Constipation - seriously need help

[sassylady]

Ok I started a new program about 4.5 weeks ago and it is super clean eating, lots of water, etc. I have lost about 9 pounds and a coupld of pant sizes. Everything is going well except for that fact that I have not had any BMs ( I know gross). I don't feel uncomfortable or bloated or anything but is there anything I can do to get myself regular again besides taking laxatives?

[Hannah73Louise]

for 4.5 weeks?!! no way! You need to see a doctor!

[digitalbath11]

wow.

for how long?

and what is your carb and fiber intake?

this isn't normal.

[FatallyYours]

yeh that isnt normal, I used to go like 4 times a day, and now I go like once a day, and I thought that was bad.

[iron11]

Ok I started a new program about 4.5 weeks ago and it is super clean eating, lots of water, etc. I have lost about 9 pounds and a coupld of pant sizes. Everything is going well except for that fact that I have not had any BMs ( I know gross). I don't feel uncomfortable or bloated or anything but is there anything I can do to get myself regular again besides taking laxatives?

Try psyllium husk (1 rounded teaspoon) and powdered vitamin C (1 teaspoon). Mix with water. Do this twice per day and this should get things moving along. Although, since it's been so long, you may need to use an enema to clear the path!

[FatallyYours]

also, I dont know if you drink protein shakes, but sometimes those can stop you up. I switched to systha 6 or whatever its early here, but it has fiber in the servings, or just take some metamucil regularly, its good for your heart and your bowels.

[sassylady]

I have not been constipated the whole time, just for about two weeks. I did take a laxative this past Monday and it worked too well. But then I got constipated again. I only drink one protein shake a day. I eat fiborous carbs but I probably need more fiber, I will try that. And perhaps some coffee to get things moving as well.

[narcorunner]

Oh my. That cannot be comfortable. Can you post what you eat?

[digitalbath11]

I have not been constipated the whole time, just for about two weeks. I did take a laxative this past Monday and it worked too well. But then I got constipated again. I only drink one protein shake a day. I eat fiborous carbs but I probably need more fiber, I will try that. And perhaps some coffee to get things moving as well.

Try to stay away from the laxatives, though, I can understand the frustration of why you'd take them after a couple of weeks. Caffeine can help, but it's not the cure. It's practically a less harsh alternative to laxatives. You need to fix this for good.

I had a similar problem a few months ago. I didnt know what I was doing differently, but I decided to eat 2 full servings of fruits and 4 full servings of vegetables per day, everyday, and DEFINITELY saw improvements. Normally I have a medium apple with peanut butter, a banana, a cup of green beans (or cauliflower or broccoli, or mixed vegetables) with lunch, and asparagus, peppers, onions, spinach, kale or a combination of any of these with dinner. It not only helped, but it's great for your taste buds.

So what do you eat?

[lenamel]

3 to 5 grams per day of glucomannan. really helps...

[andrerox80]

"super clean eating" is sort of meaningless, however, it could mean that you made a complete overhaul to your diet and are now eating lots of fiberous veggies, so it's possible that just a sudden change and increasing your fiber intake is the problem, in which case, back off a little and introduce more fiber-filled foods more slowly. but i'm not sure if that's your problem b/c you said you might need to increase fiber. but it's a common issue when starting to eat better. if you track on thedailyplate, it'll includes your fiber intake. if you do need more, it's easy - veggies, fruit, complex carbs - wheat bran, oat bran, there are tons of high fiber cereals, gnu bars, or try psyillium husk. you can also take a fiber supplement that just dissolves in water and is tasteless. also, how many cals are you on and what are your macro's? that could need adjusting. do not take lax again. please. i can tell you from personal experience that they can cause serious damage.

[nea_lin]

Sometimes TOO MUCH fibre can be the problem. Maybe cut down a bit...

Make sure you're drinking LOTS of water. Vitamin C helps too.

When you wake up in the morning, drink hot green tea or detox tea.

Walking or running during the day tends to get things moving too.

[Roofus_the_bum]

Go to hospital for enema... serously, don't mess around with anything else, enema will flush you out, litterally. good luck

[BTM1ND3D]

when I have this problem, I drink Epson salt in warm water.
well I chug it. Its super gross and I gag but it really does work. It will clean you right out.

Drink some Smooth move tea the night before, ( recommend doing this on an off day, so you dont have to go anywhere) and in the morning drink the salt water.
for me, within 30 minutes I was running to the bathroom.

[madelineoneil]

oh man. i get sad when i see threads like this. i have been dealing with this for going on 3 years. nothing - i repeat, NOTHING - that ive tried, or that other people have suggested, or things the doctors have prescribed have worked for me. i even had a colonoscopy.

the only thing that works for me is liquid magnesium citrate. its cheap, about a buck and a half a bottle. its 10 ounces, and although the taste is less than ideal, ive definately drank worse to try and poop. i drink one twice a week, with tons and tons of water, sh*t my brains out all day, and those two times a week are the only times i go. miserable.

theres no cramping or anything, just lots of poop. the smooth move tea works on occasion, if i steep say, 2 or 3 bags of it, but it makes me cramp really bad. so i stick with the mag citrate. ive asked several doctors, they said its not harmful to drink a couple a week. and since thats the only thing that works, until i come up with something better, mag citrate it is.

