Question:
Serious CONSTIPATION Problems! HELP!
I am taking 3 stool softners a day. And I am still have very serious problems with constipation. I would love for any advice on helping my very painful situation. I have to take 2 iron everyday because I am still having a monthly. My doctor has told me to take the iron until I no longer have a monthly. I am 28 years old so I have quick a few years to go. I am thinking the iron is some of the problem.? HELP! :( — Stephanieleighanner (posted on July 22, 2003)
July 22, 2003
Try taking groung flax seeds. You can mix then in a shake or put them on
your yogurt. You can even bake with them.
— Dixie Chick
July 22, 2003
Hi,
The flax seeds are great and give you the Omega 3's that we need and have a
hard time absorbing.....I swear I have been the constipation queen since
surgery....early on I started using Benefiber...it mixes completely in any
liquid. I also take extra magnesium (aside from what is in the calcium
caps). I also have salad or veggies every single day and a serving of
fruit. If in spite of this regime I still have a problem I use Smooth Move
Tea...yes, that is the name....it is natural, herbal and available
everywhere, even the market. I drink it in the evening and it works by the
morning. Once you find the routine that works for you, you will adjust and
should be just fine. Good luck.
— Maureen R.
July 22, 2003
I saw this tea that you can buy its called Smooth Move.......You can buy it
at most grocery stores in the section with all the other teas...... Good
Luck
— Mandybub
July 22, 2003
I am still having a monthly and my doctor has never told me to take iron. I
find all the differences in doctors advise on this site intresting.. I also
had a severe problem with constipation. I went to the library on this site
and read all I could find. For me, two stool softeners a night along with
Benefiber in my Ice Tea in the morning has helped me stay regular. I
always have had problems with it around my period and still do. I might
need a laxative during that week before. We rarely get enough fiber in our
diets with the focus being on protein. If yours is severe, there is a
prescrition the doctor may give you to help also. Best of luck.. LAP RNY
8-28-02...down 112 lbs
— Linda K.
July 22, 2003
there is a product called inulin (not insulin) that is a natural vegetable
fiber. it is a white powder that dissolves into any liquid and has no
taste. 1 teaspoon is plenty to get things moving. i'm pretty sure you can
find it at lowcarbmall.com. good luck!
— Michelle R.
July 22, 2003
I'm not sure what to tell you. I was, and still having intermittant
constipation problems. Mine was so bad that I went on strike in regard to
the iron supplements. I take the multivitamins with iron and that's it.
My bloodwork was fine, but then again, I do not get my period anymore. I
have heard also that there is an iron injection you can get that doesn't
aggravate your intestinal tract. I really don't know too much about it but
maybe some of the others have some experience with it. Why not ask your
Dr. if the injections would serve the same purpose without the
constipation. I'd rather the shots than the discomfort that I can imagine
you are going through. Also, maybe you can try just the multis with iron
for a month or so and see if it is enough iron for you. Good luck! I know
the feeling.
— Fixnmyself
July 22, 2003
Yipes. I know when I had spells my Dr suggested adding apple sauce and
juice (no sugar added) to my diet. I use regular apple juice (prune is just
too nasty!) This has helped me. Jamie
— Jamie M.
July 22, 2003
COLON CLEANSE 8-was the only thing that worked for me, and I had very
painful constipation from taking iron pills, I stopped them and just
started taking a multivite with iron, I was taking the stool softeners and
they weren;t working at all and neither was eating more fiber and blah blah
blah.This colon stuff was the only thing that worked for me and it's not a
laxative it just cleans you out and allows you to have regular bowel
movements-you take it for one month 2 upon rising and 2 upon retiring, it's
been keeping me regular either every day or every other day w/out having to
use a stool softener. You have to order it from online and the shipping is
rather quick http://www.erbalenergy.com
— TotallyTori
July 22, 2003
Our high protein diets (protein shakes and bars) are a part of the
constipation (rabbit pellet brick forming} ordeal, and adding the iron
supplements make matter worse. I had been drinking prune juice on a daily
basis unitl I joined my gym. My trainer suggested adding a fiber
supplement to my diet. I'm usind a bran cereal, and it doesn't take much.
It's so much nicer to keep things 'moving' than to let things build up and
become 'uncomfortable.
— Julia M.
July 22, 2003
Before surgery I was a huge coffee drinker and since surgery, I have cut
way, way back on my coffee intake. However, I find that to "move
things along" a cup of coffee goes along way for my system. I have
heard this works for others.... Best of luck and I hope your problems clear
up...
— teresa M.
July 22, 2003
Someone in my support group recommended "Smooth Move" to me for
the constipation issue. It is like tea that steeps for about 20 minutes.
