Non-laxative suggestions for constipation?

[Anonymous]

Consider a fiber supplement. I like this one but there are many others. https://a.co/d/aFeAqAH

[Anonymous]

Gas and rumbling are good signs things are starting to move. Work with them.

- Long walk
- Abdominal massage - look up the “I love you” or ILU massage for constipation
- Yoga twists
- Squats
- Drink only warm liquids

For now, eat very little and drink a lot.I would temporarily decrease your fiber. If you overdo it when constipated you can just make things worse.

Decrease your anxiety about this. It makes things worse. Try meditating if that’s something you’re comfortable with.

Sit on the toilet for no more than 5 minutes at a time. Only light pushes. And breathe *out* when you push and then inhale through your mouth. This gets your diaphragm properly involved.

The above is what works for me. I deal with IBS-C.

[Anonymous]

Mag07 changed my life. Oxygenated magnesium, recommended by my GI doc. I take it daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow will be day four since I have had a bowel movement. I’m drinking only water, I’ve been taking a magnesium citrate supplement (Calm powder), I’ve tried prune baby food, prune juice, exercise, walking, abdominal massage, and still nothing. I do have a little gas today and feel a bit of rumbling, but I’m starting to feel uncomfortable and also a little nauseous at the thought of more food.

I DO NOT want to take a laxative, even a mild one like MiraLAX, because I’ve taken them before and while they work, I and up right back where I started, constipated again.

What else can I try tonight to hopefully find some relief?

Fellow traveler, this makes no sense. Yes, if you have a chronic issue you will end up constipated again. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to resolve THIS issue, now!

I would do a capful of miralax every morning for several days, and I would do a glycerin suppository now. If I were you. But as a person with chronic issues, I never let it get to 4 days before I start miralax. It works much better as a sort of preventative. I take it proactively when I travel or at the first hint of an issue at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Senna aka Senakot. Take 2 at night. If nothing, 3 next night.

Senna is a laxative.

[Anonymous]

If you need immediate relief, a suppository or an enema. Also, it’s totally gross, but there’s a way to manually assist through the vaginal wall (google for instructions).

But also, FYI, 3 days without a BM is nowhere near a bowel obstruction territory. My kid has issues with chronic constipation and when it was really bad she’d been known to not go for 10+ days - not that I recommend it, but you’re nowhere near an emergency yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow will be day four since I have had a bowel movement. I’m drinking only water, I’ve been taking a magnesium citrate supplement (Calm powder), I’ve tried prune baby food, prune juice, exercise, walking, abdominal massage, and still nothing. I do have a little gas today and feel a bit of rumbling, but I’m starting to feel uncomfortable and also a little nauseous at the thought of more food.

I DO NOT want to take a laxative, even a mild one like MiraLAX, because I’ve taken them before and while they work, I and up right back where I started, constipated again.

What else can I try tonight to hopefully find some relief?

Honestly? your best course of action is probably to take miralax daily for about a week while analyzing and editing your diet. You're constipated for a reason. You may also have taught your bowels to hold larger quantities of stool for longer, especially if this occurs somewhat regularly. Taking miralax daily for two weeks was what my doc had me do, along with revamping my diet to include more fiber (including chia seeds and psyllium husks) and fewer constipating foods. It gave my guts a chance to re-regulate after heavy painkiller use. I haven't had any trouble since.

Just trying for relief now isn't a long-term solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tomorrow will be day four since I have had a bowel movement. I’m drinking only water, I’ve been taking a magnesium citrate supplement (Calm powder), I’ve tried prune baby food, prune juice, exercise, walking, abdominal massage, and still nothing. I do have a little gas today and feel a bit of rumbling, but I’m starting to feel uncomfortable and also a little nauseous at the thought of more food.

I DO NOT want to take a laxative, even a mild one like MiraLAX, because I’ve taken them before and while they work, I and up right back where I started, constipated again.

What else can I try tonight to hopefully find some relief?

Fellow traveler, this makes no sense. Yes, if you have a chronic issue you will end up constipated again. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to resolve THIS issue, now!

I would do a capful of miralax every morning for several days, and I would do a glycerin suppository now. If I were you. But as a person with chronic issues, I never let it get to 4 days before I start miralax. It works much better as a sort of preventative. I take it proactively when I travel or at the first hint of an issue at home.

This is the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smooth Move tea and prunes.

Smooth Move is a stimulant laxative, it even wants you right on the box.

It is, so it doesn't fit OPs request, but damn if that stuff doesn't WORK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glycerin suppository. Instant relief.

This.

[Anonymous]

Question: I’ve never tried this, but would anyone who has recommend using a Squatty Potty or something similar ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question: I’ve never tried this, but would anyone who has recommend using a Squatty Potty or something similar ?

I’m a PP with a kid with chronic constipation. When things were very bad with my kid we tried all sorts of things including a squatty potty. It didn’t do anything for my kid and in general I think it could only be helpful if you are so short that sitting on a toilet doesn’t get your feet firmly on the ground. Which btw I totally get, I’m short myself and certain toilets are too tall and uncomfortable for me, like the ones in the restroom at work - I don’t have constipation but if I was inclined that way I could see something like a squatty potty be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to go to the OR. This can lead to a serious bowel obstruction. Don't be vain. They've seen it all.

+1
Obstructions can be extremely serious.

[Anonymous]

Hot bath. Put in epsom salts, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to go to the OR. This can lead to a serious bowel obstruction. Don't be vain. They've seen it all.

+1
Obstructions can be extremely serious.

4 days isn’t necessarily too long between bowel movements. My gastro said some people only go 2 times/week. Obviously uncomfortable for some, but for others it’s their normal. The range of “normal” is apparently quite broad.

OP, have you ever seen a gastroenterologist or talked to your PCP about this?