Constipation -

Problem - Constipation for 5 to 7 days at a time

Current Regime - Over 30 grams of fiber a day (i.e. apples, oranges, bananans (all fruits) okra, all kinds of veggies, bran, oatmeal, etc.
No meat, No rice, potatoes, pasta, or bread for the last 3 weeks
Exercise: At least 5 times a week for 1hour
Water: At least 12 8 oz cups
Medicine: Amitizia (currently not working)
Question: Has anyone else had such an extreme case? Has anyone had any type of surgery to cure it? Any suggestions beside the normal suggestions (i.e. eat more fiber, drink more water, exercise more etc)?

Thank you in advance.

I had chronic constipation for 11 years. I tried: more fiber, less fiber, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, no fiber, both fibers, stool softeners, Smooth Moves & Correctol teas and Metamucil wafers, together, apart, more water, less water, cut out anything bu****er (and protein), senna, cascara sagrada, everything one could possibly try until I was basically dependent on enemas for 3 yrs.

Miralax helped the stool be passable. It was rx and finally became generic, so went from $80 for 3 months to $20 for 3 months. Now it is OTC, but is about $8 for 5-6 servings. If you can get the rx, it is much cheaper, safe, daily, for life, according to my GI doc.

The stool softeners are store brand equal to Colace, not PERI-colace.

Word was that magnesium citrate was such a great thing. This is pills, not the green bottle, so I tried it and nothing happened, and so I kept increasing it. What DID happen is that my foot and leg cramps ceased. So, I kept doing that and tried magnesium oxide. This is small, cheap, found anywhere, like drug stores. And finally, it worked. Mine are 500 mg and I take 2.

My final formula:
1 serving MiraLax (rx) *
4 stool softeners at night
1 mag ox with lunch, 1 with dinner

In the morning, hot beverage first thing on empty gut

This has worked for several years yrs now.

* MiraLax was rx only until the end of 2007, and is now generic by rx. The original name brand is available at drug stores at about $20 for a large bottle. You might want to try one first, taken daily, at about the same time. If it solves the problem, then ask your doc for rx. It is NOT a laxative. It is safe, daily, taken for life, per 4 doctors I've asked. It was a pediatrician who introduced me to it. My rx plan allows me to have 6 of those big bottles every 3 months for $20. Check with your doc and your insurance to see if it's beneficial to buy it by rx. BTW, my doc writes for 2 servings per day, because they might SAY there are 30 servings per bottle, but somebody can't count. Me or them? I use only one, but if I spill or get too much, I still have enough to last til next refill.

Vita Lady,

Thank you for your response...
I will try your formula.

Have you ever tried a colonic? 

I forgot to metion, that I have tried many OTC laxatives, I tried MiraLax and stool softeners.  I have also tried magnesium/calcium and Peter Gillham's Natural Calm (Magnesium powder).
I have eaten enough prunes to feed an army (LOL).
My stomach is sooooo tight, all I can do is rub it.  It sticks out like I am pregnant.

Yes, I did the hydrotherapy for a coupla years. It would help for maybe 3 days.

I tried every dietary change, every natural health remedies........

I had my routine C scope and my doc said he SAW the colon malfunction. Should do persistalsis in an orderly fashion, from the "goes into" right along to the "goes outta". Mine pauses in the middle and the contractions go both ways at the same time. So, one part pushes it forward, one part pushes it back.

So, I said, "You mean this isn't dietary? It is an ELECTRICAL problem?" He agreed, and said Miralax is safe daily for life. Magnesium helps organize the spasms so they are all headed in the same direction. Each piece of the formula has a different action. The final, hot beverage FIRST, is the signal to turn on the systems in the morning.

Once I threw out all dietary thinking, nod politely when someone talks about fiber, and all of that, I suddenly had a fairly predictable system. Throwing me off my routine is bad. It is a rather fragile system, but it beats the last 3 yrs I lived with Fleets and hoped for just "less pressure". Once I'm back in my own routine, I'm comfortable again.

this may not be good advice but it's what I do...I eat at least one or two pieces of sugar free chocolate candy a day. (Winco chocolate covered caramel sugar free candy from the bulk bins is the BEST) I'm pretty sensitive to it and it says right on the label that it will cause a laxative effect...I eat some fruits and veggies but by no means alot. I try and eat ONE piece of fruit a day. I eat alot of meat and drink a LOT of water. I eat potatoes with the skins and I do eat some breads (sandwich thins and toast with breakfast on the weekends).