An embarassing question!!?

Question

I get really bad constipation. I eat loads of fruit, I only take laxatives when absolutely necessary (like when I haven't been for over a week!) I eat food with fibre when I can get it, bearing in mind I moved to North Africa from the UK 3 months ago and "All Bran" is hard to come by. I haven't been properly now for nearly 3 weeks. I'm beginning to feel really ill. Headaches, sluggish, no energy. Can anyone help please?

Answer 1

Firstly if I was you, I would use the laxative if you haven't been in 3 days tops, do not let it go on any longer than that. Very unhealthy. Most of them are fine, and are even used on children so aren't going to cause you too much trouble if you take them now and then, or every 3rd day. (Use a herbal one)

Try to get more fibre, although fruit has a lot of fibre in. If you can get dried fruit such as prunes or prune juice that should sort you out. As would licorice. But most importantly WATER. your body will not be able to go if it is not hydrated enough. and will relieve your headaches as well.

I hope your eating a lot of vegetables too?

You could get a fibre tablet, but make sure you are getting lots of iron in that case and LOADS of water as fibre absorbs these.

There are 2 exercises that I know of as well.
1) The yoga move. Lay on the floor on your back, with your feet on the ground so that your knees are togther and raised up.
Then rock your knees from side to side, and then roll your knees all the way to one side then all the way to the other. Do this slowly and calmly for about 10 minutes once or twice a day. Basically the floor is massaging the bottom of your back which can make you need a poo.

2) Simply raise your arms straight above your head. I read this one in a magazine the other day. Apparently this helps open everything up. Again I think this one would work best when you are relaxed.

I've only ever had constipation once, when I went on holiday with my friend and her scary aunt and uncle. I didn't go for 2 weeks. I think it was more psychological than anything. Try going to the most private toilet you know and take your time!

Answer 2

It really sounds like you have a severe bowel obstruction.You really need to see a doctor for this problem.It could also be a stomach tumor causing an obstruction at your lower intestine.Either case it can be serious and cause other problems.I am not a doctor so these are just a few ideas of what it could be.I am not trying to scare you or anything.One thing that you may try which is a gross thought and not very pleasant but may help is giving yourself an ennema.This will really get deep inside those intestines and flush them out.You can buy ennema kits at just about any pharmacy and it is pretty simple to do.I will also warn you to stay away from cheese products as much as possible until you get over this problem because it will really plug up your plumbing.I am not sure which laxative you have been taking but milk of magnesium is about the best and it comes in a liquid and is also available at your local pharmacy and probably any grocery store or a store such as wal-mart if they even have them in Africa.

Good luck and i wish you the best with your problem

Answer 3

I really think a trip to the doctor might be in order, but in the mean time..............

You need to get back to an even playing field; get those bowels empty before you rupture and cause all kinds of long-term illness.

Stop eating bulky things; no chicken, meats or breads. Eat only milky things from now on.

Get to the local store and buy a vast bottle of prune juice, drink about 2 pints of that; it will help get things going.

Cod liver oil or Primrose oil is also good for helping things along too.

I'll try to put this in a nice way........
You might have a huge amount of traffic eager to get out of the tunnel, but you might have a lorry either stuck under a low bridge or jack-knifed at a junction.

If this is the case all the lax in the world wont do yu any good. You need a good anal supository or better still enema to flush your bowel.

Answer 4

drink loads of water before you clear yourself. then check out the local food habits which you are having , if there is some food or local fruit u have been recently eating, then leave it for a while and the best you can do is make a small chart or note down just for a week and change the type of food you have every day and note down the effect you have next morning. is the constipation getting OK or getting bad, this will definitely help you

Answer 5

1. Purchase FIBER PILLS. They're inexpensive.

2. Your body needs water, this may sound like asking for alot but, try to drink a gallon of water a day.

3. Exercise, it can help get you going.

4. But ACIDOPHOLOUS (I hope I spelled it right) pills. They're great for your intestinal track. . .I use them.

6. STOP! With the laxatives, everytime you use those, your body becomes "lazy" and doesn't do it's job- it literally depends on the laxative.

7. If you do all of the steps above religiously, and you still see no improvement, I'd recommend you go see your Doctor. Or see an OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN.

Answer 6

I suffer from irritable bowl syndrome and i take a fibre gel each morning and night.Is it possible to get them there ? It sounds like you may also have IBS.The only other thing is eat a packet of sugar free mints cos they work lol.Water is good too to shift it.The other thing you could try is Lactalose if you can get it.It greases the lining of the bowl and makes it easier.I feel for you cos i know how bad it can be and the pain is awful too.Good luck and if this is no help maybe you should go and see a doctor....take care x

Answer 7

Hi. Im a nurse. I would say you need to take a stool softener regularly, like senna, in combination with lots of fluids, fruit and high fibre foods, if your struggling with all bran wholemeal foods are just as ood. You mention you have just moved to Africa, so it is probablt the change in foods that have caused this and should settle soon. In view of your symptoms, if you visit your doctor he could prescribe something stronger, as a one off to clear your system out. If it continues, an abdominal xray maybe beneficial to rule out any other reason of faecal impaction. Hope that helps :-)

Answer 8

You can get a very mild laxative that you can take daily in syrup form from the chemist, another suggestion due to the dietary change get an A-Z Multi-Vitamin too and Brewers Yeast Tablets may help, that's the serious answer, and if you have a sense of humour find a curry house, that usually works for me though not my intention, good luck....Do i hear a giggle?

Answer 9

OK, so please complete your sentences. Now I'm gonna try to help and take my answer as an example for your next questions.

I had to take a crap one time and the turd was pushing out. I was on the beach and decided not to. I kept delaying it and then It took me 3 hours, and 2 bottles of Apple and Prune juice to make the poo go through.

It depends though. If it just doesnt come out, se a doctor. If it just hurts, suck it up.



There's a line between a bully and a life critic. I am the later.
-Rob | http://www.hellablog.co.nr/

Answer 10

Are you drinking enough water? This is a very common cause of constipation and with the climate change as well, it was just a thought.

Did you have any problems in the UK?