Please shed some light, I've tried everything I know. Prune juice?

Ok, long story short, for the past few weeks I've gotten suddenly constipated. I used to go every morning, or every other morning. Now, it's like...a tiny bit every 2 days (at best) and by the weekend, I end up doing an enema. I hate to, but it's the only thing I see that can help that isn't a drug and I don't want to use drugs. Anyways, I haven't changed my diet at all. I get plenty of fiber (increased it a bit now), I drink a whole lot of 0-cal drink mix/water/coffee, I haven't changed my sleep habits, I haven't changed my activity level really, and I still can seem to get out of this rut.

I'm thinking about trying prune juice but..does it actually work for anyone? How much should I take? When should I drink it? I'm trying to keep my carbs down but...if it will actually get me back on track it might be worth the trouble.

Please...I need ideas. This is effecting how I look but more importantly, my mood. :/

Hi Maiden,

I'm so sorry to hear of your discomfort!!!  I truly don't know anything about prune juice or prunes, however, my bf and I get plenty of fiber and when one of us gets constipated we eat a High Fiber Breakfast Bar from Quaker.  The high fibrer variety comes in Maple Brown Sugar.  It has 10 grams of fibre and always done the trick (sometimes a little too well).  The actual name is:  Oatmeal To Go - High Fiber

I hope this helps.  Another thing to try, if you live near a trader joes, are the fiber muffins.  There are these little fiber circles (smaller than a muffin, only 80 calories) and they have 13 grams of fiber. 

Good luck!

Prune juice has always worked really well for me.  The question though is how much and this probably varies from person to person.  Too much works too well if you know what I mean.  I usually drink 8 ounces a day when when needed until the problem is resolved. 

Had the same problem, which has just resolved a couple of days ago. I upped my fibre intake - oatmeal every morning and lots of apples.

Don't enema! Just add fiber and water to your diet. And if you need to, use colace - or some OTC stool softener. Metamucil is great and adds fiber to your diet - if you have problems with blood sugar it's a good think to drink before a carb-rich meal.

try: barley, oats, lettuce

avoid: cheese, white rice, bananas, 

hydrate, hydrate, hydrate through drinks AND foods high in water content.

Hope it works...

oh, and flax seeds - high in calories, but really good for you (healthy oils) and good for regularity.

Also, make sure you have enough fat in your diet. It's necessary for elimination (and health) - olive oil, nuts, avocados, flax seeds or flax seed oil...

I DEFINITELY recommend you are making sure you are getting enough fats in your diet. 

I get constipated any time my percentage of calories from fat gets below 20%.  You need fats in your diet to umm, "lubricate" things.

So...will a high fat meal speed things along?

I got like 45% cals from fat yesterday (and probably today).

So.....should I try prune juice? I've only had one "review" of prune juice, so I don't really know about it. I heard it helps...but I wanted some testimonials, so to speak.

P.S I think if I drink anymore I might drown internally..lol.

P.P.S I thought enemas were safe...?

Enema's can be habit forming as the body forgets what it's suppose to do.  Prune juice, 8 oz is a great laxative.  Prunes are also, 1-2 servings.  I found when I lowered my calories to 1200-1300 I became severely constipated.  The problem with eating all of your fat for the day in one meal, is that it might work too well.   But make sure you are getting about 6-8 glasses of plain water a day.  I am a nurse and this is what I recommend first.  Then you can always increase your fiber with something like benafiber or metamucil, but remember to increase your water intake.

You know what, a couple of sausages always work for me. They get things moving right along. Or, a cup or two of really, really strong coffee. Like espresso.

Have you tried the yogurt that regulates your system?

try prune juice - and let us know if it helps - tho at this point it'll be hard to know what's working! I never found it to be the miracle cure - but every body's different. Oh yeah, and relax!

Triple Leaf Herbal tea - Super Slimming, or Dieter's Green.