17 days was the longest i went without going. probably would have been longer, but i didnt want to find out.

enemas are also common in my house.

anyway, i feel for ya. its a f***ed up way to live.

[ajangel25]

oh man. i get sad when i see threads like this. i have been dealing with this for going on 3 years. nothing - i repeat, NOTHING - that ive tried, or that other people have suggested, or things the doctors have prescribed have worked for me. i even had a colonoscopy.

the only thing that works for me is liquid magnesium citrate. its cheap, about a buck and a half a bottle. its 10 ounces, and although the taste is less than ideal, ive definately drank worse to try and poop. i drink one twice a week, with tons and tons of water, sh*t my brains out all day, and those two times a week are the only times i go. miserable.

theres no cramping or anything, just lots of poop. the smooth move tea works on occasion, if i steep say, 2 or 3 bags of it, but it makes me cramp really bad. so i stick with the mag citrate. ive asked several doctors, they said its not harmful to drink a couple a week. and since thats the only thing that works, until i come up with something better, mag citrate it is.

17 days was the longest i went without going. probably would have been longer, but i didnt want to find out.

enemas are also common in my house.

anyway, i feel for ya. its a f***ed up way to live.

I've been the exact same way since I was little.. but now I've found something that helps a lot.. NutraFiber! I use way more than the recommended dose along with a bunch of other supplements (no prescription laxative works for me either..not Amitiza, mag citrate, milk of mag, etc) but it helps a lot. You might give it a shot!

[madelineoneil]

I've been the exact same way since I was little.. but now I've found something that helps a lot.. NutraFiber! I use way more than the recommended dose along with a bunch of other supplements (no prescription laxative works for me either..not Amitiza, mag citrate, milk of mag, etc) but it helps a lot. You might give it a shot!

NutraFiber, now theres one i havent tried. where do you get it? Ill try anything once, you never know...

[ajangel25]

NutraFiber, now theres one i havent tried. where do you get it? Ill try anything once, you never know...

I buy it online here: http://www.nutrafiber.com/
let me know if you try it!

[nikki6]

Organic Acacia Fiber works great! You have to take it consistently for it to work, but it's a natural way to keep things moving and get rid of bloating. I was on medicine for 4 years that caused problems, and I was bloated all the time to the point where I looked pregnant at the end of the day. When I started drinking the acacia fiber on a regular basis, it made a world of difference! Alot of people with IBS use it. You have to play around with the amount you use to find what works for you. I drink two or three tablespoons every evening mixed with protein powder and water.

You can buy it online at www.vitacost.com under the brand name Fiber 35 Sprinkle Fiber.

Here's a link:
http://www.vitacost.com/Fiber-35-Die...Sprinkle-Fiber

[discdoggie]

Just going to rule out the often overlooked obvious:

Is there added iron in your multi?

Are you taking any kind of opioid-based pain meds? (This runs the gamut of vicodin, perocet, oxy contin, tylenol with codeine, larocet, nubaine, phetynol, and morphine.)

[madelineoneil]

Just going to rule out the often overlooked obvious:

Is there added iron in your multi?

Are you taking any kind of opioid-based pain meds? (This runs the gamut of vicodin, perocet, oxy contin, tylenol with codeine, larocet, nubaine, phetynol, and morphine.)

good call, these are things that get overlooked...i know at first i had a multi that included iron, that was the first to go...

[otey21712]

I ran into the same problem when I was eating clean. When I go back to eating unhealthy with all the crap and high fat I have regular bowel movements. I've wondered if eating a lower fat diet constipates some of us.

[borcherding]

Holy **** (and no pun intended there) but I thought I was the only person alive who had problems with BMs. My husband just doesn't understand it...this coming from a man who can literally **** on command (I am so jealous!). I would definitely stay away from laxatives...those things cause even more problems! I talked to my doctor about this and she told me that it is perfectly fine to take stool SOFTENERS daily (NOT laxatives). I try not to do this just because I am really paranoid about it. However, I know that the week before my period can be total HELL as far as constipation that I am resorting to the fact that, that week I will have to take them daily because I am beyond miserable!! It pains me to here that others have this same problem and my heart went UGH when I heard 17 days?? You poor thing!!
I thought I read somewhere that too much protein can be hard on your digestive track as well. And for me, that proved to make my problem even worse. I've been slacking lately about writing EVERYTHING down in my journal but that is also something I kept track of so I could look at my food choices and see what was working and what wasn't.
ps. If I go anywhere as far as travel...OMG...can you say MISERABLE???