Have to work hard to not be constipated. Anyone else?

[eurovisionfan]

Struggle to poo for past ten years. The only way I can overcome is trying to drink nearly three litres of water and loads of pears and seeds and whole meal bread etc etc If I do this I am fine but I don't see other people having to make such an effort. If there is a day when I only drink 1.5 litres and only have one pear I'm straining! Feel fine otherwise. Anyone else like this? Oh I often have a few tea spoons of calfig of syrup to make sure I'm getting fibre in. It's exhausting remembering to do all this. Anyone else have this issue??

Satsumas, two a day.

Another vote for psyllium husk - I buy the powder on Amazon, but you can get capsules from Holland and Barrett. It is soluble fibre so works for both constipation and diarrhoea amazingly. I have a teaspoon mixed in with porridge every morning, though you can just down it mixed in with a glass of water.

Sugar free sweets work well for me - the type in the little boxes at supermarket checkouts or the sugar free polos

I'm on targeted therapy cancer drugs and although not constipated, my digestive system has slowed down.

My " go to " remedies are kiwi ( skin on) water ( loads ) smoothies, daily with flaxseed, dried apricots, pears, mango and if all else fails, an Ortis fibre cube ( you buy on Amazon), They are cubes of rhubarb and fig; taste a bit " earthy" but generally give a good result the next day.

Must try those!

I have to eat a lot of fibre too. I couldn't drink that much water daily though. I'd be taking wee breaks hourly!

@yumyumyumy
This is the prob! Plus I don't have time to keep thinking right I better drink loads and loads and loads so I don't get bunged up!

Wow I feel so much better knowing it's not just me!

@Enigma52

Great tips thanks!

@gerispringer

Ah will look into this! Is it ok to have this every day/long term? Or is it short term use? I've never heard of it wow

I take magnesium citrate in addition to prunes, prune juice, bran etc. etc.
When I can't go I take extra magnesium and then laxatives. Old fashioned Andrews Liver Salts work fairly well but they don't sell them in many places.

Just one comment about things like psyllium husk and chia seeds. They do work but they absorb a lot of fluid and you need to drink even more water or you can end up dehydrated.

Ground flax seeds, buy ground or grind yourself (coffee bean grinder) and keep in fridge. A couple of tablespoons a day really helps.

I'm sure I've got worse since menopause-peri - always was worse just before my period too.

An apple a day with the skin on helps!

Drinking a lot of water/fluid really important. https://www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2022-03/Fatigue%20%26%20Menopause%20Leaflet.pdf Explains that oestrogen loss makes us less able to hang on to water. (not saying OP in menopause but might help others).

Full fat foods and olive oil also help.

Dates and figs.

I put chia seeds in my muesli every day, and add raspberries. At least 2 litres of water every day, and lots of fruit and veg.

Riccola cough sweets.

I will say that when it's premenstrual what I eat doesn't have any effect at all.

Yes that's me. I never had any problem until I hit peri! I use a food tracker so I know I have 30 grams of fibre a day. I walk 12k steps a day and drink lots of water... no difference, where I am in the cycle determines things for me.

How does anyone eat kiwi fruit skins? It must be like eating sandpaper

The thought of eating a kiwi with the skin on makes my teeth feel funny and my stomach churn - how on earth can you do that?! Even eating a peach skin is too much for me.

I also thought the same about kiwi skin

Golden kiwi skins are easier on the teeth than normal kiwi. They are an acquired taste, I will admit!

The wee-ing all day long only lasted a few days for me and then I seemed to get used to it. I now know my bladders capacity and can time things to be sure of being around a loo or pause the drinking until I have.

So empowering.

You are onto something about the 🥝 🥝 helping 'grease the wheels'

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9572406/

Flipping heck. I eat the golden type too!! Revolutionary!

I am exactly the same. It's been about a year for me and definitely linked to menopause (and made worse by prolapse).

I take psyllium capsules daily, try to eat prunes/dried apricot/figs, beans or lentils daily and at least 2 portions of veg with dinner. Try to only have seeded or wholegrain bread (fibre content is now my no 1 nutritional info). Plus loads of water (which means I am peeing constantly).

But it is exhausting to constantly be planning and it all goes to pot if I deviate at all. It puts me off eating out as I often don't have the dish I want if it is veg free/light. Then bring on the bisocodyl

Interesting study. I noticed that the kiwi were peeled for the trial? So maybe helpful to those who would struggle with eating furry fruit.