Constipation

[sanyu12]

Hi all! I am in my late 20s and suffer from constipation. I have tried massively increasing fibre and lowing my carb intake aswell as drinking tonnes of water but hasn’t made any difference. I just can’t seem to go to the toilet (it's usually like pebbles when I do. Sorry tmi) without difficulty and have resorted to using dulcolax at least twice a week to get me going. Has anyone else experienced something like that? Really worried that I have something wrong with my digestive system.

Be careful about increasing certain types of fibre, it can worsen the problem. Have you tried prunes?

Thanks for commenting. Oh really? No I haven't although I do have a tin in the cardboard:

I've had constipation all my life, as a child I would only go once a week. I'm on laxido daily at the moment to enable me to go, it's not that often though. I've had transit studies that show I have intestinal dysmotility but I feel your pain

I'm struggling at the moment after having holiday belly a couple of weeks ago.
I've just had some Kefir and ordered some magnesium to see if that helps. Oh and bought some kiwis which apparently eaten whole help.

It's hideous..... I hope you get some relief x

I've started to talk about this subject openly within my friendship groups. Turns out everyone has experience, some still struggling, others who have worked out what works for them. Few have ever talked to others about it.

The interesting thing is that no two people have the same solution.

For me, it's in ascending order broccoli, spinach, cabbage (raw) and celeriac (roasted) plus feeling relaxed and somewhere I'm comfortable, plus lots of water, gentle walking exercise and then a double espresso and I'm all good.

It's no exaggeration to say that I plan my meals, even my life, around the right kind of fibre. Bread, the mainstay for many friends just doesn't work for me.

Hope you find what works for you.

It's good you talk about it, I never realised once a week and pebbles wasn't normal until my 20s

Flaxseed sprinkled on yogurt with breakfast works well for me, especially the milled stuff

psyllium husk every morning with breakfast, you will never have that problem again. Look around, you can find recipes for bread with it too. Revolutionary

Thanks guys for all your comments. It's nice to know I am not alone. It's normalised the situation....now to find the solution to the problem. I will look up Phyllis rusk. Sounds interesting.

Eat kiwi fruit with the skin on. Two a day. Game changer.

Ensure plenty of fluids! Also is there a reason for cutting down your carbs? Many complex Carbs are excellent sources of fibre - wholegrain bread, rice, cereals, pasta etc? Plenty of veg and fruit, legumes like beans, peas etc eat regular meals too but increase these things gradually to ensure they are tolerated.

^This.

Pears are meant to be good too.

I second this. Absolutely fantastic.

Really good suggestions here guys thanks.

Kiwis and kefir.

excellent sources of fibre - wholegrain bread, rice, cereals, pasta etc?

I'm not sure there is anything that really works for everyone. These would leave me seriously 'bunged up'. I'm glad to know what works for me now and able to work around those things.

Have you tried flaxseed or p.husk? Also fibre and fruit cereal? Theyre more natural and seem to work for me. Also too much fibre can cause constipation too!

Not an advert i promise by I used to be the same and someone recommended I try Purition. Its been a total game changer and I now use it every day to keep things regular and as I get older the extra protein is good too.

See Gp and rule out thyroid issues as this was always a main symptom

As pp say different sorts of fibre - pears and well cooked porridge in water work for me (get it really gloppy) but nothing works if thyroid is out.

Generally increasing the range if vegetables and plants in your diet can work as well as fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, saukraut, real coffee

Agree there’s no one fits all solution, and a colorectal surgeon told me that for some, following the generic NHS advice of using bulk forming fibre to relieve constipation eg carbs, psyllium husk can actually make them worse. I need to drink water like it’s going out of fashion plus I also take movicol. Agree on the fruit, but bananas are an absolute no though. Magnesium supplements have been really good in the past, currently pregnant so back on the movicol as it only gets worse in pregnancy!!