Constipation advise please

[Spotydave]

Im hash on actavis levo ..10000iu vit d. Vit k2 100 mg magnesium citrate .1cup of kefi every day and now gluten free .. and drink loafs of water and mint tea....i do take Turmeric sinse starting ive gone very contipated ..sorry to be blunt but loads of round balls.. ( i have always been ibs for years but not had this problem) could it be one of the vits?? Cheers everyone

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

i do take Turmeric sinse starting ive gone very contipated

Could it be the Turmeric if the constipation started when you started taking that?

Magnesium citrate can have a laxative effect, but your dose is very low. Most magnesium supplements are around 300-400mg daily. With magnesium citrate, if you have a constipation problem, titrate up to the amount that gives you a decent bowel movement but not diarrhoea.

I use magnesium citrate and my lifelong constipation problem is no longer. However, I use the powder form, you can start low and build up to the dose that suits.

amazon.co.uk/Natural-Vitali...

I use this unflavoured variety, dissolve in a little warm water then add some OJ, makes a pleasant drink, take it at night, BM the next morning.

[Spotydave in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hello Susie great to hear from you.... Im nit taking turmeric tabs yet but i have up it a lot in food and drink.so your right it might be that.. the mag i take is solgar mag cutrate tabs. Ive just brought them. It does say to take 2tabs =400mg ive only been taking one to build up to 400 mabe i should go up to the 400mg.. i think powder form is the way to go. I will use up these tabs 1st i think. I have a redundant bowel so like you i have had problems all my life. But i now also think lots of the problems have been thyroid related. Sinse going on levo i have had hardly any pain or discomfort from the bowel area...i will look at your recomendation Susie 😀

[MaisieGray]

Whilst magnesium citrate can ease constipation, the way in which it does it isn’t necessarily the best for us. It pulls water into your intestines, which of course can lead to dehydration, so you're right to drink plenty of fluids; but worse, it can reduce ceroplasmin levels, leading to mineral imbalances and deficiencies. Are you supplementing for low iron levels, as that can commonly cause constipation in some people. What's your diet like - higher levels of red meat can cause constipation both directly and indirectly, as can dairy in some people, and both too high and too low levels of fibre can also be a causal factor. By the way, you should avoid mint tea if you have GERD - I don't remember you mentioning having it, so probably not a problem for you, but mint tea can further relax the sphincter muscle allowing more reflux. Regarding turmeric, it has important cofactors, lipids and piperine from black pepper, and hence why many make it into Golden Paste for optimum effectiveness. There's a great FB group run by an Australian Vet, but for both humans and animals: Turmeric User Group.

[Spotydave in reply to MaisieGray]

Hi masie.. hope your well my b12 was low ish .. and folate.ive not addressed it yest due to needing a farinsic factor test which i hope to do soon...i hardly eat red meat . Mainly chicken..bone broth. Good amounts of fruit and veg.. im eating dairy at present ..im now on the termeric group and hooe to mske some gp soon sounds interesting... This problem has just started ..ir just seems strange as ofcourse im now taking supliments.. i did reqd vit d can cause constipation..

[MaisieGray in reply to Spotydave]

These things can be such a darned mystery! Re fruit, bananas are great nutritionally but be mindful of eating them when inadequately ripe as that can cause constipation due to tannins and resistant starch if I remember correctly. Nutrition apart, ineffective gut "mechanics" can cause constipation. You can have it because of something called outlet construction, which is to do with the anal sphincter either being insufficiently relaxed or it being unconsciously tightened when trying to pass a motion. Poor motility can also obviously cause constipation, and one cause in particular can be a decrease in high level contractions. There's a test for that.

[Spotydave in reply to MaisieGray]

Ive not heard of that one.. i wlso do hqve a redundant bowel. Found out this after a colonoscopy...

[MaisieGray in reply to Spotydave]

Aah, possible light bulb moment! Assuming a redundant bowel is the same as a redundant colon: "Some people may have a redundant colon and never experience symptoms associated with it. Others may have increased bloating, constipation, and fecal impaction."

[Spotydave in reply to MaisieGray]

Thats right .. the consultant couldnt believe how long mine was he was even saying we are going to run out of line soon hahaha .. ive had problems for years but sinse being on levo its got better except now. But im wondering if the shock of a big change in diet and vits and levo might just be the problem.. ive hadso many problems over the years.. on average only going once every 10 days etc.. the consultant said the thyroid can cause lots of constipation problems..

[MaisieGray in reply to Spotydave]

Just plain greedy, having more than your fair share of gut! 😉

Seriously, perhaps it's "simply" the combination of all the factors which naturally predisposes you to constipation. And btw, alcohol can have a constipating effect, if you ever do partake.

[Spotydave in reply to MaisieGray]

I do admit i do have a bit of extra gut. We have a friend who has crones and he is also asking to have some of my bowel lol i dont drink much at all .. I'm guessing it might just be a big change in diet and supliments etc.. hopefully