Constipation

[Gettingoldnow]

Hi there afte browsing natural constipation remedies I am more confused than ever.i have diverticulosas with quite a few pockets .i am taking lactase liquid 3.3 which does soften the stool which is what I need to do long term but it gives me severe flatulance at night (that's when I take it ) i have used prune juice but can't up my fibre with veg as this makes me worse.i wondered if anyone knows of anything natural that I can take long term without the cramps winds etc which a lot of these meds do .looking for non chemical based product.any suggestions most welcome .thanks in advance

[Hidden]

Have you tried Magnesium Glycinate?

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

Hi there thank you for your reply.i have looked this up and is def.one to consider.i have a docs.appointment Tuesday and will mention these to her and see what she has to say.thank you and will let you know the outcome .have a great day

[Neil119 in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I have same TROUBLE - I take laxido & use cut itolonic irrigation daily. Not nice but it helps

[drumore in reply to Gettingoldnow]

A few years ago I had gout ( cured in days -- avoid tomatoes ! ). My GP took blood samples which returned a diagnosis of borderline diabetes which is now well under control .

Having read up Type 2 Diabetes on NHS Choices , I decided to start my own diet, ate smaller meals and cut out everything WHITE possibly containing SUGAR, --- breakfast cereals, any WHITE foods ( white bread , chips, pies, cheese, pastries, potatoes, ( I now eat sweet potatoes ) . I lost half a stone weight in six weeks and have found the cure for my lifelong chronic irritable bowel syndrome ! I hope this info. might cure someone else's IBS.

The only trouble now is during the last year I have irregular bowel movements.

My GP recently prescribed a liquid laxative which very quickly solved the problem but

it has recurred after a few weeks. -------- ah well, here we go again ( I hope )

[janetmtt]

Small teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil - not only lubricates the bowel but is also good for you other ways too

[Gettingoldnow in reply to janetmtt]

Interesting .i may just gag on this but will take on board if all else fails.thank you.i think people are more clued up o gut problems on this forum than doctors.so am grateful for all advice .have a good week

[Hidden in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I do this, it's actually not too bad. I put a little lemon juice in it sometimes. Also flaxseed oil, either liquid or softgels work great, or any omega 3 fatty acids..like Cod Liver oil (I like the Carlson's Cod Liver oil - Lemon flavored), also helps with mood, stress and anxiety, or you can get them in softgels, just make sure you get EPA and DHA, or fish oil gels.

[casares8]

Flaxseed/Linseed is good on cereal. Movicol is better than lactulose but not sure if its chemical based

[Gettingoldnow in reply to casares8]

Hi there thank you for your interesting reply.i dismissed the flaxseed a while ago as I was advised to stay away from seeds pips ,grains as they get stuck in colon pockets .i looked at Holland and Barrett's site and noticed they do a capsule called flaxseed oil .(uk) this might be something to look into as it appears has the same benefits as seeds .i really appreciate all the replys and as I am going on holiday would be better to take with me than liquids .thank you for your most interesting reply .enjoy your week.

[casares8 in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I must admit i cannot deal with seeds or pips either, but the one i get is finely milled. Just like powder

[Gettingoldnow in reply to casares8]

Thanks that is good to know x

[Grannycake in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I grind my flaxseed in a coffee grinder

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Grannycake]

Thank you still under hospital investigations at the moment so was told to hold off remedies till I have another ultrascan .but have been eating a banana and probiotic yoghurt in the morning and I usually go every other day .thank you again

[Hidden]

P.S. I just got a text from a friend who also suffers with this. Said someone gave her a tip that a teaspoon or two of "Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar" mixed in water works very well. She takes it morning and night and has been regular ever since. You can get it at the grocery store. Keep us posted.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

Hi there now that sounds natural enough will be getting some tomorrow thank you

[janetmtt in reply to Gettingoldnow]

if you in the UK Holland and Barrett sell one that is called Honegar and has ACV and vinegar in - I use this and again it is good

[Gettingoldnow in reply to janetmtt]

Thanks for that info yes Holland and Barrett to the rescue again .

[lizwhitebillwhite]

I have suffered from constipation my whole life and I have tried everything that is available. I got sick and tired of all the meds, and other stuff, I decided to go for a remedy my Grandmother used when I was small. IF you can get, try liquid paraffin, and no it isn't fuel, it is a medical substance, or there is another old one, Syrup of figs, or even raw fresh figs, they taste nice too. One last one, really old, plain chocolate. It always woks for me. Loosening the stools is ok, but it doesn't tell your bowels to WORK, that's why you need to take something that will make them work properly, hopefully when the bowels are used to working normally, you can stop using any of the old remedies. Good luck. xx

[keithfre]

In the past I've found psyllium fibre helpful. But check it doesn't contain anything else, such as inulin, which is a FODMAP.

