Baffled by constipation (could be tmi) sorry 😕

[Losingthewill8]

Hi I'm mid 40's, mother, wife, non stressful job.

I drink approx 2litres of water a day. I eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. I'm not overweight for my height. Prob nine and a half stone, maybe a pound more and 5'4" tall. I am not sedentary.

Here is my problem, I can go 4 days without going to the loo with constipation and it's really getting me down because it just makes me feel bloated and sluggish.

In the main, when I do go it never feels (dear god, this is probably tmi), satisfying/complete, that only happens a few times a year! Otherwise, we're talking rabbit droppings here.

Can someone please help? I could eat a tonne of prunes and literally, no go! Thank you.

Porridge and prunes every day for breakfast.
Movicol every day.

I have gone through a long phase of eating that, no difference.

Isn't movicol a laxative?

I am the same - only survive on Laxidose and Dioctyl daily with occasional full strength laxative (the only satisfying times) and now go daily (could be constipated for 2 weeks when I was young). I'm assured they are safe to take long-term but there really isn't a choice for me as have life-long history of problems. Fruit/vg/fibre actually doesn't work unless you have a sack of it- oil/booze is better - try fish and chips with a few beers - really! Tin of beans is not bad too

Movicol is an osmotic softener.
Very safe and effective.

I've been like this since approx 40 (now 43) never had any bother prior I've noticed mines hormone related i.e. Starts around when pmt starts and finishes around the start of my period v weird or maybe normal but I have a drink of senna tea on a night when I starts to bug me and that sorts me out the next morning sorry tmi

Miralax or another osmotic (vs stimulant) laxative /stool softener daily is what my dr told me.
Do you drink a good black coffee in the morning? Gentle lower tummy massage? Take two or three tablespoons of a good oil like coconut?
Also if you prop your legs up while on the toilet with a stool or something, it REALLY makes a huge difference with getting your bowels to void properly and completely.

All bran every morning, with 7g of fibre per portion.

Makes me go at least once a day.

Add a teaspoon of inulin to your cup of tea, helps keep you regular - also try a probotic (drink or tablet)

I've got some movicol, just a few sachets though, which was prescribed to me last year after a polyp removal in my uterus. I'll take some of those. Is it something I have to get on prescription?

Tried the tummy massage. Tried the coffee, works only the odd time.

Notonaschoolnight - funny you say that regarding hormonal. The best time I used to have a good clear out, sorry, was the day befor my period. Now that I have become peri menopausal, and only had one period this year, that's not happening anymore.

Senna tea, I will try.

Loveyoutothemoon - all bran made no difference to me whatsoever.

I really do feel a freak that nothing normal works.

Poor you. I think as we get older our bowels slow down. And pelvic floor damage from childbirth adds to the misery.

Anyway, there is some good advice above from PPs.

I would add... try avoiding sweet carbs especially sugar, biscuits, cake, chocolate, breakfast cereal. After a week you will know if it helps.

Also increase your intake of good oils such as salmon.

Movicol is great!

Hope you feel better soon.

mollyhuacha I'm going to try the movicol, plus I'm thinking of going overboard on the probiotics to see if that helps.

I kinda want a 'clear out' so I can then have a fresh start and perhaps keep a mental note of how I am, it's just wearing.

Constipation can also be a symptom of ibs. See your doctor!

Are you low carbing?

I've suffered from constipation for a few years now and I try to avoid taking laxatives because I don't want my bowels to become dependant on them.

The only food that works for me is a bowl of bran flakes with warm milk last thing at night and then another for breakfast.

When things become uncomfortable and desperate I take a laxative. The quickest and most effective is dulcolax. Movicol is never strong enough for me.

I think weak pelvic floor can also limit your ability to get poo moving through. Might be worth googling a bit.

Would it be worth trying ten portions of fruit and veg as an instant ish solution?

Careful! Its an urban myth that increasing fibre will cure constipation.

If the problem is a weak pelvic floor, eating ten portions of fruit/veg could make the problem worse by giving you huge stools that you can't expel.

For some people wheat fibre is too irritating, resulting in bloating and constipation.

Try cutting out wheat and replacing with a gentler fibre, like oat bran or milled flax seeds - or both.

Olive oil also helps a lot, especially uncooked. Put a few spoonfuls on all your food, not just salads, every day.

Agree with a PP's suggestion of cutting out as many processed carbs as possible for a few weeks. Include beans and seeds in this. Get your fibre from veg, oat bran and flax (they rarely cause any problems). If it makes a difference, gradually reintroduce them on at a table me, you may find fairly specific triggers

Do you eat dairy? For most people a dairy intolerance will show up with loose vowels, but not necessarily for everyone.

Oh, and drink even more.

I go once a week if I'm lucky, but I find when things are getting very sluggish liquorice helps!

Sorry for the stupid typos at the end - hope it still makes sense!

I'm the same - but I find quite a high dose of probiotic helps. It's the only thing that makes me go daily/every other day properly.

DH has a lazy bowel and had a conversation with a consultant that too much fibre was actually having the opposite effect.
He was actually told to change to white bread/pasta and they are looking at probiotics to help it longtime.
If you have got a lazy bowel what works for 'normal bowels' might not work for you necessarily.

I used to be like this - high fibre diet, plenty of water, exercise - but still permanently bunged up. Started taking a high dose probiotic tablet around Christmas time and the change was dramatic! Others in my family also swear by them. I get a 6 months supply on amazon -nu u bio cultures complex. Try them!

Wow, thank you so much for all the advice.

There are so many factors to work with.

notapizza what's inulin? Where do I get it? Don't have tea really, and very seldom coffee. Can I mix it in water?

molly Salmon, mackerel or oily fish at least once a week. I'll check out pelvic floor.

Pelvic floor, and I have no idea why, used to be dreadful just in the run up to my period, and I mean dreadful! ?????

rogan I often do, again, no difference.

starfishmummy ibs; could be but last time I discussed this with dr it was kind of an elimination thing and reintroduce. I did this but nothing stood out making it better or worse.

footle and stepaway I don't eat many carbs. I have organic weetabix for breakfast, but I will change to oatibix. I had fruit this morning. Other than that, not much carbs. I often drink more than that. Yes, made perfect sense stepaway.

ems loveuoutotgemoon I could try bran, but that I guess would be wheat?

I also have almond milk not cows milk as it used to upset me.

blib real liquorice? As in; health shop bought? How much do you have and how often?

dogrilla Ive upped the probiotics yesterday/today

rudedog white bread def doesn't agree with me all the time. Really puffy and sore tummy, so I avoid it.

I hope I've replied to everyone, sorry if not.

My Plan

Right, I've upped the probiotic,

I've taken 2movicol yesterday, and 1 this morning.

I'm going to cut wheat and try oats.

I've already drunk over a litre of water.

I've had fruit for breakfast, half a grapefruit and 2 kiwis. I have carrot sticks and strawberries for a snack if I need them.

I've got a lentil, and roasted veg soup for lunch.

Haven't had red meat in a while, so steak with veg, mushroom and onions tonight, prob with salad in the side and will use olive oil.

I'll look for senna tea and inulin, and sprinkle ground flax seed on my oats.

Also going to do more exercise.

Phew, let's see if I 'feel better' soon!

Again, thank you so much 😊

allabout cross posted. I am going to try those once I've finished the ones I have. They are all so expensive! Do you take higher dose than recommended, or just the recommended amount?