Constipation help? =/?

Question

I've never had problems with constipation before, but today i just got it really bad. About 10 this morning I tried to go, and it hurt and everything, so I just drank some water and tried a little later. At about 2PM my mom went and bought me some prune juice, strawberries, and cans and cans of beans. None of them have helped. I've also had bread today. It's almost unbearable now am I'm scared to try to poop again because I don't want another hemmorhoid(sp?) because I've had one before and they're not fun. My mom also got me some stool softener but I haven't tried any yet. Any suggestions? (right now, it's a bit past 9PM and I still haven't been able to poop.)

Answer 1

Melissa, take the stool softener. Mom was also right with the fruits. Also, eat bran flakes. And yes, water is important. Drink a few glasses of water a day, but don't drink way to much water. It will take some time, but don't delay on taking the stool softener.

Answer 2

New laxative called Miralax. Great stuff. It cues your body to leave more moisture in your stool. I always go within a few hours with just one dose. This stuff is gentle enough you could take two in one day. You dump it in a drink or on your food. You can't detect its taste or texture.

I tried to use this stuff every day (I'm CHRONIC constipated) and I used 1 scoop once a day until I realized I was going 5X a day. I had to back off.

In the past, I've had lots of trouble with cramps, IBS, diarrhea, etc. But this stuff is so gentle I'd give it to a baby.

Surfac is a stool softener (mineral oil). It just "greases the chute" as my daughter's dr. once said. You may find that helpful.

Keeping yourself regular, with soft stools that you don't have to push hard at is the key to the no-hemorrhoids gig. So take this med as often as you like, or take fiber-con tablets every morning with your breakfast. You can try more fiber if you like, but I found it ineffective. I couldn't eat everything I needed to go every day (I take pills that cause it).

Hope I've helped. I know how miserable you feel.

TX Mom
not an expert, but then again maybe...

Answer 3

Take the stool softener and drink it with some concentrated, high pulp orange juice. You need the frozen variety and make it with little water. Adding some Fiber Sure to it might help too.

If you haven't been drinking lots of fluids and eating lots of roughage that could make you constipated.

Not being able to go for one day is not bad.

Answer 4

Ugh yes I hate constipation...I had it for years and I finally found the problem, I quit sitting on my anus all day and started working out lol. And I drink a lot of water, that helps a lot.

Answer 5

The fastest oral medication such as magnesium citrate can work in 1 to 6 hours, other oral meds can take as long a 3 days. The fastest treatment is an enema. I deally you should hold it in for 5 minutes for the best results but in can work in 2-3 minutes.

Answer 6

take the stool softener before you go to bed and warm up the prune juice in the microwave, then drink it. I've had hemmorhoide and I know that they are very painful. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, it really helps.

Answer 7

That prune juice that she bought you. "Heat it up"...put it in a mug in the microwave, and make it as hot as a cup of coffee. It will work by tommorow morning. Prune juice rarely works cold. It's too late to eat anything now.

Answer 8

How is constipation treated?
Although treatment depends on the cause, severity, and duration of the constipation, in most cases dietary and lifestyle changes will help relieve symptoms and help prevent them from recurring.

Diet
A diet with enough fiber (20 to 35 grams each day) helps the body form soft, bulky stool. A doctor or dietitian can help plan an appropriate diet. High-fiber foods include beans, whole grains and bran cereals, fresh fruits, and vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and carrots. For people prone to constipation, limiting foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, cheese, meat, and processed foods, is also important.

Lifestyle Changes
Other changes that may help treat and prevent constipation include drinking enough water and other liquids, such as fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups, so as not to become dehydrated, engaging in daily exercise, and reserving enough time to have a bowel movement. In addition, the urge to have a bowel movement should not be ignored.

Laxatives
Most people who are mildly constipated do not need laxatives. However, for those who have made diet and lifestyle changes and are still constipated, a doctor may recommend laxatives or enemas for a limited time. These treatments can help retrain a chronically sluggish bowel. For children, short-term treatment with laxatives, along with retraining to establish regular bowel habits, helps prevent constipation.

A doctor should determine when a patient needs a laxative and which form is best. Laxatives taken by mouth are available in liquid, tablet, gum powder, and granule forms. They work in various ways:

Bulk-forming laxatives generally are considered the safest, but they can interfere with absorption of some medicines. These laxatives, also known as fiber supplements, are taken with water. They absorb water in the intestine and make the stool softer. Brand names include Metamucil, Fiberall, Citrucel, Konsyl, and Serutan. These agents must be taken with water or they can cause obstruction. Many people also report no relief after taking bulking agents and suffer from a worsening in bloating and abdominal pain.

Stimulants cause rhythmic muscle contractions in the intestines. Brand names include Correctol, Dulcolax, Purge, and Senokot. Studies suggest that phenolphthalein, an ingredient in some stimulant laxatives, might increase a person’s risk for cancer. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on all over-the-counter products containing phenolphthalein. Most laxative makers have replaced, or plan to replace, phenolphthalein with a safer ingredient.

Osmotics cause fluids to flow in a special way through the colon, resulting in bowel distention. This class of drugs is useful for people with idiopathic constipation. Brand names include Cephulac, Sorbitol, and Miralax. People with diabetes should be monitored for electrolyte imbalances.

Stool softeners moisten the stool and prevent dehydration. These laxatives are often recommended after childbirth or surgery. Brand names include Colace and Surfak. These products are suggested for people who should avoid straining in order to pass a bowel movement. The prolonged use of this class of drugs may result in an electrolyte imbalance.

Lubricants grease the stool, enabling it to move through the intestine more easily. Mineral oil is the most common example. Brand names include Fleet and Zymenol. Lubricants typically stimulate a bowel movement within 8 hours.

Saline laxatives act like a sponge to draw water into the colon for easier passage of stool. Brand names include Milk of Magnesia and Haley’s M-O. Saline laxatives are used to treat acute constipation if there is no indication of bowel obstruction. Electrolyte imbalances have been reported with extended use, especially in small children and people with renal deficiency.

Chloride channel activators increase intestinal fluid and motility to help stool pass, thereby reducing the symptoms of constipation. One such agent is Amitiza, which has been shown to be safely used for up to 6 to 12 months. Thereafter a doctor should assess the need for continued use.

People who are dependent on laxatives need to slowly stop using them. A doctor can assist in this process. For most people, stopping laxatives restores the colon’s natural ability to contract.

Answer 9

i know how you feel, i've been there. what i use as it works really quick and is pain free, is a cap full of Karo syrup. it sound weird i know, just put a cap ful of it in a drink of your choice. it'll work within hours, trust me LOL.

Answer 10

Coffee really gets you going, strawberries? You need plums.