I wish I could go.... (Question about constipation)

**This post is intended for mature audiences. Squeamish people may not find it appropriate** I can't poo! All I've produced in the last 7 days is a couple a rock hard marbles. I used to be the most regular person I know!

It is getting so uncomfortable that I just want to run out to the drugstore and pick something up... I know I should try 3 days of psyllium husks and prune puree, but it is really starting to cramp up!! I need relief!

The background: Ok, I've been c.c.-ing for just about 2 weeks. I drink tons of water (as I did before I started here), I eat a reasonable amount of fiber (as I did before) and I eat that deliciously high sugar activia yogurt - (did that before the diet, too). I've added some veggies and fruits, and reduced my calorie intake significantly. I've also bugun taking calcium-magnesium and Omega supplements, to make up for any deficiencies caused by my restricted diet.

What can I do NOW to get things going again, asap?

Thanks

drink a hot cup or two of coffee that can often kick start things.  Otherwise it may just take a bit for your body to adjust to all the changes but if it gets too uncomfortable see a doc incase it is an obstruction of some sort. 

Coffee followed by prune juice should get things moving along though.

I drink coffee every morning -- it used to do the trick, but I will try the prune juice. The 24 hr grocery store should have it....

I usually have the same issue at the beginning of the diet. I figure it's because I'm eating healthy with less calories, and my body is utilizing most of my intake and just not producing much waste.

If you're uncomfortable though, try a stool softener or a suppository.

I suggest doing a good old fashioned enema.  Just slightly warm water is all that's necessary.  you can repeat every couple of days, or even oftener, until your other remedies start to take effect.  you can purchase an enema kit at your drugstore.

I've had serious bouts of constipation, and it is no fun. 

Drink some hot water, ie: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, lemon water.
Then do some stretches.  Yoga is good, but just plain stretches will do.

I was having similar issues...2 servings of coffee and some whole wheat toast with peanut butter later - problem solved!

Hey Scoutie,

I am on a high-protein diet and have this issue every now and then.

Two suggestions:

Add 2 tsps of milled flax seed (natural fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids aid digestion) to your yogurt - good for you and tasty too! Like wheat germ!

OR

1 whole lemon squeezed into a mug of hot water.

The lemon trick works faster, but the flax seed will keep you regular long term.

good luck!

~ Colleen

i started on the pysllium husk 3 days ago, i always drink riduclous amount of water (get called fish at work) and yet i constantly feel the need to go with no result.

Let me just say... I'm vegan and I poop 3 X a day - minimum! 

(There are even stickers and shirts with that slogan on it, makes me laugh every time!)

Eat 5 pieces of fruit a day.  Trust me on this.  The more whole fruits and veggies you eat, the easier it'll be to go.  Seriously. 

If your meals will revolve around whole foods (fruits and veggies), you won't need to drink so much water, your calorie intake will plummet without even trying and going to the bathroom will be easy and painfree, that's for sure.  For every meal in, you should have a meal go out.  And it will, if your meals are made of whole, fiber-full, fresh foods.  It really will!

Don't just barely increase your intake of these healthy foods - they should form the base of your diet.  Try it for a week.  Trust me on this one. 

No supplements can make up for a healthy diet.  Fix the diet and you won't need all those extra supplements.  (I do take a healthy, low-dose multi and vitamin D in the winter.)   

take alot of vitamin C-the naturopath I see recommended it to me and it has helped. I use the chewable and take 4-6 per day of the 500mg ones.
Also making a hot pack with castor oil and resting with it on your tummy with a hot water bottle can help too (tried that also).
Dried figs are high in fiber-6g each
I also take colace twice a day to keep it soft.
My MD put me on reglan-that helps too. And he said to still take cascara (and herbal-got it at walmart) as needed too. I typically get in about 45g of fiber per day-no less that 35.
Believe me I feel your pain!! Good Luck!!

Totally agree with the whole foods, fruits and vegie increase too. Another thing to be aware of obstruction-wise (if it gets that bad) is you can still have watery stool leaking around and obstruction. So you may think you have started to go, even having diarrhea-but if the uncomfortable bloated feeling remains get in and get checked. Sorry so gross!

It is the Calcium Mag - do a lookup on the net and you will find it often constipates.  I use Smooth Move tea and it works wonders and within about 12 hours!

My mother is a nurse and they give people in the hospital on lots of pain med (that will constipate even the mosst regular person) Colace.  You can pick it up in the pharmacy.  It is not a stimulant, just a stool softener. 

If you wanted to use an enema and then follow it with a couple of days of Colace until any changes you make to your diet kick in you may get to feeling better fast and the diet changes will help you continue.  But if it were to come up again, take a dose of Colace before it gets really bad.

I hope you get to feeling better!

Another trick is roasted garlic... lots of it... as many roasted garlic cloves as you can stomach. Try googling "40 clove garlic chicken." Don't ask me why, but garlic does it for me every time... you just don't want to be at work or around people for 24 hours. :-)

warm milk with 2-3 tablespoons of molasses or barley malt syrup

Well, thanks for the advice everyone -- my problem seems to be easing up, but I am worried that there may be an obstruction as debsheets mentionned. One important tip I have learned is that very high fibre foods should be consumed at the same time as a couple of glasses of water, otherwise, they can actually cause constipation. Oh, this is gross and painful! Thanks again!

Drink plenty of water too!