Please help a constipated woman out

[Nahmfor]

Hi everyone,

I'm a very constipated woman seeking help before I lose the plot.

Backstory:

Gained over a stone in lockdown, I've been calorie counting and lowered my carbs and upped my exercise routine.

I've lost 8lb over 3 weeks (chuffed!)

I've been the toilet 3 times in 3 weeks, and not enough. It was fine for the first 2 weeks I didn't even realise, but now I'm in agony with a rock hard lower stomach and it's genuinely effecting me.

I had a c-section last year, suffered slightly with constipation for the first 3 months (due to iron tablets that I no longer take) and was given lactulose, that worked for me back then.

Fast forward to now and that does absolutely nothing.

My typical diet is:

Brunch-
X2 crispbreads
Dairy lea triangle
Smoked trout
Spinach
X2 boiled eggs

Tea-
Steak, or chicken, or salmon
Cauliflower rice
Brocolli, kale, peas

Snacks-
90cal fibre bar
Banana
10cal jelly

Where am I going wrong? I've tried eating weetabix every day for a week too and that did nothing

I'm sick of feeling so heavy and in pain. It's actually hurting my pelvis if that makes sense.

Family recommended "slimatee" teabags but I'd rather not, but will if I have to

Any help?

I get constipated within the first few weeks of a healthier eating regime, you would think upping the veg/fruit would have the opposite effect really but no! For me a few days of using laxido sachets from the pharmacy clear the problem making sure to drink loads and loads of water. Continue with the loads of water once the problem has shifted and that sorts it for me.

Slimatee is basically senokot, a laxative so any laxative would get you going.
If you are hoping for a more natural approach try upping your vegetable intake and fruit by quite a lot. Try oranges. Walking works for me. Another one is do some squats as at the end of the day ( and pre toilets ) everyone pooed that way, and it might get you going ! but hopefully your manage to get to the loo

The weetabix could be making it worse!!

I use psyllium husk capsules a lot as a stool softener my hormones play havoc. Unfortunately I need to eat huge amounts of fruit and veg daily and I still suffer occasionally.

You sound severely constipated at the moment and need to get going with a stool softener to get it shifted.

Prunes are also a great natural way to relieve constipation. You can buy them in the tinned fruit section at the supermarket. You can mix them in with lots of things.

A couple of strong cups of coffee usually sorts me out, but it sounds like you might have gone behind that. Is there an open pharmacy near you? I would speak to a pharmacist in the first instance then get on to your GP if they can't help.

Dried apricots
Bran flakes
Lots of water
Orange juice
Fybrogel

I've had terrible constipation during pregnancy and these all helped 😊

*beyond not behind

Banana and egg both binding. There is a lot of protein in your diet. What is your fluid intake?

Can you get to a chemist for a stool softener?

If I were you I would eat a whole orange Not just the juice. The acid will agitate your bowel and the vitamin C will do you good.

Go for a walk.

Look up baby massage it works on adults too. Small circle motions message your abdomen. Can’t remember which direction which is why I said you need to look it up.

Have a bath.

Good luck

On a day to day basis I find nothing as good as All Bran to keep things moving. I either have it for breakfast with fruit and yogurt or whizzed into a smoothie (all bran fruit yogurt and some water/milk/apple juice). I know it sounds hideous but actually once it’s softened up a bit it’s absolutely fine. And the benefits of a good substantial but soft poo - well I don’t need to tell you those.

Have you added up the fibre you’re getting from the above? I did find low-carbing bunged me up something rotten.

Tummy massage, clockwise
Hot water bottle
High impact exercise
Go to the loo with your feet on a stool or laundry basket to help
And laxido is great

Whilst it's all blocked you should avoid high fibre ... it adds to the bulk already there

Best to eat is things like mashed potatoe, white rice, chicken or white fish, white bread, think eggs is ok but drop the smoked fish . Yogurts ok, No spinach etc. Bland, beige food until it shifts

Good luck and remember to relax as it starts to shift

Less meat protein and eggs in your diet and lots more fruit and veg. Psyllium husks are good taken in warm water. Agree with PP do not drink fruit juice but eat the whole fruit.

You need some serious laxatives. Dietary measures probably not enough now.
Take some sennakot one or two a night. It's a stimulant laxative and works differently from the lactulose so you can take both.
If that doesn't work then try a glycerine suppository.
You can buy both those over the counter
When you have had a clear out then you can address long term prevention. Exercise, plenty of fluids, lots of fruit and veg (it does sound like you do eat enough from day above)

As pp said, I'd cut the banana out and perhaps some of the protein. There are two types of fibre and the body needs a balance of both to work well. It seems that you're not having enough soluble fibre. Also you may need to drink much more water.

To get things moving you can take senna or castor oil.

Poor you. It's horrible.
I second Laxido sachets ( or alcohol, same thing).
You give to children, so it's v safe. You can take up to 8 sachets a day and titrate it to result.
You diet sounds reasonable.
Avoid coffee, it is a diuretic and leaches fluid from the bowel.
If you can get them, dried pears ( not fresh) have ENORMOUS amounts of fibre, much, much, more than dried prunes or apricots.( Try online as I don't see them in the shops)
Any sudden change in bowel habit should be investigated, but you may have a genetically sluggish bowel and need extra help.
All the best.

I can grab some oranges today, I very rarely eat them, I do like them but me and DS(1) are the only ones who eat fruit so they tend to go stale 😂 I'll definetly get some today though

I never knew weetabix could've made it worse, ooops.. they helped when I was pregnant.

I can get to a pharmacy so will ask, I've just been using lactulose but I'm at the stage where I'm so uncomfortable.

I work part time in a very busy shop, standing up for 5 hours straight last night was hellish because I needed to lie down and bring my knees up haha.

Oh god, who would've thought trying to get healthy could cause this much stress!

I think you're eating too much fibre and you're body isn't quite ready.

Definitely try the coffee if you can.

Urgh, not alcohol ( predictive text), Macrogol!

Stop the bran/ high fibre. It is transiting too slowly in your gut and turning into a huge, solid blockage.
Get some lactulose or movicol and take it daily.
Increase your intake of whole fruits and vegetables.
Stewed fruit, cooked carrots, pulses, prunes are great. Dried fruit will bung you up if you are not drinking enough water.
Walk every day.
If you are really impacted you will have to buy some glycerine suppositories. Instructions are in the box.

Prunes work for me and they taste delicious... I have a post-breakfast ritual now of a cup of coffee, and a few dried prunes, and it has worked wonders.

Lots of water is also helpful, plus exercise. Also I find if I have a glass of wine/G&T in the evening, it gets everything moving.

Oh and lemon & ginger tea is very effective too...

And drink plenty of hot water every day throughout the day.

Red grape juice can really help too but industrial strength stool softeners are required and lots of water/grape juice.

Senna is good, but can have fierce effects on your bowel, leading to painful cramps

I got this and i pinpointed it down to the boiled eggs. It caused me no end of problems and now i can only have a maximum of 3 boiled eggs per week before constipation kicks in again x

Lactulose won't help you go if you're really backed up.
Get some laxatives and take some the night before a day off and have a clear out. Then ditch the high fibre stuff but eat plenty of fibrous fruit and veg. Make sure you drink enough water!