I eat a lot of fiber but I am constipated with stomach pain :(

[jess714]

I have been doing weight watchers for about a year now and have always been very regular with my bowel movements throughout that time. Earlier this summer, I started slacking in my seriousness about weight watchers and that lasted pretty much all summer until about a week ago. During that time I still was eating a good amount of fiber (fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc) so I was regular during that time. Well just last week I decided to become serious about the weight watchers again with the tracking of points and eating my set points value each day. Ever since I've began, I've started feeling extremely bloated and have not been regular at all. This started over last weekend when I would have these bad stomach pains (that would usually result in a bowel movement) and I would sit on the toilet and nothing would come. I would have to strain so much and then a little would come out, but nothing like what I'm used to. On monday I decided to try taking a laxative over night to see if that would help, plus I called a doctor help line with my insurance and spoke with a nurse about my problem. She said it wasn't anything major to worry about and it sounded like I may not have been getting the reccommended amount of liquid in my diet, and I should try drinking more water and use a stool softner. She thought maybe it was just having a tough time getting out of me and liquid would help. So I've been trying to drink a lot more water. So then on Tueaday morning I had a bowel movement (from the laxative) and the rest of the day I felt fine, but it worried me that I needed to take a laxative in order to go while I already eat a great deal of fiber naturally with my diet. After that, I had several episodes where I'd get the feeling like I had to go, get to the toilet and pass gas a couple times but no relief would happen. Yesterday I went out and bought a stool softner and decided to try that overnight and this morning had stomach pain, like normal, but no relief occured. I'm just worried because I am usually regular when I am on weight watchers, but this time is the opposite. I feel like if I have a fiber filled diet, I shouldn't have a problem going. Plus I have to weigh in with my weight watchers tonight and I'm worried that since I haven't gone in 2 days, I will gail weight. Is this anything I should seriously worry about, or will it just work itself out? I conicidentially have a check up with my doctor for next tuesday in which i will address this problem with him, but until then I plan on keeping up with my diet and continuing to try these stool softners in hopes to become regular again. Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Not being able to go and having stomach pains but gettign no relief is one of the most annoying and hardest things to deal with!

[romie24]

Talking from my own experience, I would suggest Metamucil  SMOOTH powder.  Just take the recommended dosage once a day and see what happens.  It is not a laxative but a regulator.  It gets mixed with a glass of water and you drink it right down and that's it.  It may  or may not work the first day, but give it a chance and I think you will be very happy.  This is something you can take every day if necessary, or sporadically as needed.  It is not habit forming and easy to drink as long as you get the smooth formula.  I have been taking it for many years with great success.  If you need more info  let me know.   I hope you feel better soon.  Good luck.  Let me know.  I would be interested to know how you are doing.