chronic constipation--please help!

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I have been so severely backed up and I cannot make sense of it. I'm going crazy and getting depressed because of this.

Here's some background...

Stopped running 60-75 minutes daily b/c gym closed, so instead did road running for 20-35 minutes a day (too hard on my shins)

I eat enough fiber---over enough, always have

I drink at least 60-100oz of water (I'm only 4'11 and ~100 pounds)

My weight has gone up 5 pounds despite being at a deficit

When I do poop it feels incomplete

I've tried an enema and i "pooped" out the water but barely any poop.

I am strongly against laxatives but I'm desperate so I tried smooth move tea--got it today and had a cup. I'm hoping by tomorrow I'll get relief.

Does anyone have this problem? What works for you? Eating is incredibly uncomfortable in this state and my stomach is ALWAYS bloated lately. I go to sleep and in the middle of the night it's like it gets worse NOT better. I am at wit's end and soooo down about this. Please help!
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Replies

  • Curvy1taliana
    Curvy1taliana Posts: 371 Member
    Chia seeds - put in yogurt or smoothies or straight up.

    Smooth move

    Magnesium

    Swiss Kriss

    that's all I got... :tongue:
  • stephanie1187
    stephanie1187 Posts: 34
    i have the same exact problem...hopefully someone has an answer!
  • hereiskristina
    hereiskristina Posts: 33
    I have had IBS for years yoyoing between one extreme and the other with the pooping and the thing that always gets me on track is Miralax. It is about $20 for the big bottle but if you take it for one or two days you should be back on track. Don't be surprised if you have loose stools though for the first few movements. Good luck, I hope you have relief soon!
  • kelsully
    kelsully Posts: 1,008 Member
    perhapsa dr is in order...sometimes other types of female issues are hidden by the constipation.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    forgot to mention...I'VE TRIED MIRALAX, I've also tried probiotics, omega 3, flaxseed, upping/reducing fiber, drinking more water. Nothing happens.
  • beckyyoungers
    beckyyoungers Posts: 18
    Try cutting out animal products for a few days - meat, cheese, eggs, yogurt, etc. Replace those with beans, lentils, veggies, etc. Cut out any and all refined grains. Drink plenty of water with your meals so it latches on to the fiber you are eating.

    And...I don't know about your caffeine habits, and this is probably unhealthy advice...but a cup of strong coffee always makes me go. I don't get constipated, but I do notice that within half hour of drinking coffee, I have to poop.

    ETA: I average about 50-60 grams of fiber per day. I think the RDA for fiber is way too low.
  • djd8788
    djd8788 Posts: 2
    Have you tried probiotics? There are lots on the market. I buy mine at Costco. Take one every night. It works for me. You can also try taking a licorice tablet before meals; I use DGL, which I got at the local health food store.
  • budgetqueen79
    budgetqueen79 Posts: 310 Member
    There is some Yogi Get Regular Tea that works better than Smooth Move b/c Smooth Move just makes you move not get back on track don't forget to drink the water with Smooth Move that is what I used at first but I find that Spinach, broccoli, and romaine lettuce will make me go now that I am straightened out.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Try cutting out animal products for a few days - meat, cheese, eggs, yogurt, etc. Replace those with beans, lentils, veggies, etc. Cut out any and all refined grains. Drink plenty of water with your meals so it latches on to the fiber you are eating.

    And...I don't know about your caffeine habits, and this is probably unhealthy advice...but a cup of strong coffee always makes me go. I don't get constipated, but I do notice that within half hour of drinking coffee, I have to poop.

    ETA: I average about 50-60 grams of fiber per day. I think the RDA for fiber is way too low.

    Thanks! I drink coffee every morning. I get at least 50 grams of fiber a day effortlessly. I think I'll do the animal product thing and cut out dairy--I don't eat meat so that's not an issue. I worry about the beans--they make me so gassy and it causes pain.
  • AmandaCaswell1982
    AmandaCaswell1982 Posts: 170 Member
    Could your fat intake be to low? Or calories too low?
  • soccermom004
    soccermom004 Posts: 444 Member
    My son has had this problem in the past. if you use miralax you need to do it regularly over a period of time, it is not a quick fix. Cut back or eliminate cheese and dairy. Lots of water and fresh fruits and veggies.
  • nottagewell
    nottagewell Posts: 2
    I have had this for years too and its a constant battle.
    However try putting LSA (Linseed, Sunflower and Almond) powder in some low fat yoghurt, cereal, smoothies and in salad. It can be put in anything really. Its a wholegrain so should help move your bowels.

    Sometimes too much fibre in your diet can also block you up, so you may be getting too much. It can be difficultgetting the right balance, I know.


    GOOD LUCK!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Have you tried probiotics? There are lots on the market. I buy mine at Costco. Take one every night. It works for me. You can also try taking a licorice tablet before meals; I use DGL, which I got at the local health food store.

    I'm taking acidophilus pearls. They don't seem to be helping much :/ A licorice tablet? where do i get those?
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    Try Metamucil. It is not a laxative. Make sure you drink lots of water. Allocate time if things take time.

    And see a doctor to make sure that you are not having some kind of blockage, or intestinal problem.
  • Chrisborro
    Chrisborro Posts: 85
    Eat a bag or 2 of sugar free chocolate... I can tell u i wont be doing that again
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Could your fat intake be to low? Or calories too low?

    calories are definitely not too low. I USUALLY eat 2000+ every single day but I can't manage that right now. i've been eating 1600 for 2 days, so not very long at all and that's not low for someone my size.

