L.P.
Have you seen a gastroenterologist? If not, it would probably be well worth it. Anytime you have a change in what's normal for you, it's a good idea to check it out.
I have been dealing with bowels full of stool and constipation for years. Now at 41 I am starting to bloat, become gassy, and have lost the urge to go without using a laxative. Dr says Miralax but that's not working. Extra water is not working. What I think I need is a good colon cleansing system. I already am taking probiotics daily. Oh and extra fiber makes it much worse and I m eating fruits and veggies. I did have a ct scan which only found lots of stool. My bloodwork is good.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a colon cleanse? Googling it brings up hoards of different options so I figured I would ask and maybe narrow my search a bit.
Thanks everyone! I should clarify that I have been dealing with constipation for years but only have been bothered by it lately so I have only been using laxative for a few weeks now. I just figure that there has got to be a better way. I would like to clean out and then start fresh with my diet.
Have you seen a gastroenterologist? If not, it would probably be well worth it. Anytime you have a change in what's normal for you, it's a good idea to check it out.
Hmmm well if you have been using a laxative for years to go your body is used to it so you will ALWAYS need something. Have you tried any weight lose products that have the side effect of making you go? i know there are some good teas out there that help with that.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/77285-herbal-teas-laxat...
I also suggest having a colonoscpy to check to see if there is an issue with the intestines & blood work to see if its an issue that may be related to hormones.. Green tea is good.. eating food laced with garlic can help.
M.:
You need to talk to a gastroenteritologist as well as a nutritionist. You need to find out WHY you are not letting your bowels go. You might not be eating the right combination of things for your body.
I would highly recommend a colonoscopy to see if your bowels are working right - if you have let them stretch out too much you have lost feeling and that's why you are having problems.
Good luck
I too have issues...
There is a product at GNC called Colon Cleanse - it's pure Psyllium (sp?) husk. Kind of gross to use (taste wise) but it works.
I use the new Benefiber stuff that has no taste, I put it in my AM tea. It also works well. I've also used Smooth Move (gross name huh!!) tea. It REALLY works... esp. if you steep it for a long time. You can find that in any big grocery store where the 'herbal' teas are. Good luck!
If you want a good natural way to clean out then try eating nothing but vegetables for a few days and drink nothing but water and applejuice.
Dairy and meat products will only clog you up, as will low fiber filler foods like white rice, and white bread. My whole family struggles with similar issues, but by switching to mostly vegetarian eating, and avoiding any grains that aren't whole grains, we've been able to get a pretty good handle on our issues.
Good luck!
When my mom would have problems like you are she would only eat apples and drink water and apple juice for an intire day... some times two but the next day she was able to go... and now for the tmi... it was alot!
She eats an apple in the morning and tries to eat another at night and she said that it helps her keep kinda normal. She notices a difference if she doesn't eat the apples each day.
Hopefully that helps.
Probiotics work like a laxative on me.
It's strange that more fiber is not helping - it needs lots of water - drink it hourly.
Try prunes, prune juice.
Stay away from binding foods Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.
Soluble fiber, like Benefiber, is pretty good.
A colon cleanser is really nothing more than a lot of fiber (lot's of psillium husks, etc) and you still have to drink the water to keep it moving through.
There are teas, but they are as bad as the laxatives you are trying to quit and you can become just as dependent on them.
Since you are use to using a laxative, you're going to have to re-train your intestines to get them moving.
Exercise can help, Many joggers suffer from diarrhea because the running helps things move through their system.
Google 'how to quit laxatives' and you'll find lot's of advice.
It's not an easy habit to quit, but it can be done.
http://fruiteze.com/Eliminate_Laxatives/Weaning_off_Laxat...
Google Dr. Natura. I did it a few years ago and it's non-invasive, not too costly and came recommended from quite a few friends who did it.
We are using humaworm now. But if you go to curezone.com. search coloncleanse and many people will share the experience and products.
Don't eat banana.
I also eat pineapple, papaya and lots of the raw small red chillies( smash like 5 of them+ a pinch of salt+ 2 cloves of raw garlic makes really good dip for any fried food). It really helps me to have 2 BM a day.
Do some sit up.
Massage your tummy.
I also learn that if you have abdominal problem, the acupressure points are three fingers from ur navel. Updown,leftright. So there are 4 points that you can poke with ur middle finger. Expect pain and gas came out. But it helps.
Good luck.
I, too, had constipation issues since I was a child. I finally went to see a naturopathic doctor, who discovered various food allergies and food intolerances. I completely changed my diet/what I ate, took supplements to replace the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, enzumes, and amino acids my body was missing, and I have had a regular bowel movement now for the past four years. I never would have believed it could be possible if it hadn't happened to me.
You're putting "stuff" on top of stuff without really finding out the culprit or reason as to why you're having constipation. Mine could have been my allergy to casein (which means, no cow dairy). Or my gluten intolerance. Or even my soy intolerance. Or it could be any of the other 20 food intolerances that don't like my body. However, since I stay away from those foods--I can poop.
drnatura.com has a wonderful system of colon cleansing; I've used it a number of times when I was first getting my system fixed/reregulated. I highly recommend his system.
The extra fiber might be doing more harm than helping, especially if you're not drinking enough liquids to make sure the fiber gets through your system. And if your colon is blocked with fecal matter, the fiber might be getting stuck and not getting through anyway.
I had to take my daughter in last fall to a hyperbaric place to have a colonic done on her because her fecal matter compacted and we weren't able to get it out. She hasn't had to go back since. I would recommend one of those, if you're doing badly right now.
A better item to take than "extra fiber" is CALM, an all-natural laxative that uses magnesium to "get the body going." It can be found at Whole Foods and some co-op stores.