Might be TMI...

What is the best thing to eat if you are having trouble with Bowel movements???

i don't think there is a "best thing" that works for everyone all the time.  if you've changed your diet, your digestive system is going to need to adjust to the change.  you can try upping your fibre and water; it might work, but for some people it seems to make it worse.  a cup of coffee might help (it might not).  a glass or two of wine tonight might help you out tomorrow (maybe).

sorry i can't give you a definitive answer, but bowels can be temperamental.

http://caloriecount.about.com/please-shed-lig ht-ive-tried-everything-ft122225

They're having a similar discussion in this forum... good luck, I've been there, it's not any fun! I cut out all dairy for two days and ate lots of veggies and drank tons of coffee (natural laxative for me!) Also, you might try Senna... it's an natural laxative of some type that you take with loads of water and about 8-12 hours later - relief!

Thanks for the replies...

I have tried exlax, coffee, a diet tea, and lots of water...for some reason by body isn't taking any of this.  I've been having this issue for like 4 years and my doctor keeps telling me to add more fiber...I eat about 30 grams of fiber a day...I don't know what else to do...but I feel awful!

get a new doctor.  4 years is too long to be constipated.

I haven't been constipated for a constant 4 years...but it happens 5-6 times a year where I have major difficulties.

Getting a new doctor...hopefully will help the situation.

Are you getting enough healthy fats in your diet?

Ginger tea helps, have a cupful before bed, it works over night.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

get a new doctor.  4 years is too long to be constipated.

 Yeah, that's insane. You need to see a gastrointernologist.

i kinda had the same problem. go see a specialist!! they ended up finding a polyp!!  haha now that's really t.m.i.!!

Three words, daily fiber supplement.  You can find them at any health food store and they work wonders.  I am a vitamin freak and take a good multi-vitamin, a fiber supplement, vitamin c and calcium on a daily basis.  Hope that helps!

i used to have the same problem.. no matter how much fiber or water i consumed. the only thing that has worked for me is drinking a herbal tea mixed with natural whole psyllium husks every morning (i highly recommend you try it) along with making sure i have enough healthy fats, fiber and water in my diet. give it a try and be patient.. it might take some time for things to get back to normal but you'll be fine. good luck!

Food grade hydrochloric acid is supposed to be good for this kind of problem, too.  Still, I'd talk to a doctor first.

Original Post by tciherr:

Three words, daily fiber supplement.  You can find them at any health food store and they work wonders.  I am a vitamin freak and take a good multi-vitamin, a fiber supplement, vitamin c and calcium on a daily basis.  Hope that helps!

example: fibercon = works wonders and doesnt make you too extreme in bowel movement, if ya know what I mean

oatmeal + coffee

Really bad combination if there's no bathroom nearby, good combination if you would like your digestive system to become unstuck lol. Idk it could just be me though. :)

I have difficulty with bowel movements too! Just eat a banana with a wedge of papaya and that should work. Remember to drink water too.

fiber one cereal works wonders for me.  there are a couple of flavours and i eat the one that is really low in sugar.  in one serving is 56% of your day's fibre.

HTH,

Christine

Try an apple (skin on)-banana-mango-papaya smoothie with 2 tbs of wheat germ! Cheap, easy, delicious and should be effective.

In my experience, there are two excellent supplements that works wonders. You can find them/order them at health food stores or online.

1 - to get things started again try ReNewLife CleanseMore capsules. They are gentle but powerful, and herbal but not irritating (like cascara sagrada and senna are). Take it at night for a couple nights in a row and you are certain to have results. Here is product info.

2 - on a day-to-day basis, take a trace mineral supplement like ConcenTrace. I swear by this stuff. My bowels were never very predictable before, but now they run like clockwork! You can get liquid or powder or tablets; I drink the electrolyte powder drink morning and night. I found the liquid is even more effective. See this site.

Of course, eating fruit, drinking prune juice and all that are still tried and true techniques. (BTW, I don't recommend bananas; they're binding, which is why they're recommended for people with diarrhea.) But if fiber's not lacking, it's gotta be something else: stress, dehydration, needing a cleanse, lacking a nutrient or two, imbalanced diet, IBS.

Also (very important) don't forget to go to the bathroom right when the urge comes (even if it means sitting there unproductively) or else you are training your body to hold onto it. Catch the train while it's in the station, as they say

Good luck with this. I totally feel for you.

Colace is a stool softener that I take almost every night.  I have IBS and the more fiber I consume the more uncomfortable I feel.  Plus you must drink a ton of water!  Do not forget about yogurt with active cultures!

Stress.

It's funny (and sad) that the day I have an exam, an important meeting or something like that - I can be assured that my bowels will behave well that day. The next day - I am back to trying hard!

Sorry, I am not much help but hopefully you had a laugh! :)

Now I just have to find something that will just make me crazy stressed!

Thanks for the giggle!