A
amanda12485
Guest
I cannot go with out taking a laxative, i used to be on Zelnorm and it worked great til they recalled it. Does anyone else have this and found some way of curing it without laxative.
marnold
Cathlete
My dear...I have had this particular annoying problem for years. It usually happens once a week to me. I usually try hot water with lemon. If that doesn't work, I go to Grandma's molasses. If that STILL doesn't work, I turn to the laxative. I do drink plenty of water and exercise 6 days a week and let me tell you it still occurs. Have you tried flax seed oil? I cannot stand the taste but it sure is better than a chemical laxative. HTH
Easy answer
Increase your fiber intake - eat more whole grains, fruits & veggies, & especially cereals like Fiber One. There also a whole line of other Fiber One products like pancake & muffin mixes, toaster pasteries, etc. There is no need to take laxatives at all, ever. Also, don't drink fruit juices, eat whole fruit instead.
Increase your fiber intake - eat more whole grains, fruits & veggies, & especially cereals like Fiber One. There also a whole line of other Fiber One products like pancake & muffin mixes, toaster pasteries, etc. There is no need to take laxatives at all, ever. Also, don't drink fruit juices, eat whole fruit instead.
clothesminded
Cathlete
You have to get Miralax. It's a powder- grainy-type texture, that you put in anything liquid. I usually put it in my protein shakes or in bottle water. Just shake it up really well. It doesn't have a taste, but sometimes it takes several hard shakes to dissolve. I use a cap full several times a week. This has worked wonders for me. I was also on Zelnorm and cried when they recalled it. That medicine worked so well for me.
I was diagnosed with IBS/constipation about four years ago. After Zelnorm, I started taking the Miralax and a digestive enzyme that has diff. types of enzymes to help digest carbs, sugars, proteins... Peppermint capsules have also helped.
If you go online to their (Miralax) website, they sometimes have coupons.
HTH!
I was diagnosed with IBS/constipation about four years ago. After Zelnorm, I started taking the Miralax and a digestive enzyme that has diff. types of enzymes to help digest carbs, sugars, proteins... Peppermint capsules have also helped.
If you go online to their (Miralax) website, they sometimes have coupons.
HTH!
lightening16
Cathlete
I am not sure if you have this is the states... but my DH takes Fibre Sure about 2tbsp every morning with his breakfast. He swears by the stuff! He even takes it on trips with him.
Other options, flaxseed meal (gradually build up) to 2 tbsp on breakfast. Chia seeds ground similar to flax. Stewed Rhubard with a little sugar.
Drink lots of water too!
Other options, flaxseed meal (gradually build up) to 2 tbsp on breakfast. Chia seeds ground similar to flax. Stewed Rhubard with a little sugar.
Drink lots of water too!
squirrelly
Cathlete
I use an herbal tea called Smooth Move by Traditional Medicinals. It is made from senna leaf. If I have a cup before bed, relief usually comes the next morning. HTH!
LauraMax
Cathlete
Oxypowder. It is a miracle "cleanser" that does not use psyllium (the main ingredient in laxatives), & is all natural. Just make sure you're alone the next morning.
www.oxypowder.com
www.oxypowder.com
That Oxypowder sounds interesting. I have never seen that anywhere. I also rely on Miralax. The other one that helps me is Activia yogurt at night instead of a dessert. I have a horrible time with any thing that involves flax seeds. I get terrible bloat and a really painful stomachache.
I have diverticulitis, so I need to keep everything moving. Regardless of how I worked at it, I would always have problems before my period. Anyway, I use triphala and magnesium glycinate. I get mine from Dr. Weil and use it everyday. It works wonders! I have been taking it for about 5 years.
try to get at least 24-30 grams of fiber each day in your diet. the healthiest and best way is to get fiber is from fruits and vegetables. i can't stomach eating f/v all day, so i supplement with: fiber one products, fiber smart sprinkles in fruit smoothies, thomas' light english muffins (8 grams of fiber), granola bars (some contain 9 grams of fiber). fiber one pancakes are great when you add apples or blueberries which add extra fiber. raspberries have a high fiber count and are high in antioxidants.
