[jbug]

I am on so many medications I get constipated quite frequently. Anyway other than living on Miralax and Senna do you know of any foods I can be eating?

I take a fiber supplement with every meal and try to combat it that way but it still doesn't work.

I try to stay hydrated. I am always drinking something. I have cut way back on my soda intake from about 6-7 a day to 1-2 a day but it hasn't helped either.

I get the urge to poop but it is so big and hard it hurts. I know that was a bit graphic but thought it would help to let you know what is going on.

Jan

[Oakrun]

I know a couple people that began taking 400mgs of magnesium a day, along with some fish oil, and their constipation issues improved. They take 200mgs in the morning and 200mgs in the evening. Magnesium is the active ingredient in the constipation relief product Milk of Magnesia.

[ECHOES]

jbug, I have had abdominal surgery (pancreas related) and take a stool softener regularly with the doc's okay. I eat good fiber: oats, bran flakes, fresh fruits with skin. I have a hard time staying hydrated like you. I have a hard time digesting since my surgery.
I take Walmart's brand of Colace, 2-3 times a day. It isn't a laxative, but just keeps the stool soft so it's easy to 'go'.

[Yoda]

You definitely need a stool softener. Colace or something similar. Here is a link to natural stool softeners. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/stool...me-remedy.html

Try Activia yogurt. They guarantee success within two weeks. It has helped me lots.

[Oakrun]

I enjoy reading Dr Briffa's blog and I recalled this article he wrote about constipation. The article is about kids but he also mentions that adult patients with constipation have been helped with the ideas too. Thought to post.

http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/

Gluten and milk linked with constipation in kids

Posted on 10 March 2010

The natural food for human babies is breastmilk. However, at some point, children need to be weaned onto ‘solid food’. In the long term there is good reason, I think, for aiming for a childhood diet that is essentially ‘primal’ in nature. That means a diet based on foods like meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. What it doesn’t mean is a diet rammed full of starchy carbs and dairy products.

Some would counter such a diet with the claim that dairy products are essential for bone health, and that carbs supply valuable ‘energy’ for active, growing children. Let’s take the first of these assertions first – is milk and specifically the calcium it supplies really important for bone health. Thinking about this from an evolutionary perspective, this hardly makes sense. We probably haven’t been consuming dairy products in any meaningful way until a few thousand years ago. The paleontological record shows we, as a species, had a good, solid bone health until about 10,000 years ago (around the time we introduced grain). Apparently, we did fine without milk for about 2 million years, but now apparently we must have it for healthy bones. Seems a little odd.

The idea that milk and/or calcium do not play a huge part in bone building is also supported by some science. For example, in a review published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers cast a critical eye over 37 relevant studies, of which 27 found no relationship between dietary calcium or dairy product intake and measures of bone health [1]. Of the remaining studies, any apparent benefit was small. This review clearly deflates the notion that dairy products are ‘necessary’ for the normal growth and development of children.

Further evidence for the limited role of dairy products in building bone has come from a study published in the British Medical Journal which amassed evidence from 19 studies in the effects of calcium supplementation in children ranging from 3-18 years in age [2]. This mass of evidence found that calcium supplementation had no effect on bone density in the hip or spine, and very marginal benefits for bone density in the arm.

This study was accompanied by an editorial which highlighted the lack of evidence for the ‘benefits’ of not only calcium, but also dairy products, for bone health [3]. The editorial called for policy makers to revise calcium recommendations for young people and for a change in our assumptions about the role of calcium, milk, and other dairy products in the bone health of children and adolescents.

As for the idea that starchy carbs provide vital ‘energy’ for active growing bodies. Well, first of all, the body’s cells can run on carbohydrate (glucose), but this can be formed from other ‘macronutrients’ including protein. The absolute requirement for carbohydrate is, strictly speaking, none at all. Plus, if we were concerned about children getting enough calories, surely it’s fat we should be looking to to help here (seeing as it contains about twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrate). And finally, growing bodies rely mainly on protein to provide the raw materials necessary for this. The idea that children somehow ‘need’ starchy carbs just does not stack up.

Not only are dairy and starchy carbs of limited nutritional and health value, they can be positively problematic. For example, starchy carbs can upset blood sugar and insulin in a way that predisposes to issues such as weight gain and type 2 diabetes. And then we have the issue of ‘food sensitivity’.