    My fat intake could increase for sure. It probably should increase actually.
  • NiciS72
    NiciS72 Posts: 1,043 Member
    Since I cannot see your diary I'm going to list a few culprits that may be hurting you:

    The following are a few things that if you eat too much of (and for some even a little does it) will cause constipation:
    Cheese/dairy
    Carbohydrates (you retain more water when you eat more carbs)
    NSAIDS i.e. Advil, Naprelan, Vicodin, etc.
    Other medications
    Protein (if on low carb/high protein diet)

    For me the best thing is to make sure I drink at LEAST 2 liters of water a day and 2 salads a day. If you want some OTC help my GI Dr. recommends Colace as it is non-addictive. I suggest the salad route as it's the best and least painful option. Best of luck!

    Edit: I also recommend fish oil in your diet. It will help "move" things along if you know what I mean!
  • EngiAli
    EngiAli Posts: 83 Member
    Do you take a multivitamin? Believe it or not those can bung some people up,
  • maryjay51
    maryjay51 Posts: 742
    buy a bottle of magnesium citrate at the store ..its about 2 bucks..i call it the liquid plummer for human intestines
  • vjrose
    vjrose Posts: 809 Member
    One, you really should if possible consult a doctor, you are doing everything right so it could be a medical issue, please don't ignore it. Also if you have health coverage get some allergy testing done, my grandson is celiac/dairy intolerant and for years they treated him symptomatically for IBS and all sorts of crap. Then he got off dairy and now he's fine as long as he is religious on the staying out of it. Mine was gluten, but it could be anything. It isn't something to take lightly, I like smooth move tea, it's a bit gentler than a lot of laxatives out there even though it has senna. Take care, and keep trying to find out the real cause.
  • Grimlock69
    Grimlock69 Posts: 197
    Food combining has really Been helpful to me. Go to YouTube or google it.
  • bcampbell54
    bcampbell54 Posts: 932 Member
    Can't see your diary so it's hard to say. I can say this:
    1. I'm not a doctor, and you need one. A medical doctor.
    2. I've had problems when I went extremely low in fat, or in fiber.
    3. I may respect your dislike of laxatives, but I can't believe you would endure the pain of constipation rather than use them. Chronic constipation can lead to more problems down the road, like diverticulosis.
  • ksoria9
    ksoria9 Posts: 6
    Try peppermint tea. It helps me.
  • slayerdan
    slayerdan Posts: 193
    If you can stand it, you need a 1-3 day fast. I fast 2 days a month, but depending on how I feel dont always do them together. For two days before, eat nothing but watery fruits and bananas and green vegetables. Then during the two days at least as much water as you drink now. If this doesnt even marginally work, you need a doctor.....there are medical reasons people become constipated. Luck,.
  • seph_house
    seph_house Posts: 101 Member
    no help but a small warning... i had a spot of the same problem a few years back and finally caved and took a senna based laxative. they did the job but the movement itself was very painful and quite scary at the time.

    (ok, what actually happened was it kicked in in the middle of the night and in a somewhat painful way. i sat in the bathroom for a little while feeling sorry for myself at the stomach cramps and then... the next thing i knew i woke up in a pool of blood on the floor!!
    as far as i can work out, i fainted briefly from the pain and hit the bridge of my nose on the wall. it was a tiny cut but bled lots as face/scalp wounds do and fainting and bashing your head in the middle of the night when you live alone is... scary... so your experience might be much better than mine:)
  • steffiejoe
    steffiejoe Posts: 313 Member
    Try drinking some plum smart. It works for me.
  • sunshinegirlnm
    sunshinegirlnm Posts: 312 Member
    I take 400 mg of magnesium each night before bed, which also helps with muscle soreness and sleeping in addition to, ehem, stool softening.

    Also, 1T flax seeds ground and added to water before bed helps.

    Finally, I find kale a miracle worker.
  • jessebreanne
    jessebreanne Posts: 46
    My son and I both have a slow colon which is the worst, everything gets to a certain point in the bowel and then stops leaving you sick, sore, and no amount of fiber or exercise works. The doctor has put us both on a daily full dose of polyethylene glycol (peg) 3350 - oral (Golytely or Miralax) It is inert, your body does not become dependant on it to function, and there are no negative side effects. If you are severely backed up it may take up to 5-8 days to resolve, and you may want to choose to continue on it daily as a preventative measure. You can get it at Wal-mart next to the Metamucil. The house brand is $5 less and is exactly the same. Some reports on the internet say that you can form a dependance, but I have had 2 doctors and a pharmacist assure me that is not the case. I would definatly go see the doctor first if you are having nausea, vomiting, or sweats as this may indicate a bowel obstruction. Good luck.
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
    Try drinking aloe vera juice everyday. I drink 1/4-1/2 cup every morning.
  • kutterba
    kutterba Posts: 107 Member
    TWO things you might try - Vitamin C on an empty stomach in the morning with a full glass of water; the other, as WW will tell you, "healthy oils." Healthy oils literaly lubricate your body. Make sure you're getting just the right amount - up to 3 tablespoons a day - in your vegetables, in your salad.. where ever seems appropriate. and then, if neither works - definitely see a doctor.
    And walking and water and walking and water and walking and water! If you're exercising you should take in 10 glasses of water on top of your coffee.
    I agree with the person who asked if you eating ENOUGH... are you? never less than 1200 calories a day.
    good luck!
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