How to ease constipation without medication or food

[Happy36]

I'm constipated as for the last month I've been on diarrhoea medication and a very restricted low fibre diet following cancer treatment.

Finally I can feel a bowel movement coming but it is very hard. I can't take or eat anything (other than drinking water) to encourage or soften it. Is there anything else I can do? Stretching, or something, maybe?

Physical Exercise keeps the intestines doing their job(s).

Sainsburys and even budget stores like Savers sell the suppositories.

Morning OP. If you're still unsuccessful, I'm pretty sure there are some yoga positions that help move things along, maybe have a quick Google? Strong coffee should help too. Good luck!

Very gently inserting a thumb into the vagina and massaging the wall between it and the rectum can help push anything out that's stuck there. It's not as bad as it sounds and anecdotally this is how a lot of people help themselves.

@minipie

Cat and cow position, repeatedly

Explain please ... (am I the only person not recognising this description?)

You can cut up a little piece of Pears soap and put it up your bum. That's what a glycerine suppository is, basically.

There's also specific massages for constipation called self-abdominal massage. If you google that + NHS you'll get advice leaflets on how to do it eg www.wchc.nhs.uk/content/uploads/2019/12/Self-abdominal-massage.pdf

I usually find drinking hot water better than cold to get things moving.

My midwife suggested doing the tricky poo whilst actually in a warm bath!

Finger up the bottom while in the bath

JenniferAlison sorry! They are Pilates / yoga moves. If you google there will be videos. Basically you get on all fours, cat is arching your back upwards and tucking your head and bottom in, cow is the opposite, sticking bum and head in the air and your back bends the other way. Notorious for making people fart in yoga… definitely gets things moving!

I'm currently going through something similar poop wise due to abdominal surgery.

A squatty potty (or similar type brand) has worked wonders. Also let gravity help you and also keep some cream to hand because you might have a sore bottom after you do manage to go.

Thanks, everyone. Am not allowed glycerine suppositories but have tried the yoga moves and massaging; things are definitely moving. Fingers crossed it moves soon, as last night I was in a lot of pain so didn't sleep. Thanks so much.

Mint tea if you can have that. Always works for me .

A tablespoon of flax seeds simmered in 150mls water for 15 minutes. Leave to cool a bit, then either strain it, or drink as is.

Latex gloved finger and a load of waterbased lube if it’s really awful, to break things up a bit. Obviously be really gentle.

Also, sorry - hideously TMI.

1000mg vitamin C - it draws water into the bowel so softens the poo. Maybe too late for this one but for the future?

Echo a strong black coffee if you can, and also gentle movement.

A good long walk followed by a hot bath!

As per thread title and OP, I can't eat or drink (except water) or take any supplements, vitamins, etc.

I am too weak to exercise but can walk around the flat and do some yoga poses/stretches. Thanks.

I don't have a bath.

My friend who is a sports and rehab massage therapist showed me how to do an abdominal massage for constipation. It might be worth seeing a sports massage therapist? Or at least look on YouTube?

Hot water bottle?

If it weren't for the fact you've had cancer treatment I'd suggest 1 or 2 cigarettes (only works for non-smokers).

Low on your back.
Imagine your tummy is a clock face with your belly button as the middle of the clock.
Using both hands, with your fingers on top of one another, gently place your hands at the six o’clock positions.
Start slowly and gently massaging in a small circle (that is stay on one side of the belly button). Do this for 36 or 72 reps.
Then move round to the seven o’clock position and repeat.
Continue until you have completed all 12 hours.
Then gently massage in a small circle directly round the belly button.

This should stimulate both peristalsis and the migrating motor complex to your intestines moving.

It can be very, very effective even when done very gently. You aren’t trying to mechanically move anything through your system, you’re just trying to stimulate the body to help itself with its own systems.

An exercise that can help is this:

Low on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip width apart or a little wider.
As you inhale, drop your right knee over to one side til it is as close to touching the floor as possible for you. Challenge yourself but don’t force it. The idea is to work as much as you can from your hips/torso/back back to get the papas moving and stimulate the abdomen. It’s not really about using your thigh/calf/bum muscles so much.
As you exhale drop your left knee over towards your right knee, as close as you can to touching it. Again, challenge yourself but don’t force it and work from the torso as much as possible.
Now as your inhale raise your left knee back up to the starting position.
And as you exhale raise your right knee back to the starting position.
Repeat on the other side.
Do this for 15-20 minutes.

Also try drinking your water warm (so boil some and add some cold to cool it down). A bit warmer than body temperature is ideal, it will help relax your muscles.

If you're not eating anything you can't have much to come out, how are you getting nutrition / water?