Unwanted reactions to food can manifest in many ways including abdominal discomfort and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, eczema and ear, nose and throat issues including enlarged tonsils, sore throat, glue ear and ear infections. While any food can, in theory, trigger such symptoms, experience (and some science) reveals repeat offenders to be dairy products and wheat. Within wheat, ‘gluten’ is often what gives rise to problem, and this protein is found in other grains such as oats, rye and barley.

Another potential symptom of food sensitivity is constipation. There is some evidence, for example, that milk can cause constipation in children [4,5]. And a study published recently has implicated gluten too [6]. In this study, researchers looked to see if the timing of introduction of gluten into a child’s diet appeared to have any bearing on risk of constipation at the age of 24 months. Timing may be important because, generally speaking, the sooner a foodstuff is introduced into a child’s diet, the more likely it is to provoke food sensitivity issues. Constipation was defined as less than 3 bowel movement per week or the presence of mainly hard stools for two weeks or longer.

Constipation was more likely in children who had been introduced to gluten at 6 months or earlier, compared to those who had later introduction of gluten to their diets. Earlier introduction was associated with a 35 per cent increased risk of constipation.

The researchers assessed the relationship between timing of introduction of cow’s milk and risk of constipation and found no association. However, they did find that a history of cow’s milk sensitivity in the first year of life was associated with a 57 per cent increased risk of constipation, which is consistent with other work linking cow’s milk with constipation (see above).

This study is epidemiological in nature, and cannot be used to conclude that gluten (or milk) causes constipation. However, my experience in practice leads me to believe that these foodstuffs are indeed a common cause of constipation and other gut symptoms in childhood (and in older individuals too). It is perhaps not too much of a surprise that these relatively recent additions to the human diet are common provokers of unwanted symptoms. And as I pointed out above, despite dietary dictats to the contrary, such foods offer relatively limited nutritional value. The problems with such foods and their lack of necessity in the diet should cause us to reconsider, in my opinion, if ‘cereal and milk’ really is a healthy, nutritious way to start the day.

References:

1. Lanou AJ, et al. Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: a reevaluation of the evidence. Pediatrics. 2005;115(3):736-43

2. Winzenberg T, et al. Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in healthy children: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2006;333:775-778

3. Lanou AJ. Bone health in children. BMJ 2006;333:763-764

4. Heine RG, et al. Cow’s milk allergy in infancy. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002;2(3):217-25

5. Daher S, et al. Cow’s milk protein intolerance and chronic constipation in children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2001;12(6):339-42

6. Kiefte-de Jong JC, et al. Infant nutritional factors and functional constipation in childhood: the Generation R study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2 March 2010 [Epub ahead of print]

[lynn P.]

Good advice from everyone. I agree - start with a stool softener as directed, with fruits/vegetables and whole wheat products. I recommend highly this cereal called "Bran Buds" -it has a whopping 10grms of fiber. I have very stubborn constipation as well, but if I eat this cereal and have a couple avacados a week, I'm fine. Stay away from too much tea. It will take a few days for the cereal to work but eat it everyday.

I also recommend yogurt because it has acidolpholus bacteria, which promotes healthy instestional flora. If this cereal works, you could eat it twice a day and you wouldn't even have to take a fibre supplement - you still need the stool softener though. Increase your exercise as well.

[Aunt Donna]

My mom swears by prunes. Myself I have had to depend on stool softeners, but with the new diet my mom has us all eating keeps us all regular. It includes lots of fiber, whole wheat products, etc. Drinking lots of water instead of soft drinks helps too.

[Michah]

Jbug,

The above advice is awesome. But just to make sure, pleae talk to your doc and rule out any physicality first. It is most likely from the meds(I have been there myself many times. It is terrible) but I also have fibromyalgia and am in perimenopause which can wreak havoc with bowel function.

I find that magnesium, vitamin C and evening primrose oil help me. But sometimes it doesn't. Irritable bowel syndrome for example, can be aggravated by too much fruit or fruit juice or even raw vegetables. I eat a lot of veges but steam them lightly first so they are easier to pass through the bowel but cut down on the fruit. Sucrose in fruit can also be an aggravate. Sucrose in some veges can also do the same. You really need to talk to your doc about how much fibre you need and what else you can do before making any drastic changes to your diet.