I don't like the taste, and don't think it works for that reason, but every
time I drink a cup at night the next morning brings relief. I bought mine
at Chamberlains. Don't let the constipation go too far, as it is a
progressive problem that can mean being hospitalized and horrible
procedures ensue.
— Karen B.
July 22, 2003
Put some fiber in your diet - my surgeon suggest Triscuits, Grape Nuts or,
believe it or not, Frosted Mini Wheats. He has me eat GrapeNuts soaked in
grape juice - just a small bowl with enough juice to soften the grapenuts.
It tastes good and it works.
Be careful about eating cheese - it's constipating. My surgeon also
prescribed MiraLax for me; it's not a laxative and it works great. But
when worst comes to worst and I'm really constipated, I eat one Carbolite
candy bar. They are sugar free and they get things moving quickly for me.
I discovered this quite by accident. I was in Walgreen's the Sunday before
my tummy tuck on Tuesday and decided to treat myself to a sugar free candy
bar (I had not indulged since I had surgery over a year earlier). It was
delicious and I didn't think anything about it. Well, the next day, I was
on my way to the town where I would be having surgery and had to stop
several time to go to the bathroom. It was so bad that my surgeon told me
NOT to take the laxative he had prescribed for the night before surgery.
So now, when I get really constipated I eat one of these little jewels -
and I get cleaned out and it lasts for a long, long, time.
Good luck.
— Patty_Butler
July 22, 2003
I feel your pain! I take Benefiber (mixes w/ anything, and no added sugar)
along with the colace, and I switched to carbonyl iron which is much less
constipating. Good luck!
— mom2jtx3
July 23, 2003
I take an iron supplement every day, and my DH still has to take two. To
combat the contipation probem, I make my own protein/fiber bars. You can
go to my profile and e-mail me if you want the recipe. Basically consists
of unsweetened chocolate, butter, Splenda,low fat peanut butter, protein
powder and extra fiber All Bran. One or two bars not only keeps things
moving, but satifies my need for chocolate! (Remember making Bird's Nests
with chow mein noodles and melted semi sweet chocolate chips? Taste and
texture are something like that!)
— koogy
July 23, 2003
Speaking of constipation, has anyone heard from Nicole, who posted that she
had not gone for a month? She emailed me that she was seeing a doctor
Friday but I've not heard from her since, despite writing her.
— Chris T.
July 23, 2003
Make sure you're drinking your water--that helps to keep things moving and
get fiber in your diet--lettuce, bran, etc.,
— jan M.
July 23, 2003
For my continued good health and sanity (LOL) I try to work 30-35 grams of
fiber into my diet. High protein can really stop you up! A couple of great
products I have found: Flaxomeal (like instant oatmeal but made with fiber
and flax seed with 10 g fiber and 12 g protein--just add hot water, butter
or milk, and splenda) and La Tortilla Factory Lo-carb Tortillas (8 grams of
fiber for the small and 15 for the large--and only about 3 g effective
carbs). I also try to eat whole grain products instead of the white carb
variety and some fresh fruit and/or veggies every day. I hope this helps
cuz I have been "stuck" before and it ain't pretty!
— ctyst
July 23, 2003
LOL. I know your pain!! I went from 4-5 times a day (pre-op) to 1x a day
(post-op). Then one day, WHAM, no more bathroom. I have a slight iron
deficiency since childhood so I need to take 2 irons a day plus my multi
and everything else. Without my doctors consent I switched back to 1 iron
tablet. I have been fine ever since. I think you need to speak with your
doctor again or find another one. Not every doctor will feel the same way.
— Oneida H.
July 24, 2003
Prunejuice saved my life on several occassions. You can also soak dried
prunes to create your own juice and I even like to chew on the prunes.
Good luck.
— Elizabeth O.
March 27, 2004
I found an answer to my serious constipation problems. I'm 1 year post op
and for weeks I was having TERRIBLE constipation and often painful gas
pains. It seemed odd I was constipated because I was eating a lot of fiber
foods. Besides drinking lots of water, the thing that has helped me the
most is ground flax seed. I use FiProFLAX. I buy it at Vitamin Cottage,
but other health food stores probably carry it or can order it. The great
thing is it doesn't cause gas or bloating, and I like the slightly nutty
taste. I mix it in everything - my salad dressing bottle, protein drinks,
soups, yogurt, cereal, cottage cheese, or sprinkle it on top of any foods.
It's super healthy (contains fiber, protein and essential omega-3 fatty
acids.) This stuff has been like a miracle, when nothing else was working.
I also tried the inexpensive non-prescription stool softener from Walmart -
it helped a little but was a little harder on my body than the ground
flaxseed. I also use Benefiber sometimes, as its not bulky or gritty like
other fiber products. I hope this helps some of you who may be suffering
like I was. It's funny, but I felt like celebrating when I started have
normal bowel movements again!
— Mindy S.
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