Anyone got any [sensible] suggestions for, ahem, adult constipation.

[DrZeus]

Need quick bit of advice. Anyone got any top tips for adult constipation. I'm getting very uncomfortable, if you know what I mean .
TIA, I'm very grateful.
Dr Zeus

[Helium]

Coffee works as a laxative, dark chocolate a well known one for helping things down there, - drink plenty of water as this will soften things and make it less painful when it does happen. Fruit juices help too.

If you are constipated now then try not to have too much fibre until it passes. Then once things have settled try and have lots of fibre and lots of fluid.

Good luck - I know how you feel - I was in hospital once and didnt go for more than 12 days!!!!! The constipation became more of a worry to Drs than what i orginally went in for!!!! hahahahah It was just like giving birth when it did happen! Then they called out the pumbers....!!! No joke!!

[Rhubarb]

I find that drinking excess alcohol usually gives me the squits. Particularly Guinness and red wine.

[Slubberdegullion]

licorice

prunes

wheatgerm & bran on cereal

more water

lactulose

walking about

Put 2 telephone directories under your fett when you are on the loo.

[Slubberdegullion]

feet ffs.

Putting telephone directories under Boba Fett the infamous Star Wars character will not help you to open your bowels.

[Hecate]

Pedigree (the beer not the dog food )
mayonnaise
Chinese takeaway

These three things give me diarrhoea so explosive, it can physically lift me off the loo seat!

or you could eat several pieces of fruit - oranges work for me.

Drink bucket loads of water.

Failing all else - have you considered laxatives?

[Poppycake]

I find walking up a steep hill works for me!!

Could find something very scary to do and think seriously about doing it!!

[Hecate]

Oh, and squat on the bathroom floor.

Get up before you poo, obviously.

[Rhubarb]

All bran?

Get yourself a job interview too, that helps.

[southeastastra]

yes coffee and wine

[Hecate]

Final tip - make an appointment for an engineer to come to your home. This will make you poo because you have to be in the loo, mid-dump, when the doorbell rings. Tis the Law.

[notcitrus]

There's posters up where I have obstetric physio, with diagrams of 'how to poo with constipation' - put feet up on something 6in high, and try sitting normally, then lean back, then lean forward, repeat.

Serious recommendation - put a bit of lubricant up there with your finger and try to nurse the stuck bit out (latex gloves are cheap if you want!).
Stomach massage (slide heel of hand up, across, and down the colon) can also work.

Once the blockage is cleared, eat loads of fruit and veg to help avoid recurrence. Lactulose (no more than the recommended dose!!!) helps continuing problems.

[IAteRosemaryConleyForBreakfast]

Lactulose didn't work for me - try drinking a half pint of orange juice diluted to a pint with water, several times a day, and eat lots of wholemeal bread each day. I found doing this to be more effective than anything.

[mablemurple]

Water
Prunes
Dried Apricots
Rhubarb
Too much xylitol
And more water (best thing - you need to soften up the backlog, iyswim).

[notasheep]

Go for a run,you will never meet a constipated runner

[Rhubarb]

mable!

[barbamama]

second running - works for me every time.

[thumbwitch]

Prune juice - excellent
Lots of water
Orange juice pretty good
Liquorice
Run up and down the stairs a few times
Definitely need something under your feet

I wouldn't go the xylitol route as that produces hideous amounts of gas too and can cause seriously painful bloating (been there, not a happy experience)

After clearing the blockage, to prevent a recurrence: dried apricots, prunes, apples, lots of roughage (but only if you drink enough water - otherwise it can have the opposite effect!), regular exercise.

[Brangelina]

Libraries
Bookshops
Glycerine suppositories
Vast amounts of sorbitol

Also, I find phone calls from certain close relatives tend to start things moving. It must be the relaxing conversation or something.

[thumbwitch]

sorry, sorbitol same effect as xylitol - nasty.

[Brangelina]

Yes, it's horrible but has an immediate effect in desperate cases.

Bookshops have always been my best cure though.

[ThingOne]

I made my way through a whole packet of airwaves chewing gum the other week when catarrh was getting me down. Don't know which sweetener is in there but it was quick acting.

Dried figs are pretty good as well as the above suggestions.

[LovelyDear]

Smoking a fag works for me. Hate the things though.

[ZacharyQuack]

Strong coffee then go for a walk where there are no toilets.

[JacobsPrincess]

If you were a mathematician, you could work it out with a pencil...

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist