What helps you with constipation?

[itsthemenopausenotme]

I've got bad constipation at the moment. i think it may be due to my underactive thyroid. I have a fissure and also a prolapse which is complicating matters and the fissure means I'm in so much pain. I do go every day, but it's always hard and extremely painful. Due to the prolapse I can't go easily.

I'm trying to drink more water, I usually drink just decaff black coffee and tea.

What can I do for quick relief? I can't take lactulose due to an intolerance and fibrogel and bran aggravate my IBS. I have a gluten free diet.

Any suggestions welcome! I can't stand another day like this!

The BTF is an excellent source of info.

IMO if you have a thyroid issue it's very much worth becoming a member.

@WanKey where do u buy the tea from? I might try it

Definitely thyroid related if you've only just been diagnosed.

I'd forgotten about Andrews! Also recommended by my consultant and can really help.

Please do report back with your TSH level result. I expect they will soon increase your dose and you will gradually see an improvement. 25mcg is very much a starting dose.

Definately fruit and veg, also natural stool soofener called ortisan

www.google.co.uk/search?q=ortisan&oq=ortisan&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.3089j0j4&client=tablet-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#lbl=OVERVIEW&pie=plaji-i

Liquid paraffin. Just be prepared for oily poop!! Although when I took it I took a shot glass full of that and a shot glass full of lactulose. Oh and a massive glass of prune juice as well 🤢 Not wise!! I went from one extreme to the other to the point I then had to take Imodium to get more relief!! You can buy liquid paraffin from chemists not sure about normal supermarkets though!!

Thanks everyone for reading and coming back with info.

My surgery don't give out results over the phone, only the gp will let you know them. My gp is on holiday, so the earliest I'll be able to see her will be in about 3 weeks. I don't want to see anyone else because theres quite a lot going on at the same time and she knows the history.

If i remember correctly she mentioned 4.6 which is only slightly wrong but antibodies of over a thousand. Does that make sense?

I have an ointment that I've been using daily but it's not helping anymore.

The underactive thyroid was diagnosed a month ago.

Is hummus ok to eat?

I'm going to see what fruit etc I can get at my local Tesco express.

I think TSH of 4.6 with high antibodies means you are heading for underactive thyroid proper. Your TSH is already outside the normal reference range and I think the high antibodies mean it would continue going up so it sounds as though it's been caught and diagnosed quite early which is good.

Nothing wrong with Hummus. Yum.:)

2 cups of hot strong coffee first thing in the morning before any food.

Ah ok, perhaps make the blood test appointment in a month rather than 2. 8 weeks will have been enough time for the thyroxine to get into your system and show ok blood tests but potentially your thyroid has got worse anyway if you have antibodies. But maybe the best thing is to go back and discuss this and the fissure and constipation with Gp.

There's always a delay in symptoms with thyroid things. This is because thyroxine has a half life of 7-10 days. Usually I notice an improvement constipation wise after around a month but only if it's the right dose. It's possible you need more than 25.

With antibodies it's likely that you'll gradually need to adjust over the next year till all your thyroxine is from pills. It's frustrating but definitely get results and record roughly how you feel and what the dose was each time. It's really helpful.

When fine tuning definitely wait 3 months to allow everything to settle.

Movicol Movicol Movicol. Over the counter at Boots. Avoid lactulose.

This soup:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/333614/red-lentil-chickpea-and-chilli-soup
Hope link works. Really helped me get things moving. It's also really tasty, quite simple and cheap to make!

And it won't give you diarrhoea. It's great stuff.

Laksitee. From health shops. Its the only thing that works for me, 1 cup at night and it works in the morning.

Oh I've remembered that the gp talked to me about different types of fibre. Soluble and insoluble.

Iirc the type in porridge is helpful. I found brown rice and muesli v constipating too - drink lots of water. Ever since that awful episode (wasn't on enough thyroxine for ages) I've had porridge made with water (quite sloppy) every morning and it definitely helps. I add a bit of honey and natural yogurt too.

Dried fruit, exercise, lots of veg & water

Thanks

I've come back from the shop with tinned pears, tinned pruned, hummus and grapes. Forgot porridge but i have oats in the cupboard with a bbd of may 2018??

Prunes. At least half a tin.
And avoiding things like All Bran like the plague.

Build up slowly with the fruits because the results can be painful and explosive if your guts aren't used to them.

Thanks will do.

Yes, there’s a difference between soluble and insoluble fibre (like bran and Fybogel).

I bought soluble fibre supplements once. Tasteless, could stir into any drink. Made absolutely no difference to me whatsoever, sadly! This is why I rely on meds rather than food.

To be fair, the thing that's going to help the most is the thyroxine adjustment.

I would make an apt sooner to discuss your symptoms as constipation can be quite a big one. Waiting 2 months might be a bit long.

In addition to lots of good suggestions here ... Get tested for food intolerances (hair analysis - groupon had one discounted recently?). Was going to suggest enema with chamomile to help things move and heal at the same time but, seeing that you've got previous negative experience then possibly not ... soak a teaspoon of linseeds overnight and down them in the morning. Smoothies - handful of spinach, apple, celery, coconut water, oil, banana and collagen powder if not vegetarian (good for connective tissue)...kefir to help with gut .... good luck ...

Senokot max strength works really well

Like Thesuzle I too, take Inulin, it's very gentle, and good for the gut, use in any hot drink or sprinkle on soup, yoghurt etc., I found it much better than other stool softeners, and the amount you take can be adjusted to suit you. I also take a magnesium supplement before bed.