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. :/

I posted this on the other thread, but food grade hydrochloric acid is supposed to work wonders.  Unfortunately I don't know how much or how you're supposed to take it.

You probably already know this, but don't try ALL of these solutions.  Pick which ever one appeals most to you.  If you go with tea, drink it in the evening and by the next day you should get relief.  Follow the directions on the package.  It is recommended that you make a weak tea the first time you try it.  

i drink lots of water and a few fingers in the rear helps me out.

I know everyone is advoating fiber - I would say the same thing, but try the Fiber-One brand.  They make awesome snack bars (kinda like Chewy brand bars but healthy) in a bunch of different flavors that I love.  If you replace two snacks with these bars they should help clean you out in 24 hrs time.  Hope this helps!

 

Thank you all for your help. Tomorrow morning I'm going to drink prune juice before breakfast and see how that goes. Then, I'll keep moving down the list slowly until something works lol. I'm thinking tea next.

I already drink half a pot of coffee or more and it doesn't affect me.

I really hope this works....I feel and look like hell. And not to be even more tmi, but I have bad gas. lol...

Thanks.

 

lol if it's any consolation maiden,

i've been having this exact problem too! (probably related to stress...stupid exams!). I've been going once every 4 days, if i can stand it. I havent had time to run out to the grocery store to pick up prune juice or anything so i've been taking 2 laxatives once a week, when things get too, ahem, uncomfortable.

I'm confused though... laura42 recommended senna tea

but senna is the active ingredient in exlax etc. and you're not supposed to take those everyday.  Wouldn't drinking senna tea have the same negative effects on your bowel movements?

I posted this on another thread. I hope it helps.

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.

 

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.

One of the reasons fiber works is it expands in your system. So as it moves through the digestion process oh so slowly it pusheses everything in its path out of the way and out. However, if you are eating a ton of fiber it can have the reverse effect and bind you up. In that case fat and a laxative and watch out.

IMO

Joe

I get constipated all the time! For me, stress makes me very constipated - at least twice a week.

I try my best to move my bowels by eating bananas AND drinking water. If you do not drink water, bananas will make you constipated. I also avoid foods like cakes, ice cream and other sweet desserts until I am feeling completely well. I try to take in more insoluble fibre as well, like wholemeal bread (do remember to drink water too) and papaya.

(update) Well, I drank warm prune juice at 6am. I'm hoping it will work its magic before I have to go to work. Seriously. I'm in pain. 3 days is not normal for me at all. But, it's almost 9 now..and I feel it...but nothing else. Geez. This sucks. How long should the juice normally take? I drank about 8 oz. I ate breakfast at a little before 7:30. I'm going to lay off meat a little today and eat more nuts and veges. Good plan?

It sounds like your fiber is fine. you need more fat, for sure. more fat and a ton of water (good fats, like avocadoes or almonds - not cheese) should work. If it doesn't, try taking magnesium. That always works for me.

U should defitnetly try plum smart juice from the sunsweet brand! It defitnetly worked for me and u drink a 8 oz glass once a day preferably in the morning, and u can find it in the juice section at the grocery store!

Since this has been going on a few weeks, I would call your doctor.  If you haven't made any major changes to your diet, then the cause of your constipation could be physical and not environmental. 

(UPDATE) Well, I felt so bad this morning I almost called off work :/. So....I got really desperate and used a very very small enema. I'm not gonna go into details...but you're right, I need a lil less fiber, more fat and more water for sure.

And the prune juice? Did nothing that I know of. I guess I'll drink a glass a day and see if it helps "regulate".

I've had very little protein today. A fair amount of fiber, and an ok amont of fat (I think?). Geez.....I hope this helps. Today has sucked overall and I just feel..bad.

Thanks guys. I appretiate it a lot.

Every time I add exercise, I get constipated also!! 

I have recently (last two weeks) added a half cup of Activia or DanActive yogurt (110 cals) with a quarter cup of some kind of fruit (40 cals?) as my mid-afternoon snack.  After the first two days I started to go EVERY DAY!!!  Sometimes 2 & 3 times a day!!   My ankles lost their puffiness and my belly doesn't seem so rigid anymore.  And I definitely feel better! 

Most likely you just don;t have that much to push thru and adding extra fiber might just make it worse.   Cook your vegatables to make them easier to digest.  (I also find that too many raw anythings bind me up)  Just try it for a few days and see if it helps.  Otherwise check with your doctor.  Enemas aren't the answer, they can get addictive and pretty soon you won't be able to go without them.  Keep me posted!

Hi,

I was taking a medicine awhile back that made me constipated. I did a little reading and saw that taking magnesium daily is supposed to help. The first day I took it, I went the very next morning. I still take it because it helps with PMS, but it doesn't hurt that I am completely regular.

I used to have the same problem.  Try eating beans.  I eat 1/3-1/2 can of kindney beans everyday and it really works well.  Despite how much high-fiber cereal or fruits and veg I've tried, beans are the only thing that works. 

This rarely ever happens to me...but if it does... I just drink heaps and heaps of water and it does the trick!!! Without water, fiber full food can just be more constipating, because there's no water to help things along, lol.