TMI alert: Constipation

[Eliza_Jazz]

I use magnesium, psyllium husk with acidophilus, probiotics (either concurrently or consecutively), drink plenty of water, and eat a lot of greens and fibrous veggies. My diet is above 60% fat. Still not much success.

I am now considering stool softener, but do not know how safe its prolonged use is....

When I ate carby foods, I was like a clock - wake up, use the restroom successfully. Now - not so much


Any ideas? What works for you?

[Emmaline]

Yup, just up the magnesium, citrate that is.. No problem. Plenty of water.

[TammySue]

My doctor prescribed Miralax which works great.

[Marvin]

I second the Miralax. My Dr. tells me it's perfectly safe for prolonged use. It beats the alternative. ****TMI ALERT AHEAD**** Much safer than an anal fissure, which is what I ended up (HORRIBLY PAINFUL AND PROLONGED) with trying to get by with the Magnesium supplements. If it's too bad, you may need the Magnesium Citrate or Milk of Magnesia to "get things going". Do what you need to do to eliminate. Again, here's another area where are doctors might be a little unhelpful....

[sistertzu]

Check the dosage of magnesium maybe your level is still to low. Check your fat percentage as well, I tend to have an easier time with elimination with a higher fat percentage.

[CGSF]

Before I took any supplements I would increase my fat intake.

I eat 70% + and never have any problems. When I did Southbeach (LC/LF) I had problems.

[Domino]

+3 on the Miralax. This is what my doctor told me is the generally accepted treatment for chronic constipation. I really should switch over, I've been using Milk of Magnesia because it used to be what the doctors recommended for this problem. Miralax is probably more comfortable/gentle.

[EveH]

I just eat some treat with sugar alcohols in it and that does the trick for me.

[Dooditsglory]

Have you tried digestive enzymes?NOW foods makes a really good one and capsules tend to work better than the tablets.

[lisabinil]

I noticed you posted you take l glutamine for cravings-are you taking a lot of this? One of the side effects of too much glutamine is constipation.

[Eliza_Jazz]

Thank you all, so many great ideas!

Lisa, I do take 500-1,000 mg of l-glutamine per day, depending on the cravings levels (try to stay around 500 mg on most days), will look into this as it relates to constipation.

Eve, I've been avoiding sugar alcohols, but I will try anything. It's a delicious way to get things going ,.

Everyone who suggested magnesium, I will up my dose and see if it helps. i know magnesium is safe and extremely important to supplement with anyway.

Taking digestive enzymes is a great idea - I do suffer from occasional indigestion and definitely need help in that respect.

I will also try to up my fat intake to over 70%.

I will also look into Miralax. Anything to get things moving. The longer waste sits around, the more it gets reabsorbed back into the body and we wouldn't want that to happen, it's poison, needs to be eliminated. Also, TMI alert - when I read "The Second Brain" (a book about the stomach and workings of intestings and colon) it was mentioned that compacted stool creates protrusions - diverticulitis - which are extremely difficult to cleanse.

I will attack this on many fronts and, keeping my fingers crossed, things should start getting regular.

Step one, I think, will be taking more Magnesium, and step 2 - upping the fat.

[Eliza_Jazz]

I have been thinking so much about this ....it is the strangest thing! On LC, I eat tons more fiber than when I was eating carbs liberally. Logic would dictate that it would help move things along and help digestive tract peristalsis.

Peristalsis is a series of organized muscle contractions that occur throughout the digestive tract. Peristalsis is also seen in the tubular organs that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

Peristalsis is an automatic and important process that moves food through the digestive system. It also moves urine from the kidneys into the bladder, and bile from the gallbladder into the duodenum.

So, why are many of us LCers always constipated? My complete layman's theory is that it's all because of changes in our intestinal flora, which, among other things, is responsible for forming stools. Does it perhaps feed on more carbs and so when we don't consume as many, is not as vigorous as it was before? I am not sure what these changes are, as apparently more protein is beneficial for it, but this article is definitely an interesting read and food for thought:
Gut Sense: Restoring Intestinal Flora

[GAVIV]

Definitely Miralax (or generic brand I buy at wal-mart), per my Dr. I ended up in the ER one night with such bad stomach pains that I though my appendix had burst!

Turms out I was very "backed up" and honestly had no clue. Sounds weird but I was still pretty regular. Anyway, ER doc told me to do an enema (NOT pleasant) and use stool softener tablets and Miralax everyday until I felt better. MY GP said no harm in using Miralax for a prolonged period of time.

Good luck as I know it can be an uncomfortable situation :blush::blush:

[cheri]

Sometimes if I am constipated I will take Dulcolax® Stool Softener.. it isn't a laxative but it is a very gentle stool softener that doesn't make you go but makes it easier to go.. believe me.. it works great.



Also.. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water!!! Water helps with constipation as well.

[Charcutier]

Miralax FTW. I buy the Costco Kirkland brand, "Laxaclear". My Doc also recommended it and had me take the stuff every day for a month once (different condition). It's great.

[piratejenny]

"On LC, I eat tons more fiber than when I was eating carbs liberally...So, why are many of us LCers always constipated?"

My guess is because there is less water/less bulk in many LC foods. Fiber sucks up water and actually makes the constipation problem worse unless taken with sufficient water.

