Perimenapause and constipation help - wwyd?

[Anonymous]

I used to be so regular - once in the morning within 20 minutes of getting up, and then almost always a second time after coffee and/or food. Now I'm totally skipping my initial morning poops, and sometimes not even going after coffee! I feel like I'm bloated half the time. My diet and exercise haven't changed (and are generally good for pooping - lots of fiber, salads, fruit and whole grains). I had a colonoscopy within the past year that was fine. So my guess is this is related to hormone changes (I'm mid-40s and suspect I've stopped ovulating recently).

I've already cut out most dairy, since I seem to be getting more lactose intolerant, and have stopped calcium supplements and other vitamins to try to eliminate those causes, but it hasn't really helped. What next? My books on menapause don't offer any good advice. Is there anyone good to consult on this? I'm going crazy with this.

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem. Try a tablespoon of pure psyllium powder (not Metamucil, that has additives) in a glass of water or water mixed with juice first thing in the morning or just before bed. You can get pure psyllium powder at WF or a lot cheaper online at someplace like vitacost.com. You have to stir it and drink it immediately because it gets thick really quickly, and I'm not going to like, it doesn't taste great (which is why I recommend adding some juice to the water), but if you take it every day, your problem will be solved.