Vee
Cathlete
To everyone who needs to take a natural or chemical laxative, is it a diet thing? Someone has already posted this in this thread. I am just curious - doesnt eating enough servings of veggies and fruit and drinking plenty of water help? The diet in my part of the world is heavily reliant on veggies /fruits / whole grains, and I hardly know anyone who needs anything more than their normal diet.
mdbecky
Cathlete
This is going to sound odd, but it works! (even for hospice patients who are full of pain medicines that slow down the system)
Take vaseline, roll into pea sized balls, coat with sugar (or sugar substitute if you wish) and freeze. Once frozen, eat 2-3 as much as 6 times a day. How many you eat really depends on how many it takes to get your bowels moving.
This is a geriatrician secret. I just divulged one of my biggest medical pearls of wisdom. Hope it helps!
If all else fails, see your doctor and let him/her know. We have some pretty intense meds (such as lactulose) that can really get things moving. I'd rather not take those though unless you have exhausted all the other things mentioned in this thread.
Take vaseline, roll into pea sized balls, coat with sugar (or sugar substitute if you wish) and freeze. Once frozen, eat 2-3 as much as 6 times a day. How many you eat really depends on how many it takes to get your bowels moving.
This is a geriatrician secret. I just divulged one of my biggest medical pearls of wisdom. Hope it helps!
If all else fails, see your doctor and let him/her know. We have some pretty intense meds (such as lactulose) that can really get things moving. I'd rather not take those though unless you have exhausted all the other things mentioned in this thread.
Aquajock
Cathlete
I do think there are some physical conditions that affect one's capacity for constipation: diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc. For those who do not have those conditions, certainly diet can play a role, and I do find if I don't get enough fiber (especially whole grain fiber, steamed-vegetable fiber and my absolutely necessary Washington-red-apple-per-day) or enough fluids things get corked up pretty fast. I also find that I frequently have The Grand Cork-Up in the run-up to my period. (Which, combined with the also-frequent fluid retention, makes for a fairly sullen A-Jock.)
I also find that if I'm knocked off my traditional workout schedule, either through life demands or pure out-and-out laziness, The Grand Cork-Up happens as well. Another argument for consistency in working out.
I'm somewhat concerned about laxative dependence, regardless of whether it's in pill form, bulking-agent form like Metamucil, or senna-tea form. True confession: in my teens back in the late 70's, I developed a bulemia nervosa condition in which the purges took place with laxative abuse. There was no meaningful attention being paid to that particular disordered behavior pattern. This went on for about two years, and when I finally physically could not take any more laxatives, it took my elimination system literally years to start operating normally again.
Not sure what else to say, OP, except that if you're consistently reliant on laxatives to stimulate elimination, you may need to consult with a medical specialist in that regard.
A-Jock
LauraMax
Cathlete
Actually it's a pretty common problem for women as they get older (i wish I could tell you the physiology behind it but you know me, I'm a science idiot). I used to be as regular as a clock (sorry, TMI!
), I mean almost to the minute, but for some reason in my late 30s it became a problem.I gotta tell you, nothing makes me crankier than feeling all plugged up.
Vee
Cathlete
Thanks A-jock and Laura.
Someone should research what people in my part of the world do differently, because apart from medical conditions or those who have diet restrictions during an illness, constipation is quite rare, even as people age.
If anyone is constipated, the standard practise here is to analyse the diet over the past couple of days and mostly this provides the answer. A herbal laxative is typically used only or immediate relief and then the condition is easily regulated by reverting to what we consider a normal diet/water intake.
I am aware of the connection with exercise - but only to the extent that being completely sedentary brings on constipation. Basic/everyday physical activity is all it seems to take.
Someone should research what people in my part of the world do differently, because apart from medical conditions or those who have diet restrictions during an illness, constipation is quite rare, even as people age.
If anyone is constipated, the standard practise here is to analyse the diet over the past couple of days and mostly this provides the answer. A herbal laxative is typically used only or immediate relief and then the condition is easily regulated by reverting to what we consider a normal diet/water intake.
I am aware of the connection with exercise - but only to the extent that being completely sedentary brings on constipation. Basic/everyday physical activity is all it seems to take.
