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?

On the plus side you should definitely weigh yourself after you've had a result. You'll probably find it's more than 8lb you've lost in reality.

Castor oil will sort you within 30 minutes!!!!

Flax seeds are the best high fibre low carb food. Eat them daily. Also some live yoghurt. They are good mixed together. You can get live plain yoghurt, it is naturally low carb. Make sure it has no sugar or flavours added, to keep it low carb.

In the short term, to get things going, get some movicol from the pharmacy. It is amazing stuff.

@Oneearringlost I'm convinced it's just the diet, I had bowel issues as a child due to being premature but it's sorted itself out over time. Only time I ever had a problem was the first 3-4 months after a C-section and now.

I'll try suggestions of fruit, water, stool softener and laxatives and if nothing helps I'll definetly go see the GP.

Thanks everyone I'm so grateful for the help

If you are eating low carb a magnesium supplement is helpful anyway (to balance your electrolytes) and if you take magnesium citrate it also has an effect of softening your stool by drawing in water. You can take a higher dose for constipation but also take a lower dose as a magnesium supplement and to prevent any future bowel problems.

I find nuts and seeds help and kiwi fruit.

My friend who suffers with constipation says alcohol clears her out (not very healthy though)

I've also heard aloe Vera juice can be good but I've never tried it myself.

Good luck, constipation is horrible.

Kiwi is brilliant- especially if you eat the skin. (Whizz into smoothie if you don't like the hairiness)

When I was pregnant and constipated, a kiwi a day really helped.

Drink lots of water! Like 2 litres this morning and keep drinking until you shift that solid mass. If that doesn't work, get a proper laxative from a pharmacist.

Try magnesium citrate supplements. I take two with my evening meal and they certainly do the trick the following morning!

Porridge, more veg, coffee and walk

Drop the 2x boiled eggs
Replace one if your meat protein portions with chick peas or lentils or even baked beans
Include some whole grains.
Drink water throughout the day

I second glycerine suppository (make sure you get the right ones, not the anusol ones!)

If it's heavy and ready to come out but your gut can't contract then a suppository should work very quickly!

Use a step or a bucket to get your knees up as high as you can. Not sure on the exact height/angle but it helps so much.
God speed.

What's your fluid intake?

Aww bless you it’s awful getting it. I get it every so often with my Bowel condition. Don’t have any more fibre as it will block you up more and cause more pain. My tips are orange juice, prunes, a couple laxatives if you can and strangely for me having a cup of tea and a quick walk.

Movicol (or laxido) sachets.

This is a weird one but what solves it for me (in spectacular fashion!) is a bowl of sage and onion stuffing.

I don't want to be responsible for the poo troll suffering friction burns the length of his wang or anything but after a bowl of that I need to put my loo in therapy! Worth a try!

More fat/oil in diet!

Tinned pears (and the juice) help me

Chia seeds in your cereal but drink water first. Also prune juice

Definitely more fat/oil may be needed as well as water. Never had constipation so bad as when I started Slimming world, low fat eating plans don't work for me.

Looks like you are only eating 2 meals a day.
Try a pear or (2 if they are small) and a cup of warm water first thing in the morning. A physiotherapist told me that.

Microlax enema. Absolute game changer.
Sometimes you need drastic action and this works. Clear the current blockage and sort diet out going forward.