Would a stool softener help?

MissingMyOldSelf
MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been doing very well with my diet recently, and occasionally going over slightly on my fat, or protein, or sodium. My diary is open for you to see.

I've also been using the scale here at work for the past 6 months, and noticed a drop in my weight. (Plus side). Another plus: I just bought a scale for my house this weekend.

Bad side: I didn't get to weigh myself until I got to work, sometimes almost 4-6 hours after I've already been up, eating, drinking etc. so my scale at home now claims that I'm 7 lbs heavier than when I weighed myself on Friday. and I was almost 2 lbs heavier than the previous week.

I can give the excuse of "water weight." I can give the "well, I THOUGHT I drank a good amount of water" reasoning.... and I really have. The problem I have is that I'm not going to the bathroom (#2) hardly at all anymore. From someone who was going once or twice a day, I'm going maybe once a week now, and it's not much.

Yesterday and today, I've been crampy, almost like TOM crampy, but it's not that. I'm very concerned that I'm not going to the bathroom much, and that could be the reason for the sudden jump in my weight is because I'm not going very much.

I know that a higher protein diet can cause some stoppage-uppage (yes, I just said that), but I've not been majorly over on my protein.

In a situation like this, would a stool softener help, or a laxative? Mind you, my office here at work is almost a 4 minute hike to the closest bathroom, and I don't want to play "The Little Engine that Could."

Thanks for any advice you can give!!

Replies

  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,137 Member
    Fiber.
  • Tonnina
    Tonnina Posts: 979 Member
    Get more fiber in you... That should help and do drink at least eight 8oz glasses a day, your stool, believe it or not, is actually about 75% water (even when firm!)
    Also pay attention to the color of your stool. It can tell you a lot about what your body needs or is going though.
    Take a look at this colorful and entertaining but very accurate and helpful chart when it comes to color of your stool.
    http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/poop.jpg

    And no worries, every body poops!!
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    Fiber.
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    If it sinks, pat yourself on the back.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    If you look at my fiber intake, it's normally pretty close to being the recommended suggestion for my diet.
  • dancingdeer
    dancingdeer Posts: 373 Member
    Try drinking a cup of Smooth Move tea. It's made by Traditional Medicinals, and you can find it at most larger grocery or any healthy food store. Steep a cup for 8 minutes and drink before bedtime. It should work in the morning - best results have a hot beverage when you wake up....

    It's totally natural and non habit forming. :happy:
  • deathstarclock
    deathstarclock Posts: 512 Member
    Oh and do consider the use of this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Poo-Log-Peter-Arkle/dp/0811863395
  • Ebbykins
    Ebbykins Posts: 420 Member
    Fiber makes me worse but I'm personally IBS-C and have been for a while, any slow grains do the worst to me, I would increase your healthy fats as well and try to have prunes, apple sauce and more citrus fruits for snacks which are all naturally laxatives, it usually helps keep me regular. Once in a while it get's kinda backed up and I'll do a salt water flush and 24 hour detox, eating just fruits, veggies, water, tea, coffee, easy to digest proteins, no grains, no rich foods and that helps but is a bit more for "dire" needs. Also do you take a probiotic because that seems to help me tremendously as well.
  • CaptainGordo
    CaptainGordo Posts: 4,437 Member
    Heh. Poop.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    Heh. Poop.

    Mature. :grumble:

    It's a serious question, and I'm interested in what people have to say with maybe a previous experience. Please, no kidding around because if this is something I need to see a dr for, I'd like to have support. Not smart-*kitten* responses.
  • erd2011
    erd2011 Posts: 15 Member
    Stool softeners help keep your stool from being robbed of water from other sources. They're useful for hard, dry bowel movements (and the discomfort that comes from passing them). Stool softeners don't help with regularity.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    Stool softeners help keep your stool from being robbed of water from other sources. They're useful for hard, dry bowel movements (and the discomfort that comes from passing them). Stool softeners don't help with regularity.

    I'm going to the bathroom for #1 up to 10 times a day, though. Could I be losing water in that way, causing what little bowel movements I get to be almost non-existent?
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    If you look at my fiber intake, it's normally pretty close to being the recommended suggestion for my diet.

    Your diary isn't public so we can't see it.

    MFP's fiber goal should be viewed as a bare minimum. If you are having problems, you should consider more. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member


    Your diary isn't public so we can't see it.

    MFP's fiber goal should be viewed as a bare minimum. If you are having problems, you should consider more. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.

    Sorry.... it's public now.
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    Even though you are meeting or getting close to your fiber goal on most days, you could still up your intake. The recommended minimum amount of fiber for women in 25g. This means you should be getting at least this much. MFP's default setting for fiber is very low. In order for the fiber to work correctly, you should be drinking plenty of water. If you think fiber isn't your problem or you are in pain, I would talk to your doctor.

    Also, your breakfast looks delicious. :flowerforyou:


    http://www.livestrong.com/article/388611-daily-requirement-for-fiber/
  • erd2011
    erd2011 Posts: 15 Member
    I doubt it. I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I pee every 25 minutes. That isn't what's affecting my other bathroom habits - various pregnant functions are robbing my stool of water and every last bit of nutrient that might be in there before releasing the waste. I started taking the stool softener and that hasn't so much increased frequency as it has relieved discomfort.

    I wouldn't immediately head for the laxative option, though, at least not in pill format. Do you drink coffee or caffeinated tea? You might try a cup of coffee or black tea in the a.m. on an empty stomach and give it about an hour to work. Caffeine is a stimulant and can help with irregularity.

    It's also just entirely possible that this is the new normal for you. If you're not feeling uncomfortably stopped up, it's possible you're eating less waste-heavy food than you were once upon a time.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    Thank you! I'm going to start going for the 25g's daily. Going to get some fiber one cereal bars as a snack!
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    I doubt it. I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I pee every 25 minutes. That isn't what's affecting my other bathroom habits - various pregnant functions are robbing my stool of water and every last bit of nutrient that might be in there before releasing the waste. I started taking the stool softener and that hasn't so much increased frequency as it has relieved discomfort.

    I wouldn't immediately head for the laxative option, though, at least not in pill format. Do you drink coffee or caffeinated tea? You might try a cup of coffee or black tea in the a.m. on an empty stomach and give it about an hour to work. Caffeine is a stimulant and can help with irregularity.

    It's also just entirely possible that this is the new normal for you. If you're not feeling uncomfortably stopped up, it's possible you're eating less waste-heavy food than you were once upon a time.

    Last week, I did almost a pot of coffee here at work by myself. Got the rumbly in the tumbly, and went jogging for the potty.... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    I'm not feeling stopped up, but I'm feeling like the low, TOM crampy style of annoyance. But I'm not ready for my cramps for my TOM, so I know it's not that. I feel like I'm out of whack, really.
  • budgetqueen79
    budgetqueen79 Posts: 310 Member
    When I am still stopped up I drink Get Regular Tea by Yogi. I once was on prescriptions for that but I find the tea works wonders. I only drink it for major stoppage and it doesn't cramp you or gas you up.
  • erd2011
    erd2011 Posts: 15 Member
    You might be out of whack. I'd really hesitate to go the laxative route personally, especially if that quantity of caffeine isn't helping matters. Others' suggestions of specific-function tea could be another avenue to try. The organics aisle in my grocery store sells "Smooth Move" herbal tea, which seems to have a decent reputation behind it.

    If you do decide to try a laxative, be sure to choose a "gentle formula" type and go with the lowest recommended dose to start. Maybe try it on a weekend day that you can be close to home, just in case.
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