Constipation - should I be worried?

[Creatinghaddock]

Have name changed for this.

Early 60s and in good health and don't take any medication yet am suffering from constipation. Not 'been' for the past 5 days except after taking 2 dulcolax on day 3 and then pooed, but not 3 days worth IYSWIM. Have never taken laxatives before.

This has been a wake up call for me as I've not been eating a particularly good diet - too much white bread and sugar and not enough fibre and exercise.

So since day 3 I've been eating muesli, bran, prunes, vegetables, fruit and drinking more water. But nothing - the food is going in but nothing coming out poowise. I don't feel bloated and I'm not in pain but have no urge to poo. Where is the food going that I've eatten?

What should I do? Take more dulcolax? Or something else? See my GP? I've never experienced anything like this before so don't know whether it's serious or not.

Advise me, wise ones.

Anyone?

eat two kiwi fruits a day (skin and all) until things resolve. www.channel4.com/programmes/know-your-st-inside-our-guts
use a poo stool. Makes things easier
www.amazon.co.uk/toilet-stool/s?k=toilet+stool

Good luck, I am sure you'll feel more comfortable soon.

Sprinkling chia seeds on your breakfast is a great way to add painless fibre.

Intrusive question - but are you passing wind? If so it shows your bowel is active - not doing so indicates more of a problem

I'd take the meds as well as improving your diet and increasing your fluid intake. Diet alone may not be enough to sort things out by the sounds of things

Fybogel helps, get it in the chemist. Feel better soon

It will take a while to sort. Fibre and plenty of water are your friends!

It will take time because you will be a bit backed up, possibly with dry hard stuff.

KOKO and it will sort itself.

Second the kiwi fruits but they work fine without the skins. I tried the skin once and it is like trying to eat coir doormat.

You could try adding a magnesium supplement. (Magnesium citrate)

You need a stool softener and a stimulant such as senna. Your GP needs to prescribe the senna so that will stimulate the motions and make you go. Combine with a low dose stool softener such as the prescribed Movicol etc so that the bowel isn’t hurt by a larger hard stool. Go steady on the softener, and plan to be close to the toilet for a day or two.

spiggydit Yes, passing wind. Glad that's a good thing.