Ffte
Cathlete
This probably doesn't apply to many, but I've sort of had a problem for years (even in my teens). I at least thought it was constipation. I only went 2 to 3 times a week on average, increasing fiber and fruits didn't help. This did not cause me to be uncomfortable (at least not typically). I figured that was just how my system worked.
To make a long story short I recently discovered I just wasn't eating enough. I couldn't lose weight to save my soul. I have now upped my calorie count and regularity and I are best buds AND I'm losing weights.
kathryn
Cathlete
Have you tried flax seed (grind it into a meal, and take 1 tbsp once or twice a day...work up to that much, and be sure to take a lot of water with it)? How about chia seeds? (soak 1 pt chia seed in 3-4 parts water and wait until it has formed a gel. This pretty tasteless gel can be added to smoothies, soups, whatever.)
With both of these, make sure to take enough fluids, or they could have the opposite effect of that intended (the chia gel already has fluid in it, so you don't need much more, but if you took chia just plain, you'd have to be sure to drink water with it).
Increasing your intake of magnesium (like in a blended green drink using green leafy veggies, or by taking the Oxypowder Laura mentioned. If you go the latter route, I highly recommend taking less than the recommended amount will make your 'movements' tolerable, 3 pills/day rather than the 5 they recommend. And don't increase the dosage immediately if that's not enough. Wait two days to see what happens. I made the mistake of doing an Oxypowder cleanse on 4 pills a day while drinking green smoothies, and when things kicked in, I made a quick exit after work and had to skip a meeting as I feared I would soon not be in a condition to be in public safely!)
With both of these, make sure to take enough fluids, or they could have the opposite effect of that intended (the chia gel already has fluid in it, so you don't need much more, but if you took chia just plain, you'd have to be sure to drink water with it).
Increasing your intake of magnesium (like in a blended green drink using green leafy veggies, or by taking the Oxypowder Laura mentioned. If you go the latter route, I highly recommend taking less than the recommended amount will make your 'movements' tolerable, 3 pills/day rather than the 5 they recommend. And don't increase the dosage immediately if that's not enough. Wait two days to see what happens. I made the mistake of doing an Oxypowder cleanse on 4 pills a day while drinking green smoothies, and when things kicked in, I made a quick exit after work and had to skip a meeting as I feared I would soon not be in a condition to be in public safely!)
Hi Amanda. Boy, this topic is my life! I have dealt with constipation since I was young. It's not a periodic thing with me, it's every single day. I could write a book. My system is not the average one. Things that have worked on many people just don't for me. I have a very sensitive and obstinate body. I've tried every remedy mentioned, sans vaseline, unfortunately with not lasting results but I first would absolutely dissect your diet. Food sensitivities can play a major role in constipation. Having lots of fruits and veggies is important but not always the cure as in my case. Emotions can have a direct effect on the digestive tract. There are just many possible causes of constipation but a good place to start is always with the basics. Whatever you choose to do, I would strongly suggest using natural remedies and not chemicals. Currently I am taking an organic psyllium powder along with an herbal remedy and I have recently added a supplement that supports the liver which is helping. Prunes do work wonders! I have some at night (not more than 5 for me) but always be sure to drink enough water. Empire apples help me along with the other things but not any other type of apple. If you'd like to pm me, I can share more thoughts with you and help you out as best I can.
Happy travels!
Bam
Happy travels!
Bam
Amanda - ITA with others about getting enough regular fiber in your diet, drinking water, etc.
If you need something more, I worked in nursing home when I was in high school. One of the things they tried to do for the residents was get them of chemical laxatives. They concocted this stuff called "Apple-Lax". It's basically equal parts bran, apple sauce, and prune juice mixed together. A 1/8-1/4 cup scoop in the morning and evening seemed to do the trick for most.
But, if this is really a chronic thing, you may want to see you doctor, sweetie, and rule out anything bad.
HTH.
If you need something more, I worked in nursing home when I was in high school. One of the things they tried to do for the residents was get them of chemical laxatives. They concocted this stuff called "Apple-Lax". It's basically equal parts bran, apple sauce, and prune juice mixed together. A 1/8-1/4 cup scoop in the morning and evening seemed to do the trick for most.
But, if this is really a chronic thing, you may want to see you doctor, sweetie, and rule out anything bad.
HTH.