Chronic constipation ruining my life

[Puel]

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??

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

Try the fruit. Apples are a natural laxative

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.

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.

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.

Dried apricot works like a charm for me.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

From your diet you need more fibre. Try adding a tablespoon of soaked Chia seeds and a tablespoon of blended seed mix to your brekkie. Add yogurt into the day somewhere. And Kiwis with skin on. Sweet snacks of dates. You don't necessarily want one big fibre bomb, but can add it in small amounts through the day. One more thing that no one has mentioned - have you seen a women's health physio? Constipation can also be compounded by pelvic floor/prolapse issues, and they have exercises and strategies to help.

I second this too.

My husband used to take Dulcoease Stool softener - it really worked well.

OxyTech by Dulwich Health - recommended by an osteopath. Worked a treat for me. I think that is magnesium plus other things. Sold as a colon cleanse.

Are you drinking enough water? My daughter has improved since I bought her a stanley cup. She drinks the whole thing every day.

Make big batch of veg / pulse soup and add a bowl of that to your lunch sandwich. Fruit for second course

I am absolutely not a dietician but I had two thoughts. I don't usually have digestion problems but I've just been away and realised after a few days I was eating much less fruit than at home-and had mild constipation. I usually have a banana with breakfast, seems to do the trick.
Secondly, how about a bowl of salad for lunch instead of a sandwich?

I'm not sure how old you are or what your periods are like but have you ever been investigated for endometriosis? One of the signs that my undiagnosed endometriosis had reached stage 4 was that I was having terrible constipation all the time because the endometriosis lesions had spread to my bowel and were causing bowel issues and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Ferrous Fumerate is terrible for constipation and won’t be helping, can you try something softer for a couple of weeks like Floradix?

You have had a colonoscopy to look at your lower bowel, but have you had a gastroscopy to look at your upper intestines?

I had really bad rabbit poo like constipation and it turned out to be Coeliac disease. So all the bran and porridge I was trying to eat was making it significantly worse! Ironically I was also taking Floradix for anaemia which has gluten in it too! There is a gluten free version thankfully.

There is a Coeliac blood test, but also a gastroscopy (camera down your throat) may see issues higher up.

Have they tested you for coeliac? My daughter was diagnosed and constipation was her main symptom rather than diarrhoea

Also from your diet you need to eat more fibre and especially more fruit. Fruit such as conference pears, apples, and kiwis are great for constipation. I would ditch the sandwich and crisps for lunch and replace that with something higher in fibre such as a pasta salad or a grain based soup with some wholemeal bread, and also some fruit, and have a piece of fruit with breakfast as well. Even having beans on toast (brown bread) for lunch will give you a ton of fibre that you won't be getting from a sandwich and crisps.

I can go from constipated or just managing rabbit droppings to explosively loose
I am under colorectal consultant and manage my symptoms by low FODMAP - low dairy and take lactase tablets - I use suppositories when needed and have a bowel irrigation device