TMI fixing constipation

[Anonymous]

So, this is a post about bowel movements ...

For almost my entire life, I have had a very slow system. I would have a bowel movement maybe every three days and it would take a long time and some effort. It didn't matter how much water I drank, fiber I ate, etc. It was what it was. I often felt kind of full and uncomfortable and wondered about these magical people who had frequent bowel movements. But it was my way of life so I was okay with and the fact that I was constantly eating fiber and taking fiber pills.

When I had my first child four years ago, however, my bowels changed completely. I started having daily movements that seemed to empty me out. It was great. No real diet change. Maybe the whole pregnancy/childbirth thing was the fix. This continued through my second pregnancy and until around a month ago (last baby is now six months). But now the dreaded constipation seems to be coming back. It's different this time because I do have a movement once a day/every other day, but I feel like I am not emptying out. And the familiar fullness/odd pains are coming back. I have upped my water intake and am eating prunes, but it doesn't seem to help.

Anyone have advice or is my body going to go back to its annoying slowness/discomfort state. I really liked being regular! It seems cruel to have seen the other side - better to have had regular bowel movements or not than never had regular bowel movements at all?

[Anonymous]

Welcome to my world. I've seen the GI and had 2 colonoscopies. Nothing is wrong, I'm just slow even with a diet high in fiber/vegetables/fruit I take Miralax every day. That is what works for me. I would see the GI to see what they recommend. I was doing Colace every day but that stopped working so now it is Miralax. The doc said, try Colace, then Miralax and if those stop working come back to see me.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried a squatty potty?

[Anonymous]

Eat pumpkin

[Anonymous]

Yup I cannot poop unless I have a massive glass (and I mean huge) of prune juice. I have to plan my f-ing life around this because I can go 4-5 without anything and want to die.

I basically cannot poop without prune juice. So atleast twice a week Ihave to carve out time to "handle" business and sit by the toilet after gorging prune juice.

It sucks!

Oh and I am aneminc and refuse to take the iron pills. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried eating psyllium husk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eat pumpkin

You obviously have never experienced long term constipation. Eat pumpkin? As if it was so easy.

[Anonymous]

I'm generally slow as well. An apple a day helped me start going (almost) every day but after a few months, I'm so sick of them and it's obvious- I'm back to going 1-2 times a week. Ugh.