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Original poster

Chronic constipation ruining my life

213 replies

Puel · 16/09/2025 22:04

Had CC for years. I’ve had all the blood tests, had the camera up the bum - no reason ever found. If I take movicol I end up looking 9 months pregnant and passing small amounts of diarrhoea. I’ve upped fibre - this causes bloating and no result. Drink shit loads of water - no difference. The only thing that works is bisocodyl which I have to take once a week just to make sure I have at least one poo a week - however you’re not supposed to take it regularly so I worry I’m doing even more damage to myself. I’m so fed up. Dr isn’t interested, says all tests are clear.

Anyone else had CC with no cause??

OP posts:
Fearfulsaints · 17/09/2025 08:47

I haven't read the thred so sorry if this has been said 1000 times, but kiwi fruits were recommended by a nutrition person at the hospital and helped.

Sundaymorningcalla · 17/09/2025 08:44

Puel · 17/09/2025 08:11

So a typical day for me:

breakfast - porridge oats with honey and two cups of coffee

lunch - peanut butter sandwhich with a packet of crisps (I know!)

dinner - meat and veg (broccoli, carrots, sprouts etc)

300g magnesium citrate
one ferrous fumerate (every other day)

Tons of sparkling water

One glass of Prune juice

Not too out of the ordinary, are you physically active?

Andthatrightsoon · 17/09/2025 08:44

user1476277375 · 16/09/2025 22:18

Underactive!

The thought of an underachieving thyroid made me laugh. I visualised it on the bronze position on a podium.

Amberli · 17/09/2025 08:42

There are these chewable tablets Ortis Fruit and Fibres that I swear by. I got them from H&B. They work well

ladyofshertonabbas · 17/09/2025 08:41

long term, introduce pulses into your diet, eg lentil soup for lunch. But introduce with caution/ gradually.

endofthelinefinally · 17/09/2025 08:36

I would add chopped prunes and figs to the porridge, with a tablespoon of seeds.
Substitute a salad for the sandwich.
That said, you do need a motility assessment, as pp have described.

Feejoah · 17/09/2025 08:33

Cut out the chocolate. I bet you will start pooing more easily.

Ratafia · 17/09/2025 08:27

Dried apricot works like a charm for me.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 17/09/2025 08:26

I think ferrous fumerate can cause/contribute to constipation, which won't be helping. Also, it's not that much veg if you're only really having veg with dinner, so I think adding fruit (especially to your other meals) would help boost a bit of extra fibre but spread out through the day.

How active are you? I find that loads (2L minimum) water and 2-3 half hour walks per day seem to keep things ticking over, even if my fibre levels drop off for a bit.

BaritoneBetty · 17/09/2025 08:24

If you can find some activated seeds to add to your breakfast it might sort you out (eg buckwheat, sesame, chia, flaxseed, any or all of those or other types). Must be 'activated' not just regular seeds. Regular seeds made the problem worse for me but the activated ones have made a massive difference.

NettleandBramble · 17/09/2025 08:17

I find bone broth and/or bovine collagen powder in my morning coffeehelps massively. For me it's part of improving gut health which is a slow process.

monkeysox · 17/09/2025 08:15

Try the fruit. Apples are a natural laxative

Splat92 · 17/09/2025 08:15

HundredPercent · 16/09/2025 22:12

I’ve had success with the low fodmap diet, not permanently but to identify diet triggers. Laxatives, fibre and water didn’t work for me either, plus caused bloating, but low dairy helps.

Low fodmap helped for me too. I have to steer clear of fructans which also happen to be in most dried fruit.

Original poster
Puel · 17/09/2025 08:14

monkeysox · 17/09/2025 08:12

Yes add fruit and the odd bit of sugar to tea or choc bar. The sweetness seems to shift things

Show quote history

I eat far too much chocolate as it is 😂

OP posts:
monkeysox · 17/09/2025 08:12

Puel · 16/09/2025 22:14

Yes I’m taking 300mg a night from Holland and Barrett. Slight improvement in that I now have a few rabbit poos mid week inbetween the weekend bisocodyl treatment. Which ones do you take?

I don’t eat fruit, I eat plenty but of veg but no fruit. I’ll try adding fruit to my diet.

Show quote history

Yes add fruit and the odd bit of sugar to tea or choc bar. The sweetness seems to shift things

Original poster
Puel · 17/09/2025 08:11

So a typical day for me:

breakfast - porridge oats with honey and two cups of coffee

lunch - peanut butter sandwhich with a packet of crisps (I know!)

dinner - meat and veg (broccoli, carrots, sprouts etc)

300g magnesium citrate
one ferrous fumerate (every other day)

Tons of sparkling water

One glass of Prune juice

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 17/09/2025 08:09

Maybe drink apple juice. I once drank a litre of it on a hot day as I was working for royal mail driving around....when I got home I had a serious arse explosion

Fabiand · 17/09/2025 07:58

See your doctor.
My daughter has this and the only thing that worked is prucalopride.

JustMyView13 · 17/09/2025 07:54

A consultant once told me, he said he challenges anyone to have constipation whilst drinking prune juice regularly as part of their diet.
It’s vile. But I’ve incorporated it by doing a 50:50 mix with Apple juice.

GAJLY · 17/09/2025 07:53

Yes my daughter has chronic constipation. This helps her alot, kefir yoghurt with a teaspoon of califig, 2 senna tablets, apple, pineapple (doles pots) and mineral water with a high level of magnesium. We use buxon but the best is evian and pan pallegrino. All these combined really help her to go every day.

Sundaymorningcalla · 17/09/2025 07:48

What does a typical day of food look like?

KimberleyClark · 17/09/2025 07:40

Are you on a keto/very low carb diet?

SM33 · 17/09/2025 07:38

Fybogel everyday and no bread! I took lots of foods out and gradually added foods back in to work out which ones made it worse.

PermanentTemporary · 17/09/2025 07:38

Long walks and running usually result in my soiling myself so I guess that’s what I’d recommend. I had a friend who swore by sparkling water and a walk.

Ginmonkeyagain · 17/09/2025 07:34

Do you move enough? A good run, brisk walk and some yoga moves every day can help keep things moving.

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