Take care,

Michah

[eskielover]

I have the problem a little because of the pain medication I'm on for my migraines......side effect of that med. I keep ice in a 32 oz container & keep either water or caffeine free tea next to me constantly so that I am always drinking. I only like drinks when they are cold, so have to keep the ice in it constantly to keep myself drinking.

I have started eating yogurt. I never liked it before, but got it for my dogs food & ended up eating it myself....along with milled flax seed. My dog's coats look great, so figured it would help my hair & also helps me not get constipated. I also found there are other foods that really do the trick......anything teriyaki.....within 5 minutes of eating it, I better have a bathroom close by. Also honey roasted sun flower seeds work the same way.....maybe a tablespoon or 2 & that bathroom better be close. I also found some shrimp that worked the same way....both times I cooked that dinner, it did the same thing. Nothing else works like that, but you may be able to find certain foods that will work that way for you by experimenting.

Warm prune juice is also something that works well. My friend has this problem & used prune juice......cleared herself out well & clogged her toilet.....oh well, I won't go into that....so you know it works well. Only problem, prune juice didn't help her toilet.

Just experiment with some of these things & you will find what works with you. When I was dealing with anorexia, I used laxitives & just don't go back to that.....the right foods can work better & naturally & much better for us.

Good luck,
Debbie

[Beholden]

Fresh pears and fresh raspberries are super high natural fiber foods with 8 grams per serving, (unsweetened). If they are frozen, they loss much of the fiber, down to only 2 grams for the raspberries.

Dairy can create that problem for many. I think someone mentioned that above. I use the Fiber One from General Mills that provides 51% of a daily recommendation and that doesn't really get me 'moving' the best.

Are you getting soluable and insoluable fiber? That's the key. Old fashioned Oatmeal or steel cut Oatmeal are the ones that need longer cooking because they are more dense, so they "scrub" your insides better! Plus Oatmeal is low fat, no sodium and with the pear chunked up in it, you don't need to add a sweetener! I can even eat it without butter or at least only a tiny 1/2 teaspoon or sometimes I go wild and use a whole teaspoonful!

Pears baby, I'm telling you. They really work for me.

If you don't have to worry about sugar (diabetic?) too much try eatting 1 large pear and oatmeal for a few days. That has been helping me a lot. Prunes don't help nor does all the Miralax, stool softeners, and fiber supplements that I take every day, with doctors orders to do so. Some of us are just more prone to being constipated than others.

Exercise helps too. And when I drink coffee with caffiene, I try to drink equal amounts of plain water.

FiberCon pills work the best of all I've tried. I saw an article in a magazine that compared the top selling fiber supplements and that was the brand shown to work the best. I agree.

[anna342]

Apricots work really affectively. I have dried ones, but be careful not to have too many. Try say 3-4 a day as a snack and see if it works, then have a couple more if that doesn't work. I had like 10 and I really regretted it once! Prunes are often used as week like some others said, but I personally don't like them.

I take quite a bit of codeine for pain which is constipating and also have IBS, so I sometimes have bowel issues too, I take fibre supplement because of my limited diet and then use the apricots if I need something on top of that.

[jbug]

Originally Posted by Beholden

Fresh pears and fresh raspberries are super high natural fiber foods with 8 grams per serving, (unsweetened). If they are frozen, they loss much of the fiber, down to only 2 grams for the raspberries.

Dairy can create that problem for many. I think someone mentioned that above. I use the Fiber One from General Mills that provides 51% of a daily recommendation and that doesn't really get me 'moving' the best.

Are you getting soluable and insoluable fiber? That's the key. Old fashioned Oatmeal or steel cut Oatmeal are the ones that need longer cooking because they are more dense, so they "scrub" your insides better! Plus Oatmeal is low fat, no sodium and with the pear chunked up in it, you don't need to add a sweetener! I can even eat it without butter or at least only a tiny 1/2 teaspoon or sometimes I go wild and use a whole teaspoonful!

Pears baby, I'm telling you. They really work for me.

If you don't have to worry about sugar (diabetic?) too much try eatting 1 large pear and oatmeal for a few days. That has been helping me a lot. Prunes don't help nor does all the Miralax, stool softeners, and fiber supplements that I take every day, with doctors orders to do so. Some of us are just more prone to being constipated than others.

Exercise helps too. And when I drink coffee with caffiene, I try to drink equal amounts of plain water.