In addition to the suggestions above, I have found that flax oil is VERY effective.
It has a distinctive flavor that I don't particularly care for straight, but small amounts can be mixed into yogurt or used in salad dressing.

I also have found soluble fiber (like Benefiber) to be an effective stool softener. It dissolves completely and doesn't thicken, doesn't cause stomach cramps or any other problems.

[Miss Gigl]

One minute muffins made with flax meal and lots of water do the trick for me!

[michellew67]

Exercise makes me go every time!!

[cocoanut]

Pecans always work for me. Other nuts, not so much. I eat a handful of pecans daily and go like clockwork.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought almonds and was stopped up, big time. This week, I bought pecans again. Smooth sailing.


How much magnesium does everyone else take? I've taken as much as 1000 mg with no results.

[muffin_maiden]

Originally Posted by EveH

I just eat some treat with sugar alcohols in it and that does the trick for me.

Yep, me too! That maltitol will clear you out faster than a pound of prunes!

If you don't want to use your carb allotment on sugar free candies, go to an Asian grocery and find a box of Three Ballerina Tea, or any tea that is labeled "dieter's tea." Works really well, usually within an hour.

[Big_Al]

Originally Posted by cheri

Sometimes if I am constipated I will take Dulcolax® Stool Softener.. it isn't a laxative but it is a very gentle stool softener that doesn't make you go but makes it easier to go.. believe me.. it works great.



Also.. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water!!! Water helps with constipation as well.

I used Dulcolax a lot also ... or more specifically the Costco generic version of it. That helped a lot and I didn't have any adverse effects from taking it for extended periods of time.

[Phranquie]

I take a combination of things every day now: Magnesium, Stool softener and fiber gummies from Target. This does the trick for me.

[Eliza_Jazz]

Originally Posted by Phranquie

I take a combination of things every day now: Magnesium, Stool softener and fiber gummies from Target. This does the trick for me.

Frankie, I heard about the fiber gummies on another thread and have been meaning to buy some, thanks for the reminder. People were saying that they are delicious in addition to being helpful with regularity.

[fawn]

Definitely a sign of some sort of imbalance probably with flora and lack of enzymatic activity. I would use miralax as a very last resort. Petroleum products are never healthy.

You might really hit a probiotic hard and heavy as well as enzymes. If you've been suffering indigestion, that's a pretty good indicator of digestive distress and the enzymes will come in handy.

NOW brand Super Enzymes is what I take. Take them to "warmth" and back down as per Robb Wolf.

[Eliza_Jazz]

Originally Posted by fawn

Definitely a sign of some sort of imbalance probably with flora and lack of enzymatic activity. I would use miralax as a very last resort. Petroleum products are never healthy.

You might really hit a probiotic hard and heavy as well as enzymes. If you've been suffering indigestion, that's a pretty good indicator of digestive distress and the enzymes will come in handy.

NOW brand Super Enzymes is what I take. Take them to "warmth" and back down as per Robb Wolf.

Thanks Fawn, it's time to order Now brand digestive enzymes, not so sure how to take them to warmth, though. Is it like warming them up, then letting them cool, then takng them?

[fawn]

I'm sorry chickie.....

Take 2 or 3, see if you feel a "warm feeling" in the stomach and if not take 1 or 2 more and continue this pattern until you do achieve that which means back up one and you have your perfect dose. I can take 4 after a meal and not feel any warmth. I had horrible gerd and my Dad has it but with change in the cells of the espoh. potentially suffering barretts.

That scared me enough to figure out that I am gluten intolerant and work to take very good care of my digestion. (My stomach is never the same for at least 7-10 days after gluten so I just don't eat it anymore)

I have to be extra careful with nuts too. There's a lot though to be said for supplementing with more HCL and enzymes as we age because we just don't make enough.

[Eliza_Jazz]

Originally Posted by fawn

I'm sorry chickie.....

Take 2 or 3, see if you feel a "warm feeling" in the stomach and if not take 1 or 2 more and continue this pattern until you do achieve that which means back up one and you have your perfect dose. I can take 4 after a meal and not feel any warmth. I had horrible gerd and my Dad has it but with change in the cells of the espoh. potentially suffering barretts.

That scared me enough to figure out that I am gluten intolerant and work to take very good care of my digestion. (My stomach is never the same for at least 7-10 days after gluten so I just don't eat it anymore)

I have to be extra careful with nuts too. There's a lot though to be said for supplementing with more HCL and enzymes as we age because we just don't make enough.

Fawn, thank you so much for taking the time to explain this. I really really really appreciate it.

You help so many people here out of the goodness of your heart. Thank you!

[DiamondDeb]

Digestive enzymes, pro/prebiotics & aloe vera supplements, juice or liquid are healthy choices you can take every day that should eliminate the problem.

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by cocoanut

Pecans always work for me. Other nuts, not so much. I eat a handful of pecans daily and go like clockwork.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought almonds and was stopped up, big time. This week, I bought pecans again. Smooth sailing.


How much magnesium does everyone else take? I've taken as much as 1000 mg with no results.

for this problem it needs to be specifically magnesium CITRATE HTH

[debkeversole]

Originally Posted by Eliza_Jazz

Frankie, I heard about the fiber gummies on another thread and have been meaning to buy some, thanks for the reminder. People were saying that they are delicious in addition to being helpful with regularity.

watch the sugar in the gummies