Nowadays I have oat porridge for breakfast and that keeps me fairly regular.

[janetmtt]

Try mixing it with some of your veg or some other food doesn't have to be just on a spoon - another one that I find is good is teaspoon of honey in about two inches of boiled water - let it cook till you can drink - honey is a prebiotic and that also helps

[Gettingoldnow in reply to janetmtt]

Thank you to everyone that replied .i am now armed with some really good remedies to go for all good ones.i have looked at them all and now will try them one by one until I get what works.you lot on here are amazing .i can't thank you enough .i hope you all stay healthy and have a good Easter holiday.

[Hidden in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I had an Aunt use liquid paraffin and swore by it. Others don't like the use of it, because it is mineral oil made from Petroleum.

I have copied some great comments from a reputable journal and site on it:

Liquid paraffin or mineral oil is a transparent, colourless, odourless, or almost odourless, oily liquid composed of saturated hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.1 Petroleum was used as a medicine at least 400 years before Christ.2 The earliest internal use of refined petroleum appears to date back to 1872, when Robert A. Chesebrough was granted a patent for the manufacture of “a new and useful product from petroleum”.2 The use of liquid paraffin gained popularity, after Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane, Chief Surgeon of Guy's Hospital in 1913, recommended its use as a treatment for intestinal stasis and chronic constipation.

Hope this helps. Let us know what treatment works for you. Currently, the only thing that has worked for me for years is Senna-Lax. But my Gastro wants me off of it. I'm out of options, have tried everything..coconut oil, fiber, etc. Not sure what to do at this point. He only says "fiber" and "stool softeners" which do not work. A frustrating way to live.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

Interesting this has same rules on it as pukka cast a oil.external use only but yes it was used years ago .will let everybody know what will work for me and believe me when I say serious constipation .thanks

[patio12]

Gettingoldnow have you tried magnisium citrate a fairly high dose 600-1000mgs. Although I have yet to try it myself I have read plenty of our members use this remedy. I prefer to stick to Laxido which is reasonably gentle on the tummy at low doses. Have you tried dried apricots and golden linseed? Just a thought, I know how awful that full-up sensation is. Also try and drink plenty of water and the Laxido works by drawing water from the bowel and therefore making elimination easier.

Good luck

[janetmtt]

Think the suggestions and help in here are invaluable and tons better than sometimes what your GP can give - unless you had it you don't really know what it's like - we all have so we are able to share - which to me is what this site is all about!

[Gettingoldnow in reply to janetmtt]

You sure are right.all you get out of doctors is "take fibre gel" or Senna its treated as a minor nuisance to them but unless like me it's an ongoing problem ,they have no idea what to suggest so yes this site is invaluable as you have to find the answer yourself and it can be a minefield.i am steering more to natural remedies these days.

[janetmtt]

I take senokot and don't give a damn what the Dr or anyone else says - when I didn't go for 11 days tried everything under the sun I had to resort to taking them - I ended up having to do a water enema to get rid of the back up - my stomach was huge and I vowed from that day on regardless of who what or why I would never get myself in that situation again and if it means taking senokot I will - but I still need a bit help - the olive oil and honey helps as does probiotics.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to janetmtt]

Hi there how I can relate to you .have also been down that road and ended up taking pukka caster oil.it did the job at the time so yes you do what you have to to clear out the backlog .its better than ending up at the hospital.hope you are managing ok now .they don't seem to sell caster oil these days because it does not have a food label EEC rules it can only say for external use only but I used it and it worked.its all they used years ago and never did any harm.

[Hidden in reply to janetmtt]

I have taken Senna-Lax for two years. It's the only thing that works for me. My gastro wants me off of it. Said "eat fiber" "stool softeners" tired of hearing this, when this doesn't work for me. Fiber just makes things worse.

[janetmtt in reply to Hidden]

Do what works - if you don't go in my view the backing up of all that fecal matter is tons worse than taking senna-lax!

[Hidden in reply to janetmtt]

Exactly, this is why I have been taking Senna-Lax for two years.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

I think everyone has to find what suits them and stick with it.i find Senna very harsh .but that's not to say if I get in trouble I would use them .i am just looking for something a bit gentler on the stomach .

[janetmtt]

It's ok people saying don't take a laxative but when you don't go for 11 days - well I was ill - I had a stomach like a 9 month pregnant woman and I vowed "never ever again" would I do this! I don't care that I take them every night. My Gp did agree when I told her that she was happy for me to take them as they are natural!