FiberCon pills work the best of all I've tried. I saw an article in a magazine that compared the top selling fiber supplements and that was the brand shown to work the best. I agree.

I wonder why freezing the raspberries takes the fiber out of them. I will try the pears as I like them and my grocery store generally has them at a reasonable price. Do you think canned would work too?

I am at a point right now that I really should get medical intervention but don't really want to go back to my gastro because he doesn't really know how to help except for eat more fiber, take Miralax.

Thanks for all your responses I will be trying them.

My mom said that when she ate my chocolate covered raisins she had no problem going so we are going to get more of those and I am going to try eating those.

Jan

[seeker1950]

Jbug...all good advice here.
I have had the same problem for years, but recently I've been using Chia...yes...the same as chia seeds for the chia pet. You can buy it ground or whole seeds in packages at healthfood stores or online. I've bought it at Amazon.com as well as at Healthy Life Market at Drug Emporium. I first heard about chia when I read the excellent book, Born to Run (no, I'm not a runner, LOL). It's called the "Aztec super food."
Anyway, chia is a great source of fiber and antioxidants. Also good for apetite control as it tends to retain water in the tummy and swells a bit, thus reducing hunger. It's good for you, and I find it works far better than bran or even Metamucil! Look it up on the Internet, and you'll find much more about it.

[lynn P.]

Originally Posted by seeker1950

Jbug...all good advice here.
I have had the same problem for years, but recently I've been using Chia...yes...the same as chia seeds for the chia pet. You can buy it ground or whole seeds in packages at healthfood stores or online. I've bought it at Amazon.com as well as at Healthy Life Market at Drug Emporium. I first heard about chia when I read the excellent book, Born to Run (no, I'm not a runner, LOL). It's called the "Aztec super food."
Anyway, chia is a great source of fiber and antioxidants. Also good for apetite control as it tends to retain water in the tummy and swells a bit, thus reducing hunger. It's good for you, and I find it works far better than bran or even Metamucil! Look it up on the Internet, and you'll find much more about it.

Yes Seeker you're right Chia is great for constipation and you can add it to oatmeal. It also is extremely nutritious and has Omega fatty acid naturally in it. it's expensive here in Canada but worth it.

[(JD)]

Jbug, what a horrible thing to have to deal with (I KNOW) not only is it miserable and constricting in your life (no pun intended) but also embarassing to discuss!!!

I can't take ANY medications for this issue because they MAKE me constipated (it's called paradoxical reactions). Once you have plenty of natural food remedies on hand, think about stopping the medication (talk to your doctor ... any one medication should have solved the problem, but alas, doctors only know how to prescribe MORE stuff!!!)

Prunes work for most people (and was the main food used before there were any pharmaceutical products ... other than cod liver oil.) I'm allergic to prunes.

I refuse to be constipated ever again in my life. I take a very constipating pain medication ... and manage very well with food stuffs. Any one of the following should make a difference for you:

I prefer a daily leafy green salad (romaine lettuce is best) with cucumber slices, or celery too ... olive oil dressing (or vinegarette) ...

Oatmeal (this is a perfect food ... don't overcook to dry,stiff though)
Bran -Ground (can be sprinkled on pasta meals, cereals, salads)
Apples (for some people this helps with elimination (not me))
Hot drink, tea, coffee or cocoa (I suppose even hot water would work)
Fruits with high water content: watermelon, cantaloupe, papaya, grapes
Plain popcorn (or with light salt)
sunflower seeds, peanuts, flax seeds, walnuts
Fish: salmon, tuna (the omega 3s are terrific for more than just this)

Eat fruits WITH skin, eat chicken WITHOUT skin

NO juices ... they do not have the fiber nor the goodness you need.
red meat binds
no soda (IDK why but maybe the chemicals in them react with me?)

I freeze the seedless grapes and knosh on them all day long.

Put out a pitcher of water (or keep in the fridge) full each morning, and make sure you drink all of it each day.... straight up, not in other drink mix.



It's a bit of a mix getting to the right fix for oneself, but once you find it, it's wonderful. If you need to use an enema kit (rather than go to ER) by all means, do so!

Frozen fruit might lose some of their nutrition but raspberries still freeze well! http://www.naturalhealth-solutions.n...iber-magnesium

[seeker1950]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Yes Seeker you're right Chia is great for constipation and you can add it to oatmeal. It also is extremely nutritious and has Omega fatty acid naturally in it. it's expensive here in Canada but worth it.