Prunes and prune juice definitely work under normal circumstances. I eat them every time I have to take opiate painkillers.

Are you stressed out? It's really common with stress. 2x/week really isn't that bad. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs /constipation_ez/index.htm

Miralax is available without a px now. I was px it for medical-related constipation. If it keeps up make sure you get to a doctor. There could be something else going on.

You said yoiu havent changed diet at all but are you by any chance taking pain killers, espically codine? I didnt relaise that these cause consipation, until i had surgery and was perscribed codine, i felt awful, was in more discomfort from my bloated stomach than from the actual injury. If you are taking codine then no matter how much prune juice you drink the consipatipon aint going to go

Mk. Thanks for all your replies by the way everybody.

So, with the prune juice, I've read to drink it in the morning before breakfast..? Do any of you have any other thoughts? Should I drink it on an empty stomach, or does it matter? Oh, and how soon can I expect um..results? (trying not to have an issue at work lol)

And the same questions with the tea!

I eat all bran and that is -supposed- to have that whole "10 day challenge" effect, but that seems to be gone.

(P.S yes, school kinda has been stressing me out lately. I need a break. But, I can't. :/ Work and school make me a dull girl.)

EDIT: Nope. I don't take any drugs. (legal or otherwise lol)

Maybe you are eating to much fiber and not drinking enough water.  The prune juice should help

It totally doesn't matter. Just drink it. I actually like prunes, so I eat them instead of drinking the juice. Eat/drink a serving or two & wait & see. They won't make you explode, so don't worry about it.

I bet it's stress. Try to relax, take a bath, eat some prunes and make some tea etc  & yeah, make sure to drink enough water!

try senna herb tea or senna pills, it's natural and always works.

PS: plums and prunes also should work. you need fruit/veggies in your diet and they help your digestion. feel better soon!!

I suspect 'freshbakedpi' is in the ballpark when she suggests stress is part of the equation.  Why?  Because stress means your body is in fight or flight mode; meaning that blood flow is prioritized for critical functions like your muscles and brain, leaving less for the less critical body systems like the digestive system (digesting requires a lot of energy).

Prunes or prune juice will do the job - perhaps too effectively; i.e. short notice...   Rather than straight juice, I suggest trying Welch's Prune Nectar because it also contains fibre, vitamin C and Iron.  Try just 4-oz to start, because if you get too gung ho with it, you'll have diarrhea for sure.

My basis for commenting on this subject is two-fold: 1. the need to kick start my digestive system in the mornings (no fun on a carpentry jobsite, when you haven't had your daily elimination) and 2. stress is also very big issue for me (eating anything that is not liquid or the consistency of baby food is pretty much guaranteed to cause problems of one sort or another)

Two things work for me: 

1.  glass of water with some lemon juice (bonus - lemon juice helps with environmental allergies)

2.  drink a pot of coffee (32 oz for me) as early in the morning as possible, wait up to an hour - and bingo, you're in business!

PS - don't substitue caffeine pills for coffee

PPS - for me, it doesn't seem to matter whether it's regular or decaf (drank only decaf for a month and still works)

Cheers

The thing with coffee is that you can overdose on it - I did and it sucked, and ever since I get a stomach ache from having more than a cup or two of drip. And, it hurts your stomach and isn't great for digestion, so I'd skip that. Look up the veggies and fruits highest in fiber (and make sure you're not eating cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) - a friend of mine suggested papaya as being both a soothing thing for stomachs and something to get things moving. Sweet potatoes and yams are super high in fiber and easy on the stomach... Also, an apple with skin has even more fiber than a prune. So, maybe make yourself a smoothie or something with apple, banana, orange and papaya or something. That might help both to hydrate you and give your digestion a boost.

stress always makes me constipated...even when im loaded with fiber and all the above. prune juice does wonders. there is also quaker high fiber oats. what about beans, they are high in fiber.

i feel your pain, its no fun walking around with a tummy feeling like its full of rocks.