Serious Chronic Constipation

[m_anglewicz]

Hi-
I'm 22 y/o caucasian female with somewhat sedentary lifestyle and mediocre diet habits (full time nursing school and part time work don't leave much option for food preparation). I have (self dx'ed) lactose intolerance and eggs also disagree with me, but other than that I have no dietary issues or allergies. I have always had constipation; as a child I would pass stool maybe once a week and it was very hard and very difficult to pass. Now, since I know that my symptoms equate to lactose intolerance, I avoid dairy when I can. For a few years I had bowel movements at least 3 times a week, and they were not nearly as difficult to pass. I still get very constipated if I'm not careful, but now I take Adderall and that is very binding for me- I take 20 mg XR and I was thinking that maybe because it's XR that is that's causing the constipation. There are a lot of variables to this and I was hoping to get some help on what are appropriate diet changes or med changes I could make. I've been taking psyllium bulk-fiber supplements with limited success and I was wondering if I should go to non-XR adderall. I wondered about Senokot use also, but I know that long-term use of stimulant softeners/laxatives can have a dependent and degrading effect. I'm guessing it would be the same with senna tea. Any ideas?

[m_anglewicz]

Thanks for the input! I'm dealing pretty well with the constipation most of the time, but when I do, I'm a little beyond prunes. I don't really drink soda or coffee (I never liked coffee and I try to avoid caffeine since I'm on adderall) so mostly I drink water, and I should probably drink more. I stopped taking the psyllium. Thanks for the diet tips :D

[Setaka]

As a nursing student in my past, I use to gorge on things like mac and cheese, pizza, things that are easy to fix, cheap and you can keep around a few days in the fridge...

I don't know if that's what you're doing.  But know that breads and cheese are binding.  

If you've "been" constipated and you continue with the "quick" foods than you are creating a cause and effect issue with the psyllium.  Since water is absorbed in the intestine, and you already have a blockage from the breads, etc... the water would be absorbed out of the fiber creating an even larger plug.

First you need to get cleaned out...  I always suggest warm water (maybe 4- 5 glasses a day) and prunes.  This will get your system working again, the water will soften the fiber you've already taken, and the prunes will work to push the hard matter through the intestine.  

It may take a couple days because in front of it all is a lot of dried, hard stool.  When that is eliminated there will be diarrhea, but leave it alone, and let your system go back to normal.

We all tend to drink coffee, tea, soda... anything but water.  Water doesn't stimulate our kidneys like the others do and is more apt to put our digestive system back into full swing than the others; which are eliminated quicker.

Eat more fiber foods thereafter like spinich, salads, raw veggies, soups... things that aren't bulky and promote constipation.

Likewise, women tend to be constipated during menses because of the increased estrogen output.  Keep that in mind too.

Just some ideas....

[m_anglewicz]

hi!
Thanks for responding- in answer, that does sound helpful, although I wasn't too clear- I started the adderall about two months ago. The lactose intolerance was probably the issue when I was a kid and I just didn't know it. I try to avoid the laxatives and softeners as much as possible, but I get backed up pretty easily. LMAO this is the only place where I could say that and not feel awkward about it. Thanks!

[ggreg]

Could be the Adderall, particularly if you've been taking it since you were a child, since that's when you began to have dry bowel movements.  But you can work around it by doing a few simple things on a daily basis.  First and foremost, drinking plenty of extra water is really good for those digestive juices to work, and that's about six glasses daily, you have to make it a habit.  Secondly, I appreciate your sedentary lifestyle, I'm that way also, but even just five minutes of a basic stretching routine or long walks will help the bowels move better.  Thirdly, since you are not able to fix regular meals, I know that when I eat just plain old ordinary FRESH blueberries, I eat a handful several times a week, that's some amazing stuff for easing the passage of waste, better than most of the other fruits, altho you could try another kind that you like better.  It's really easy in the morning before you head out to grab blueberries in your hand out of a bowl (that you've dusted a little sugar in) that you keep in the refrigerator, dust a little sugar on them so they'll taste better.  Also, try to get in the habit of going by a Subway Restaurant on the way home for the week, get lettuce, tomato, green pepper and onion on there, easy on the digestion, and one sub will last a couple days.

I do not think you should be taking any laxatives, unless you get into a crisis mode.  I like to keep around Baby Lax ointment tubes in a little box, you squirt two in and the stuff comes out in minutes, in case you'd really like to go but it gets stuck at the end there.  I might add that if you drink lots of juices and lots of sodas with salt, cut waaay back on those.  Also, if you have a time of day that you usually like to go, a half cup of coffee about an hour before that will help move the bowels more strongly.  Hope some of this stuff helps!