Okay..I love chia. Here's how I eat it, though I know you can mix it as a drink, which I've done also. But, I love it with natural peanut butter and crackers. I dip a cracker into the peanut butter, then dip it into the chia (which coats the peanut butter). I drink lots of liquids with this snack, and I love it!
Patty

[sunrise]

jbug, I've found that exercise really helps, even if it is just walking a few blocks.

For foods, I like bran muffins and also the cereal Cracklin' Bran. It comes in little mini-donut shapes and is sweetened. It is a great snack! My sister likes Fiber 1 bars. I like granola bars. And any bread I eat is whole grain. Plus lots of vegetables.

My doctor prescribed a medication for acne for me once that was terrible in this regard. I would take it for 2 days then have to go off of it for 4 days to solve the constipation. I told the doctor and he said to discontinue it immediately. Not all patients do well on all meds, and this is a very legitimate reason to discontinue a med. My doc was able to prescribe a different med which didn't have this side effect. Have you talked to your doctor about prescribing a different medication?

[jbug]

Originally Posted by sunrise

jbug, I've found that exercise really helps, even if it is just walking a few blocks.

For foods, I like bran muffins and also the cereal Cracklin' Bran. It comes in little mini-donut shapes and is sweetened. It is a great snack! My sister likes Fiber 1 bars. I like granola bars. And any bread I eat is whole grain. Plus lots of vegetables.

My doctor prescribed a medication for acne for me once that was terrible in this regard. I would take it for 2 days then have to go off of it for 4 days to solve the constipation. I told the doctor and he said to discontinue it immediately. Not all patients do well on all meds, and this is a very legitimate reason to discontinue a med. My doc was able to prescribe a different med which didn't have this side effect. Have you talked to your doctor about prescribing a different medication?

I have talked to my pdoc about it and feels that since the meds are helping me deal with all the stuff I am having to deal with right now he doesn't really want to change anything. He just says to take a laxative or stool softener.

I think the first thing I will try is chocolate covered raisins. I had talked with my mom because we bought some at Sam's for me and I didn't get to eat many of them because between Mom and Dad snacking on it I just didn't get very many of them and she said that when she was eating them she didn't have any problem going.

Jan

i get totally addicted to chocolate covered raisins so i have to avoid them. tasty but a ton of sugar and caffeine in them.

anyway, oatmeal is the best thing i've found. i just put a little stevia (a natural sweetener with no calories) on it and it tastes great. sometimes i add raisins for flavor too.

[Beholden]

So, are things "working out" for you jbug?

LOL

[NuckingFutz]

Just a thought, by chance are you taking Seroquel? I get constipated on this sometimes, especially after I eat dairy foods. If this is the case, maybe you can cut on the dairy and see of it makes a difference?

[pianogirl484]

I have had constipation do to an eating disorder and severe laxative abuse. Two things that help me are 1) eating baby food fruit (stage 2...sounds disgusting, but it's really not that bad...you can do the prunes, but really any of them help for me...like 2-3 a day) and 2) drinking a warm decaf beverage after meals...the heat stimulates peristalsis...I don't like tea or coffee, so I just drink a cup of hot water.

[jbug]

I am still not regular with the help of senna I can go. Mom and I went to Sam's today and picked up a huge thing of chocolate covered raisins so I will start snacking on those to see if it helps. I have found that if I can tell that my body wants to go but needs to have help if I take 4 senna tablets I go within about 3-4 hours. If I haven't if I take 4 more then I do. I still take Miralax sometimes but not as often. I don't like the taste. I know they say you can't taste it but I can.

Jan

[Beholden]

I put Miralax in my coffee first thing every morning. I can't taste it at all. Do you add it to just water? With taking Miralax, you do need to be sure to get enough water too. And it is slow to act, you must know that all ready.

The nutritionist suggested I eat different/a variety of high fiber fruits, pears, then apples, kiwi, so that my system doesn't get too used to the one food. "Switch it up all the time". So I'm trying that this week. And I didn't take Miralax today or yesterday and had success! I don't want to keep on taking Miralax.

[ECHOES]

Senna is a laxative that won't help soften the stool that is there and too hard or bulky to pass. I just wanted to let you know that it may cause you more discomfort.