Tobacco cessation vs. constipation

[Bryant1962]

Exceptionally healthy 45 yr old career Army Officer; 2 weeks ago, I quit smokeless tobacco (Copenhagen) that had been part of me for nearly 15 years.  Pardon my bluntness, but a "dip of Copenhagen" in the morning and the bowels were off to the races.  As earlier stated, it's been 2 weeks and I am unable to restore that a.m. cycle; in fact, I have to MAKE myself go once a day and that is at the end of the day and with much struggle; and when I do, the "product" seems small.

  Yes, I've markedly increased veggies and fiber; to no avail. Should I give it a bit longer?  Go the doc now?  

[ggreg]

Another substitute stimulant, if you aren't already doing this, is to drink a half a cup of coffee in the mornings, has the same effect of getting you to go within 30 minutes or so.

[CalGal]

Give it a bit of time, although I know that's going to be hard to do. The tobacco is binding to certain receptors in the GI tract (and in your head) that do quite a bit to control 'normal' functioning. Your system is so used to the external stimulation that it's going to be difficult to swing things around back to what could be considered 'normal' for you. Essentially your body has to retrain itself. If you can, you may want to try to increase your exercise a bit. In many people movement of the lower part of the body - by running, walking, or jogging - stimulates the movement of the abdominal muscles and the GI tract.