[newtobipolar]

TMI I know. I've been having some constipation issues in the last 4-5 days. It's finally gone now, and I seen to feel a bit better. My depression had been horrific and I felt like a totally different person the last couple days! It's been hell!

Any correlation? Good I hope so...I need to feel a bit better emotionally.

[bioChE]

If I could take a laxative to end my bipolar depression, I'd be on it in a heartbeat.

[newtobipolar]

It definitely didn't end. It's still there, just not as debilitating as it was the last few days. I've never felt anything like that

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by newtobipolar

It definitely didn't end. It's still there, just not as debilitating as it was the last few days. I've never felt anything like that.

Exactly, and the same happens for me all the time. The depression is still whatever it is, but it is no longer made even greater by all the tension and stress of constipation.

I think physical issues can certainly exacerbate mental health issues. Recently I ate bad food and had unpleasant things coming out of both ends - and my mood was definitely worse that day! I am glad you found some relief.

I have never taken a laxative. One med combo made me have constipation. So I drank prune juice to keep the constipation away. It took some variation approaches. And every so often, my meds or med dosages would change. For a while I was drinking 1/2 cup daily. I drank it in the evening, or at night if I had gone to a concert etc. That was so I could be sure not to have any "accidents" during the day or when I was out someplace. I tried various measurements of prune juice....1/2 cup; 1/4 cup; somewhat less than 1/4 cup. Depending on the med situation, each of these worked each time, but I had to try various measurements before finding the one that worked. AND THEY WORK. I have known about prune juice since I was a kid. My teenage grand niece has constipation sometimes because her mother does not feed her right. When she goes to visit my sister (her grandmother) my sister has prune juice around, the my niece drinks it and feels fine. (Wish I could see my niece -- my sister leaves me out of the niece's life...) They live a 15 minute drive away.

[Nammu]

There was a surgeon back in the early 1900's that removed intestinal tracts and teeth based on this belief that these things caused mental illness. It's the one of the theories behind colonics too.

Can depression cause constipation? I'm not a doctor but I'd say yes. Constipation can increase my depression for sure but I don't know that it's ever been fully responsible for causing it but who knows. Psych meds can cause pretty horrible constipation and or diarrhea too. (((Hugs)))