep your immune system healthy. Best wishes!0
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I'm the same
I actually have a dr. appointment on friday. I find I get real bad depending on what I eat. I'm going to talk to the dr maybe about trying the eat right for your blood type diet to see if that helps?? I find a lot of foods on the avoid list for me make me sick (my stomach will bloat to make me look although I'm 4-5 months pregnant) I have found that milk of magnesia helps for the short term (laxative) I can send you a pm if you'd like after I friday to tell you what my dr told me.. 0 -
I read somewhere you're supposed to get 14g of fiber for every 1000 calories you consume. Is it possible you're getting too much fiber?0
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I am having the same problem. Too much fiber is my problem. I am drinking prune juice which is doing its job nicely.
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I struggle with this, as well. I used to average 1-2 bowel movements a week for most of my life. Often they would be painful and I always felt bloated and heavy. I started taking Align, a probiotic supplement (there are others out there, too, if you can't find this one). i also take gummy fiber supplements. In the last six months, it's dramatically improved (not always every day, but at least every other day now). I started making an effort to drink 8 glasses of water daily, too. I think it's really helped my weight loss and metabolism, too, now that I'm going more frequently.0
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Amy's herbal tea. ENOUGH SAID!
I drink this every single day and go 2-3 times a day! It's a life saver but you must drink LOTS of water!
http://www.amysherbaltea.com/
If you want to know more about it, feel free to send me a message. The maker of the tea is a family friend 0 -
I have this - huge troubles with my bowels. I go maybe about once every two weeks and like you have terrible bloating. I have found that eating a lot of fibre does NOT help me at all. If I have too much fibre I end up with an intestinal blockage. I also drink about 4 litres of water per day and I have lots of soluble fibre (fruit and vegetables). I have tried everything and find that magnesium tablets tend to work best. Drinking a pint of warm water first thing in the morning also seems to help.
Do you get a pain in your side under the right hand lower rib? Apparently there is a loop in the colon there and if you suffer bad constipation wind can get trapped. I was told this by the GI specialist who also recommended the magnesium.
I try not to take laxatives but if I do I don't take the bulking agents as it makes it worse.
I feel sorry for you, I know how horrible it is.0 -
I have the same problem. Finally had enough of it and went to a GI doctor. Did a colonoscopy and discovered that I have diverticulitis and scar tissue. He gave me several prescriptions, which were very costly. And also suggested Magnesium Citrate. The really expensive medicine did not work. However the Magnesium Citrate did. So I keep that on hand. Directions say to drink one bottle, daily if needed. I only drink a half of a bottle when needed. It was a lot cheaper. Walmart where I live charges .96. Thats way better than $100 +. Kmart has it in a much better flavor for $2 more. Good luck with it. I know what it feels like, and it is sooooooo miserable.0
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I've been diagnosed with crohns disease, so I understand your problems. When I get out of my normal routine (weekends), I can be locked up for days. Water is great of course, but I eat a lot of fresh fruit, apples, pears, grapes...anything that is high in pectin. Also, lay off excessive dairy. If you do have dairy, make it a wise choice. Go with a yogurt with all the stuff in it to make you move. There is also an herbal tea called "smooth move".
What helps me to is running and jumping jacks. :happy:
But I agree that you should see a specialist so that you know what your working with.
Hope everthing comes out well in the end!
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Try eating fruits and veggies on an empty stomach. I have heard that they can help cleanse you but only if you eat them on an empty stomach. I agree that you MAY be getting too much fiber. I had that happen to me so I cut back and it all seemed to work out ok. :happy:0
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Thanks for all the tips!!!!! So appreciated! I am off to the store right now!!!!0
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I'm the same I actually have a dr. appointment on friday. I find I get real bad depending on what I eat. I'm going to talk to the dr maybe about trying the eat right for your blood type diet to see if that helps?? I find a lot of foods on the avoid list for me make me sick (my stomach will bloat to make me look although I'm 4-5 months pregnant) I have found that milk of magnesia helps for the short term (laxative) I can send you a pm if you'd like after I friday to tell you what my dr told me..
Yes!! Please let me know!! and good luck!0 -
Amy's herbal tea. ENOUGH SAID!
I drink this every single day and go 2-3 times a day! It's a life saver but you must drink LOTS of water!
http://www.amysherbaltea.com/
If you want to know more about it, feel free to send me a message. The maker of the tea is a family friend
Yes I am interested!! I need it like yesterday 0 -
One thing I know has worked for a friend who struggled with constipation: first thing when you get up early in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast, drink 3-4 glasses of water. You can sit on the toilet for a while, she used to do it while she would drink the water. Or, I like to just go back to bed. The timing of when you drink water is important.
What is your main source of fiber? Is it just fiber supplements? Try experimenting with different sources of fiber, like whole grains, flax, lots of veggies and prunes (my favorite BTW are D'Noir prunes - and I don't like prunes). Also, don't forget the soluble fiber, which although it doesn't add bulk will help your good bacteria in your GI tract, boost immune function, decrease blood lipid (fat) levels and help regulate blood sugar for the diabetics out there. (Beans: a magical fruit. Also try oatmeal and anything with inulin.)
I forgot - aloe juice is supposed to work as a good laxative, but it seems gross to me.0 -
go to the doctor0
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go to the doctor
this
why would you seek medical advice on a forum? there could be something medically wrong that needs addressing0 -
Too much fiber! Take 1 tbsp. olive oil in juice or something before bedtime. It'll help move the fiber through. Cut your fiber intake in half -- more is not necessarily better.
I have the same issue when I overeat heavy fiber. Now, I eat about 15 grams per day and everything works fine.0 -
go to the doctor
this
why would you seek medical advice on a forum? there could be something medically wrong that needs addressing
Snarky!
I am not seeking medical advice here, I am asking others what works for them. and I have seen a doctor and their advice is not working!0 -
Might you be eating too little fat? You need some fat to assist with...movement.0
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go to the doctor
this
why would you seek medical advice on a forum? there could be something medically wrong that needs addressing
Snarky!
I am not seeking medical advice here, I am asking others what works for them. and I have seen a doctor and their advice is not working!
it's not sarcy, it's advice with concerns about your medical health at the heart of it (never heard of snarky, nor has google, so guessing that's what you meant)
if the doctor's advice didn't work first time, go back and tell them it didn't work
if you want to try people's suggestions, maybe they'll work, or maybe, they'll mask a genuine medical problem0 -
I also agree with the olive oil!0
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Do you ever use Metamucil? I try to take the amount recommended for lowering cholesterol. You are supposed to have three teaspoons three times a day. It makes the drink very thick. No worry about getting dependent because you can take it the rest of your life to help lower the cholestrol. I have also tried the clearly fibre stuff that doesn't thicken and you can mix with anything- it really worked well.0
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I didn't read all the post so sorry if someone already said this
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Are you eating enough dark greens? I know the more dark greens i eat the better i go. also, are you eating enough. i have a friend that wants to lose weight but she does it by almost starving herself. then she goes like a rabbit. and my son had problems because he was eating to much sugar. the dr told him to lay off some of the sweets and it improved his bms a lot. and like some of the others said, drink some prune juice and keep some prunes on hand. oh, drinking hot liquid can help move things along too (you can even heat the prune juice up). hope you feel better soon.0
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