Lazy Bowel?

I have been battleing constipation for 2 years now.  I get fiber.  I just can not go to the bathroom with out using a suppository.  Even then I have to do it like use a suppository 4 times in a row to get a substantial amount to come hither.  I feel like I am annorexic through the boody.  I will wait 2-4 days in between.  Sometimes I will wait longer hoping I can go on my on but it will not happen.  I have went to my doctor, had a barum enema( painful as hell) worst experience of my life.  And I had an upper GI which showed minor reflux.  I am a 29 YO amle with not an abnormal amount of stress.  I have recently been having chest pains.  Maybe do to the rectal forcing I am doing.  Can you give me any advice? Please?  Colonoscopy? Anything else?

[EJ]

When you say that you eat fiber...how much fiber?  To improve your symptoms you would need to eat between 25-35grams of fiber a day.  You might not even see a real improvement for a few days.

[badaceGIpain]

I eat fruits and vegetables daily.  I am not sure if I meet the required amount. Soud I add a fiber pill or meta musil?

[puzzle]

How about eating prunes - Taking at least 5 pcs pitted prunes or prune juice seem to work for most people!

[EJ]

Just because you eat fruits and vegetables doesn't necessarily mean your getting an extended amount of fiber.  Try adding a high fiber cereal every morning that has atleast 13 grams of fiber per bowl and whole wheat bread that has atleast 3 grams of fiber per slice.  Also, yes you could try over the counter fiber pills...like fibercon and drink lots of WATER-WATER-WATER.

Let me know if this helps.  
And remember that all this fiber at first will cause you to be alittle more gasey, but once this subsides things should improve for you.

[Concerned lady]

I agree with all the above comments.

Here are some more ideas. I used to be very constipated. Not any more! :-)  Here are the ideas:

1) Walk briskly every day, if possible. Exercise is wonderful for fighting constipation.

2) (I'm repeating one of the above comments here) Prunes and/or prune juice.

3) (Repeating again) Drink water, water, water! (unless you have glaucoma, or a kidney disease, or some other reason you shouldn't drink too much water.)

4) ACIDOPHILUS/BIFIDUS "pro-biotics" (beneficial bacteria) can really, really help constipation! Often, medications like antibiotics kill off these good bacteria, in the large intestine, causing digestive disturbances. Buy these at a health food store, keeping them in a cooler until you can put them in the refrigerator (not too close to the freezer). I can't tell you enough, how WONDERFUL these beneficial bacteria are for people!!! (even for pets)

5) Avoid milk and wheat and dried apricots. These can be constipating. Substitute "Rice Dream" for the milk, organic brown rice for the wheat, and fresh apricots for the dried ones.

6) As one of the above people said, use WHOLE GRAINS, not WHITE grains.

7) Eat a big variety of (organic when possible) fruits, veggies (including dark green leafy veggies and orange ones like carrots, squash, etc.), nuts, seeds, grains like brown rice, and drink non cholinated non fluoridated "hard" water like well water or spring water. AVOID JUNK FOOD!!! AVOID SODA POP. Drink juice and water instead. See a good NUTRITIONIST to help you with improving your diet, and taking supplements if necessary.

8) Don't eat any extreme diet. For example, low fat, etc. MODERATION is better than extremism in diets. Eat some of all types of foods, except junk food and sugary candies.

9) Visit a good osteopathic physician to learn some gentle abdominal massage that you can do to stimulate the colon (large intestine) to do its job (elimination).

10) Another "trick" is to drink a warm glass of some healthy drink, like plain warm water, or herb tea, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. This stimulates the "gastro-colic" reflex, meaning that when a liquid hits the stomach, the large intestine begins to have "peristalsis" (wave-like movements, to help create a bowel movement).

Good luck. If these methods don't do the trick, you may have some medical condition that needs to be checked by a good doctor!

Sincerely, Concerned lady
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http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[poopshin]

A related discussion, Lazy Bowel was started.

[Keisha_86]

A related discussion, Has anyone had success getting off laxatives??? was started.