Embarrassing question but need help

pinkribbons4hope
pinkribbons4hope Posts: 56
edited October 26 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok...this is an embarrassing question for me to be putting out there...but what do I do about constipation???

I have been drinking lots of water over the past few days, been eating lots of fruits and veggies...and still haven't been able to go to the bathroom :( It's been 3 days I think. It's starting to get uncomfortable for sure. I would have thought with the foods, the water, and exercise I would be more "regular"...but I'm not. I know I can take a laxative but generally they don't work that well for me.

Any thoughts? My diary is public so feel free to let me know if you think I'm eating the wrong food or something. Thanks so much and sorry if this is TMI!!!

-Liz:embarassed:
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Replies

  • Zaria_Athena
    Zaria_Athena Posts: 56 Member
    Try including some healthy oils.

    Try drinking hot water and lemon in the the morning when you first wake up.

    Try drinking green tea throughout the day.

    Good luck.
  • bdreilly84
    bdreilly84 Posts: 30
    For most people coffee seems to help.....
  • KatiD83
    KatiD83 Posts: 152 Member
    I take benefiber every few days and it helps me.
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    prunes / dates / figs are meant to help in that department!!
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
    I have an extreme issue with this too! I will not go sometimes for 4 days and I have used fiber supplements....Metamucil does not work fiber pills don't work and I feel I am eating stuff that should make it come out but none of it works!! I would like to know too other than going to a doctor again who seem to just suggest fiber pills which don't work!
  • aaleigha1
    aaleigha1 Posts: 408 Member
    my doctor suggested to me a strong black coffee and if I have that a couple of times a day I am regular - if I dont have any for a few days I am like you and yes I know how uncomfortable it can be
  • gailashton
    gailashton Posts: 292
    Poor thing! No fun for sure. Try some coffee, prunes/prune juice. If all else fails take some milk of mag or MiraLAX.
  • nathan72
    nathan72 Posts: 91 Member
    you can brew a natural tea from senna leaves...works every time...or take a senna based laxative.
  • bett_boop
    bett_boop Posts: 89 Member
    I use suppositories when i am really desperate - just pop them up you bum, wait for them to melt and voila! I know it may sound gross but they have really helped me in the past.
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    With the advice from my dr., I started taking a Probiotic daily & it works great. Helps regulate, plus added immune booster. I like Culturelle. Good luck!
  • wwww1199
    wwww1199 Posts: 228 Member
    Mangos and Papaya are natural laxatives that I use. I have the same problem and hate taking laxatives.
  • homeport51
    homeport51 Posts: 198 Member
    I had the same problem. I started tracking my fiber and eat probably 1.5-2 times the recommended fiber. Two things that helped me the most... I added a couple of tablespoons of ground flax seed to my yogurt. Also, Kellogg's makes Fiber one bars that help in that area too. Keep up with you water and add more fiber...
  • lmalaschak
    lmalaschak Posts: 346 Member
    One of my children has this issue. I feed him oatmeal with raisins for breakfast a lot. I also use the Fiber One yogurts, and the Fiber One granola bar things. Lately I have given him 4 ounces of prune juice every morning. It helps a lot! I've learned that I shouldn't stop using it when the problem goes away because then it just comes right back.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    I make myself a fruit smootie every morning for breakfast and a big salad every day for lunch. Along with all the water I drink, it helps with any constipation issues. Before I added all the fruit and veggies, I was having problems, too.
  • FindJulie
    FindJulie Posts: 6 Member
    Well, it might be embarrassing, but you are sure not alone! :) I recently learned of psyllium seed husks. A friend recommends 1.5 table spoons in water at night before bed. But she cautioned that you need to drink it right away because otherwise it starts to solidify. She claims she wakes up and is ready to "go" with it. I'm going to try it. Apparently it is bought from health food stories. Here is a link for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyllium_seed_husks
  • jilliebk
    jilliebk Posts: 252 Member
    fiber, fruits
  • lmalaschak
    lmalaschak Posts: 346 Member
    Any dried fruit is a good option also. Not just raisins but apricots, prunes, cherries...
  • button777
    button777 Posts: 26 Member
    Have you considered colon hydrotherapy? It's supposed to be really good at helping this exact issue.
  • Puddykat1026
    Puddykat1026 Posts: 164 Member
    My all natural health doctor suggests a teaspoon of olive oil. It's not the best tasting (it could be worse), but it does help lubricate your insides. Usually I need 1 before bed and maybe 1 in the morning. This will NOT have a laxative effect, just help to soften & release.
  • Rynoman2k3
    Rynoman2k3 Posts: 152 Member
    Well I'm glad to know i'm not the only one with this issue since i've been dieting. Juices help sometimes.
  • karlak1
    karlak1 Posts: 4
    There is a tea...you can get at healthfood stores...It is called Smooth Move...it is what I use to battle that when water alone does not work...drink it in the evening before bed...steep it for 2 minutes....start with a half of a cup...worked wonders for me without all the bad side effects of laxatives or the calories and bloating of "fiber" drinks.
  • jeni_Giedd
    jeni_Giedd Posts: 61
    Miralax helps, too, and your pharmacy prbably has it in a generic form. Hot liquids do something to stimulate the bowels, which is one of the reasons nursing homes serve coffee to their residents a lot. My husband swears by Mountain Dew. He says if he drinks too much it acts like Drano! ;-P:laugh:
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    More fiber, more veggies and raisins.
  • oouurr__aayylleeyycan
    oouurr__aayylleeyycan Posts: 149
    You can buy over-the-counter laxatives to help or a more natural way would be to eat lots of fruit and fiber. Most supermarkets and health stores also stock natural alternatives to laxatives too, including an orange drink called Fybogel which works really well. I have IBS so often take this to help make my movements more regular :-)

    Remember though, any change to diet will affect your movements, so if you're dieting it could just be that your body's adjusting to the new regime and may sort itself out in the short term :-)
  • zaaden
    zaaden Posts: 26 Member
    For immediate constipation relief, if you have not gone for a few days try prune juice and apple juice (not the concentrate)
    Take 2 -3 glasses of prune juice on an empty or fairly empty stomach after 15 - 20 minutes have a glass of apple juice. Make sure you stay near an available toilet as you will need it in less than an hour.
    This worked for my OH who does get constipation from time to time.

    The best prevention is to eat more fibre. Try grapes or melon in the evening after dinner, your constipation should easy signigicantly. Mix that with a balanced diet if not already.
  • leannemr
    leannemr Posts: 48
    Prune Juice!!! Drink the whole litre bottle!
  • iHEARTcardiacnurses
    iHEARTcardiacnurses Posts: 437 Member
    Natural laxatives: Chia seeds, mango, tamarind (really...like whoa. I had no idea the first time I ate them), coffee, tea (or almost any good source of caffeine), apple juice, prunes and prune juice, and for some reason Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat Bread does a number on most of the people I know.

    I usually drink coffee or coffee soaked chia seeds. The chia seeds have really helped scrub me out.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Honestly, what works best for me is to just sit still and relax for a few minutes in the morning. And don't discount gravity, so sit upright!

    A lot of people swear by coffee and a cigarrette, but I think the reason that works is that those people are relaxing while doing that. But sitting still with a cup of coffee of tea will help.

    I also agree about making sire you're getting enough fat in your diet.
  • RoosterB
    RoosterB Posts: 214 Member
    Olives.
  • fitaliciag
    fitaliciag Posts: 373
    Try Shakeology. It keeps me good to go!
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