Constipation argh

[RodeoDriveBaby]

Sorry for gross nature of thread. But I have suffered from constipation since my DS was born (17 months ago!!!!). It's driving me potty (scuse the pun). I've had blood tests and all was fine and take laxatives etc etc when it gets really bad. They do work but then I just get constipated again.

I drink loads of water, I get enough fibre, I put flaxseed in my breakfast, I take probiotics.

Any miracle remedies?!?! It seems to get worse around ovulation time.

If you were to take anything like the maximum dose of movicol with litres & litres of water you should definitely get things moving.

Took four movicol and that FINALLY got things going. I still feel there is a bit of backlog but it definitely helped.

Once the blockage at the bottom end has shifted, the backlog will surely follow

Keep going with it and keep drinking water, ime it is not a quick process !

Just to add that pears are good.

I suffered with bad constipation all my life,moved in with a vegetarian i now eat much less meat than before and much less bread poo everyday sometimes twice.

Do 20 crunches 3 times a day to flex your bowel, and cut out white bread pasta and anything with white flour ie cake.

Here's a trick- squat down on the toilet with your feet up on the seat at each side. Try again-take your time. It opens the bowel quite naturally.

(desperate times, desperate measures)

Chia seeds if they haven't been suggested already? You can mix them into juice, stir them into yoghurt etc. I LOVE the texture they give and they have added benefit of also being rich in omega 3 :)

Yes, Chia seeds but do soak them for a few hours first.

A large tin of baked beans might help, eaten on their own.

As you already have the olive oil, maybe take more.

I already don't each much meat or many white carbs.

Will keep on it with the water/prune-and-flaxseed-and-oat smoothies etc

For those suffering post-childbirth, I would second a previous poster's suggestion that a rectocele might be the problem. Diastasis recti can also contribute, even if your gap has narrowed, if your core is not strong and functional, you will have trouble pushing effectively when pooing. You can use a cushion pushed firmly against your stomach (or just your hand) to give something to push against. Putting feet up on a small stool can also really help. And when things are not working out, leaning backwards while pushing helps me overcome the rectocele issue.

If you have pelvic floor issues (rectocele) and core weakness (DR) then please be extra careful about constipation, as straining to use the loo can cause further problems with prolapse. Working to strengthen pelvic floor and core is definitely worthwhile protection as well as trying to keep your bowel movements really soft.

Good luck, OP!

Have you tried lactulose?

Yes to getting a step for your feet while you're pooing. Ideally your bum should be lower than your knees. Toilets aren't designed well.

Did you try the simplest thing? Half a pint of warm water with a level teaspoon of sugar in it. Drink. Wait. Don't go out...

Yoga with Adriene (on YouTube) has a 'Yoga for Digestion' video which it good to, ahem, get one going.

Half dose of fybogel twice a day, every day (to prevent, rather than to treat) as PP have said.

Sorry if someone has mentioned this, but try LAXIDO. Take 3 a day for the first 3 days, (4 if it's very bad!) then drop it to 1 or 2 a day for about another 5 days. They sell it in BOOTS. A fiver-ish for 20.

It's great, because unlike laxatives, this works gently on your bowel, and gradually makes the stools softer, so they can 'exit' a bit easier.

Then when you are pooing normal-ish, take one every other day to keep your poops soft.

Life Changing Loaf of Bread is amazing.

Vit C

Poo tea at night - with senna leaf.

Hi OP. Re magnesium - It's magnesium citrate, not milk of magnesia, Technically, you are meant to avoid supplements with calcium in (can constipated), but I use vitabionics magnesium-calcium-vitamin d supplement and it seems to work ok.

Thanks Guilty that's really useful. Amazing the effects childbearing can have on your body. Has yours improved?

Have you considered whether there might be a psychological aspect. I suffered for YEARS, and the psychological aspect was a big part.

Care to elaborate on psychological causes of constipation, Vicsteur, because that doesn't sound plausible to me.

I mean, anxiety can cause loose stools, but I can't think of any psychosomatic explanation for a sluggish gut.

The only thing that works me after decades of severe constipation and two episodes of faecal impaction (dear lord never again!) is Movicol twice a day and four psyllium husk capsules.

Presumably the psychological factors could be 'unable to let go of things'; 'hanging on to old resentments' and 'bottling things up'?

Well, Freud did cross my mind

vics I've never had a problem before so I doubt it's psychological.

After all my smoothies and medicines I've actually had the opposite issue today