[Hidden]

I can sympathise. When I did slimming world I didn’t go for two weeks at a time. I was in agony despite following a high fibre diet. I used senna in the end. I’ve come to conclusion I have need fat to lubricate things. I don’t have an issue with some fat in my diet. Slimming world is very low fat when you’re a vegetarian. Make sure you drink plenty of water. At least 2 litres a day. I was told to buy colon cleanse from Holland & Barrett. It’s a natural laxative and contains aloe vera. It costs £12.59 per bottle. I don’t know how many tablets are in the bottle though.

[janetmtt]

I can't do aloe vera unfortunately! And it's ok for the Drs saying eat more fibre - when you are not going eating fibre just makes it worse - you bloat, have gas etc. And like I said before until you experience not going for however many days - you do what works for you - senokot works for me and I am not coming off it because if I do I cannot go - that along with other things is my solution

[Hidden in reply to janetmtt]

My Gastro does not like that Senna is really "not natural". It's an herb, and herbs and meds don't mix. I take a lot of meds. But when I was on Opiods my pain mgt Doctor told me to take Senna, I don't think he would have, as they know all the meds I take. But I'm the same way, you have to take whatever works, it's either that or In in ER getting yet another enema with groans and sighs from nurses and Doctor's. I'd like to ask them if they have experienced not having a bowel movement for 10 says before judging me for taking "space" in their precious emergency room. When I go, there is barely anyone there. They make me feel so small. I just want to crawl under a sofa.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

Well I never realised how many people are suffering with this .i had a cat scan before Xmas and they thought it was ovarian cancer .after going to Gynocologist and further scan did they find the mass was actually compacted stones of fecus matter .so that is why I do not like back up .its amazing just what us women go through.i have all my life had constipation so not surprised I have diverticulosis.but have always had a very good diet full of veggies which I am now cutting down on as it makes matters worse.so one size does not fit all as the doctors seem to think .if you find something that works for you then you stick with it .

[Hidden in reply to Gettingoldnow]

I know what you mean. After taking the Senna or having an Enema, it's amazing how much the human body can hold. I remember when I did (or thought I did not suffer from constipation). (I was going every day or every other day) I had an x-ray done for a lower abdominal cat scan, possible hernia. The radiologist showed me a picture and I was shocked at how much fecal matter was in my colon. I thought, how could this be possible? I guess I can see why do many people do colon irrigation or colon cleansing products. I had a friend do colon irrigation and it perforated her colon/bowel, so I'm not brave enough to try this. They said that when John Wayne died, they found 40 pounds of fecal waste in his stomach. So..the people who think they are "regular" are they really? So confusing.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Hidden]

Wow that's an interesting story just shows you what we don't know lol I am not a fan of colon cleanse unless it was for emergency use .but a lot of people swear by it .when I had it for a colonoscopy I could not believe how much hard stones is the only way I can describe it came away .best I ever felt lol .

[janetmtt]

Exactly - senokot works for me and I stick with it because I am very sensitive to anything I take some homeopathic remedies help move things along too but I don't think it is a one horse trick if you see what I mean I still need something else. I'd rather take something I know works than end up feeling like I did when I didn't go for 11 days - I not only felt ill but my mood was down I was depressed it was awful - I wouldn't go out - it was my partner who suggested I did this and he actually helped me do it because he could see how much pain and suffering I was in - so until the medics, Drs and Nurses actually experience similar - they are not in a position to judge - they shouldn't be judgemental anyway!

[janetmtt]

And I think a lot of women go through this - I worked in a Drs medical practice for a while and the number of people who were being treated for it - I was quite surprised

[Pat1]

I have had chronic constipation for years and have tried everything.

The best natural supplement to take is magnesium citrate or oxide. I take about 600 to 1000mg of magnesium citrate or oxide on an empty stomach before bed with lots of water. This works great, naturally and is effective. My colorectal consultant recommended it as well. Look up information on magnesium and constipation. If I don't take it I don't go. No cramps or bloating.

There are other magnesium products for the colon that are excellent although more expensive but worth it. They are in order of my preference, Oxypowder, Aerobic Mag07 and Colosan. You can get them on Amazon or a place called the Finchley clinic. They are very helpful and you can call for advice. Hope this helps.

[Gettingoldnow in reply to Pat1]

Thanks for that info.i am seeing doc tomorrow and just check it. Is ok with my other meds being thyroxine.blood pressure and cholesterol.having read up on it .It's promising thank you