Constipation since age of 8 and no solution.

[sobs1962]

Can anyone suggest a good fibre supplement as trying to get enough fibre in my diet is proving to be near impossible. Have had slow intestinal motility since age of 8 and no matter how much fibre I ate, it made no difference. Have thought about using Fibogel or something similar. Any help would be appreciated as over-using laxatives is apparently a cause of constipation too.

[MaryMary]

Vitamin C works wonders! I also have a daily dessert spoonful of milled linseed which can be added to cereal, yogurt, smoothies etc. Sometimes called flaxseed. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Hi there I use optifibre it’s made from guar gum it’s a soluble fibre I get it from every health.uk I use it everyday x

[janesp]

I know it's not fibre but have you tried a magnesium supplement?

[Wired123]

Psyllium is also quite good to add to foods.

Although constipation can also signal untreated or under treated thyroid disease.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Calm vitality magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use Must be four hours away from levothyroxine.. Best taken at bedtime (or early evening if you take thyroid hormones at bedtime)

Starting on low dose and increase until you get desired results! Too much can cause diarrhoea

[sobs1962 in reply to SlowDragon]

Already taking half a teaspoonful every night but suppose I could increase to 1 teaspoonful and see how I get on.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sobs1962]

Full dose is 2 teaspoons......

Try small increase

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sobs1962]

I could have written your post. Vit C didn't do it for me even at mega doses but Natural Calm Original Magnesium Citrate powder has been the answer for me. I weigh mine, 6 grams gives me a bowel movement, it's a heaped teaspoonful. If this is what you are already taking then I'd increase it gradually until you find the right amount.

[greygoose]

Constipation is something a lot of us get. The best things to help are magnesium citrate and large doses of vit C.

Four things to think about with constipation:

1. Are you getting enough fibre? You need fibre for your transit, BUT you don't want too much fibre because it could affect the absorption of your levo, making you more hypo, and therefore possibly more constipated. It's a matter of finding the right balance.

2. Are you drinking enough water? Your body needs a constant supply of water, and if it's not getting enough, it will suck your poo dry (sorry for that image!) to get the water, leaving you more constipated and unable to 'go'.

3. Do you have low stomach acid? Low stomach acid can be caused by being hypo, but also by low-salt diets and B12 deficiency (also old age, but not much you can do about that). Low stomach acid will cause constipation. So, you need to check your nutrients, and your stomach acid level (bicarb test), and if either are low, you need to raise them.

4. Do you, by any chance, have high levels of calcium? Because that, too, can cause constipation. So, that’s another thing that wants testing.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

I am drinking about 2- 3 litres of water flavoured with no added sugar cordial a day, taking a magnesium powder supplement at night, as far as low stomach acid is concerned, I probably do as was on omeprazole for over 20 years and stopped taking it completely last year and take a vitamin b complex which contains 160 mg of vitamin C. Calcium levels not sure about will look at last time it was tested. As for fibre, I was eating isphagula husk on top of cereal when I was a kid but didn't solve the problem,but I also used to retain my faeces and this was a very long time habit mostly caused by having constipation in first place.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

Hypos tend to have low stomach acid, anyway. I think I would get that checked out, if I were you.

take a vitamin b complex which contains 160 mg of vitamin C.

Unfortunately, supplement manufacturers actually know very little about nutrients - I've even seen an iron+calcium supplement on the supermarket shelves! And that's one of the first things we learn in chemistry: iron and calcium bind together.

I'm afraid that vit C negatively affects how B12 works in the body. So, not a good idea to take them together.

Besides, 160 mg of vitamin C isn't going to do much. I was thinking more of 5000 mg.

[sobs1962 in reply to greygoose]

Taking Igennus vit b complex but will increase magnesium powder dose slightly and see how that goes.

[greygoose in reply to sobs1962]

Have you tried rhubarb? Works a treat for me!

Also, you didn't comment about the salt. Are you on a low salt diet?

[Hidden in reply to sobs1962]

Have you tried warm water? (Half boiled/half tap).

[janesp]

I wonder if a good probiotic or a prebiotic powder might help you.

[sobs1962 in reply to janesp]

Taking Actimel daily.

[galathea in reply to sobs1962]

Have a look at vsl3 rather than actimel. amazon.co.uk/Sachets-Billio...

[humanbean]

I can't suggest anything that hasn't already been mentioned by someone else.

If you decide to try fibre supplements though, I would say that you should be careful to avoid too much insoluble fibre which could damage your gut. Soluble fibre is a lot kinder to your gut.

Be aware that there are different kinds of laxative. If one kind doesn't help try a different kind or possibly even try a combination.

Types of laxatives include:

Bulk-forming laxatives (such as fibers or psyllium). These absorb water in the bowel and swell to bulk out the stool making it softer and easier to pass

Emollient stool softeners (such as docusate). These moisten and lubricate the stool making it easier to pass

Osmotic laxatives (such as lactulose) draw fluid into the bowel and soften stools

Stimulant laxatives (such as senna or bisacodyl) promote contraction of the intestines, promoting the movement of stools through the bowel.

Source : drugs.com/drug-class/laxati...

I should point out that the website link above is to an American website, and the list of laxatives will include products you can't access in the UK (or wherever you live , assuming it isn't the US).

[turquoise13]

I have slow intestinal mobility too resulting in an emergency 3 years ago, since then I take a Laxido sachet every night with a positive result next day 😆 Also eat lots of fruit and veg!

[sobs1962 in reply to turquoise13]

Oh my, that's sounds scary, I think I have the metabolism of a sloth. Just keep going with magnesium and see how that goes as taking laxatives every day is apparently bad for you, but if you have to, you have to.

[Orange5]

Don't think anyone has mentioned warm water ? I have a similar slow digestive system. I was advised to drink warm water when I get up. It does help. Never used laxatives as I was also told they should only be used for short periods. They make the digestive system even slower, if that's possible 🙄