Does your digestive system just pack up in your mid-40s or what?

[teawamutu]

I spent a year losing nearly 3 stone, and kept it off without effort all last year.

Over indulged over Christmas and put 5lbs back on. Despite doing My fitness Pal and exercise just as I did before, the weight's not shifting.

And neither is anything else (I promise I'm not a poo troll). I feel full and bloated all the time.

Is chronic constipation an occupational hazard of being 47? Any tips that don't involve bloody useless Senokot?

Magnesium supplement.

I think slow gut transit times are associated with lots of middle-aged crap like less effective thyroid function, hormones in general, and general wear and tear of the body and its functioning. Oh, and side effects of medications. It's really difficult to find 'the cause' as well.

What have you tried diet-wise for the chronic constipation?

In sympathy

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross

Magnesium supplement.

Funnily enough I've got magnesium citrate on my shopping list. Does it work?

Following. My dh gets bloated with many foods and I’ve just started too, it’s really bloody annoying. He wants to avoid certain food, I don’t want to only eat veg for the rest of my life!

Apparently pineapple and cucumber smoothies do the trick. I haven't properly investigated this yet though.

Only thing which works for me is Laxido (similar to Movicol). I already take magnesium and eat enough fibre to fell a horse. It's definitely been a "getting older" thing for me (I'm 46) and part of the overall symptoms of peri I got about 2 years ago. I'm now on HRT too, but genuinely, Laxido has been best and you can take it long term unlike other constipation meds.

God I hadn't thought of menopause - I have a Mirena so just don't really get symptoms of any kind.

Have had a horrible stressful couple of months and possibly shifted diet to something a bit richer (cooking = stress relief) so possibly all contributing factors.

Will definitely check out Laxido, thank you.

Rhubarb
Flaxseed

Every day I eat a big piece of water melon (roughly chopped into chunks) - it works like magic for me. I stopped having it for a few months over winter and really noticed the difference. I think it's helpful because a) fibre and b) lots of water in it.

Hit 42 and my digestive system became like some old boiler you have to nurture. Too much of this and it shuts down, too much of that and it's burning too hot. I had to do a sort of cheese ladder to see how much of what sort I can tolerate only to find out it's random or linked to the moon cycle or something.

My mother swears by a glass of prune juice. I can't vouch for this, because it looks too disgusting to try, sorry.

Does your digestive system pack up in your mid-forties?

Er yes, it actually does.

FFS is this a thing?! Mine is already fucked at 37 so what is going to happen when I reach mid 40s?

Can anyone recommend a magnesium supplement? I've heard them mentioned before.

I can't eat any more fibre or drink any more water - I'm already sick to bloody death of having to plan all my meals around beans, pulses and fibre counts!

Mine remembered it was related to my mother.

Ten years later, I monitor everything I eat and avoid an awful lot. It’s almost an all consuming passion, sadly. The results of carelessness make it worth the effort.

Re: bloating - I did hard-core Low FODMAP for a few months to try and get to grips with it all. My gut improved and I lost 10lb, but now I'm slowly reintroducing things I think I'm heading back to square one.

Are magnesium supplements worth it? I ended up in hospital recently with a viral bowel infection - my muscles were spasming so fiercely that it felt like baby kicks.
I get bloated v easily, sometimes after as little as a cup of tea, but sometimes not at all. It's very bizarre.

Lactulose liquid is very effective for constipation - I had a severe intestinal blockage before Christmas and it cleared like a (scarily efficient!) charm.

Psyllium husk powder in smoothies is great for fibre intake.

Thiamine

Magnesium does nothing for me.

Two strong mugs of coffee (less milk than I used to) and a Zoom call = digestive system springs into action.

Magnesium does nothing for me either - looking for ideas

I'm 61 and don't recognise any of this. I suppose I eat a reasonable amount of fibre (oat bran, veg, fruit).
So while it may be a common phenomenon it's not inevitable.

A kiwi and Clementine in the morning.

2L liquid throughout the day.

A decaf milky coffee before bed is the only way for me to stay regular.

@ErrolTheDragon

I'm 61 and don't recognise any of this. I suppose I eat a reasonable amount of fibre (oat bran, veg, fruit). So while it may be a common phenomenon it's not inevitable.

Until New Year it wasn't for me, either - hoping I just need a bit of a kick start!

@HelloKeith

Hit 42 and my digestive system became like some old boiler you have to nurture. Too much of this and it shuts down, too much of that and it's burning too hot. I had to do a sort of cheese ladder to see how much of what sort I can tolerate only to find out it's random or linked to the moon cycle or something.

I am intrigued by your cheese ladder!

Am 52 and my digestive system has improved as I’ve aged! I can’t tolerate too much fibre and I low carb which helps. Definitely improved since my 20s and 30s.