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??

Regarding exercise I have a brisk one hour walk every day. Due to severe anaemia I can’t run, I’d pass out after 2 minutes

I have chronic constipation caused by medication.
I managed it by diet most of the time with occasional dulcoease and regular magnesium citrate. Dulcoease is gentle and won't clear a backlog but as a daily dose it works for me.
Looking at your diet I would suggest -
Massively increase your fruit intake.
All bran for breakfast, oats and chia just don't do it for me.
More prune juice, a good half pint.
Two litres of water over and above tea and coffee.
When you say tons of water how much do you actually drink?

Yesterday I drank 3 500mls water alongside multiple cups of coffee and a peppermint tea

Do you mean your never eaten a fig before OP or you are sick for another reason?

Figs are horrible. Try blueberries instead.

Hi op, try increasing your healthy oil intake- extra virgin olive oil in salads or if you can stomach drinking a table spoon or 2. Also MCT oil works for me but I’ve had to do this gradually, start with a small splash in coffee, works for me.

Also there is a lot of research out there which shows improvement in gut heaths through fermented foods helps.

I’ve never eaten a fig before (unless you count fig biscuits 😂)

You’re only treating the symptoms you need to find out why you have it, I would get my gut bacteria tested and go to a holistic doctor.

What lentils do you use?

I haven't read all the messages so maybe somebody has already suggested this. But the bowel consultant at my local hospital said to go to the loo every day at the same time even if you don't feel like it (preferably after breakfast). Then do exercises to try to promote going. Breath in and push out with your lower stomach as if you are trying to 'work the poop down through your intestines'. I am sure there are better explained exercises on the internet. I was very dubious but it does work.

I was a chronic sufferer for a long time. I now go at least once a day, sometimes twice. (TMI, I know).

Add seeds to your diet - a mix of golden linseed, chia, pumpkin, sunflower and unhulled sesame. Add beans and pulses (tinned beans are fine, and I add soaked red lentils to most savoury dishes). Add some fruit. Kiwis, figs, berries are all good. Up your fibre gradually, and as you are already doing, drink plenty of water. Execise can help a lot. The book Gut, by Guilia Enders is well worth a read as it explains a lot about how your gut works and suggests a load of different solutions to problems like yours. She recommends the 'squat' thing.

If none of this works, go back to your doctor and insist on further tests. A friend of mine who had an ongoing problem but was told all the time that there was nothing wrong turned out to have an abnormally long gut. There wasn't a lot they could do, but knowing helped a lot, and it meant she could also use the things that would work for her.

But try the things people have suggested on here first.

Yes!! Hypermobility impacts gut transit, gastroparesis is a common symptom of hypermobility.

Agree, she needs to get rid of what’s in there first and then start afresh, if I’m constipated I usually take double the recommended dose of senecot ( 8 tabs) and that clears everything out in 10-12 hours, ( I rarely have to do this though), then I start afresh, I have found drinking Keifir good, but you also need to stay very hydrated and exercise if you want to avoid constipation

Peri menopause kicked it off for me. After a couple of years of trying various things I cut out bread which did the trick. Also Rocks Orange Squash works for me (shake it up to get the oil) or ready brek.

A hot drink in the morning can work too.

I'd suggest having a google on the relevant organisations' websites then as that could be the reason. Not sure what the solution is, but at least you might know what won't work.

Ok everyone - it could be a coincidence but I’ve just had a normal poo!!! I’m in shock 😂

I took all your advice - olive oil in a morning, chia seeds in the porridge, blueberries instead of honey, plums, peaches and pears - tons of water … 2 days of this and today I have a proper poo

I also bought some probiotic gummies yesterday so they might be playing a part too.

Either way I hope this is a turning point. Thank you everyone

This.

I eat sultanas or dried figs as dessert if I have an issue. It solves the issue within 8 hours.

Gummies are very weak probiotics and you also need a prebiotic so would try the company SEED that do proper ones! It’s in a shell that can make it through your stomach acid, it’s worth the money as the cheap ones won’t do anything.

If it’s in a shell that can make it through your stomach acid, who is to say that it will break down in your gut and not passed straight through

Ok I now have diarrhoea (ffs)

any ideas as to the most likely culprit from what I’ve been doing? Or maybe just too much at once 🤦‍♀️

It’s been tested you can go on their website and see the details. They’ll be other ones but this is the only one I know of.

Yes this is supposed to be a better position - much more how ancient man used to sit (or s*it) 😊

this often happens with constipation, but you may still have a blockage and the only poo that can get around the blockage is the soft watery poo

what have you used so far?

sorry now can see what you ate - it all looks fine but your system might not be used to this yet- keep going but possibly smaller amounts and then build up to more fibre slowly - but keep going with the fibre

try adding in two each week raspberries, kiwi, lentils, chickpeas, apples, pears, sweet potato