I'm scared I might be constipated, what should I do.?

Question

I have not had a bowel movement (pooped-hehe) in a day and a half. I ate really unhealthy stuff Sunday(hot dogs, italian beef with hot peppers and chicken wings) and suffered the consequences monday morning and spent a lot of time in the bathroom. Since then I've been eating really healthy, plenty of fiber, but I haven't had a bowel movement yet. Monday I had really intense cramps in my upper stomach, yesterday and now today the cramps are decreasing and descending to my lower stomach. Now the fact that I haven't had a bowel movement is starting to scare me. I am usually a very regular guy. Should I take a laxative? If so what kind? and what should I expect? I've never taken a laxative before but I'm just picturing the scene from "Dumb and Dumber" where Jeff Daniels gets slipped some Turbo-Lax and has diarrhea in his date's bathroom. I'm 23, so I'm not too worried about underlying issues at this point, I'll give it another day or 2 to go to the doctor

Answer 1

If you have had a bout of diahrea, and haven't replaced all that was in your intestines, it takes a 2-3 days to build it up again, and get back on a regular daily routine. You should not worry yet. So long as you are eating enough food and not skimping by you should be fine.If you havent gone like by Fri noon....then consider a mild laxative. More water could help too. And hot tea.

Answer 2

Wait before taking a laxative, they can be quite harsh on the system.

I suggest making a large pot of mint tea, you can sweeten it with sugar or honey of you like, and drinking all of it.

If you don't like mint, try raspberry tea.

Or simply get a little bit of root ginger, slice it and peel it and put it in the bottom of a large teapot, then get a slice of lemon and add this to the teapot, then pour over the boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes. Drink all of it, and keep it warm, either on the stove or over a tealight.

Sometimes all you need to do is drink a little more to get things going. Beware of those processed foods, they'll block you up like there's no tomorrow.

Answer 3

Drink a lot of water - if you've eaten a lot of fiber and haven't drank a lot of water, the fiber is just going to 'sit' in the colon.

Answer 4

Sounds like you already have a plan. Another option as far as looking for an answer would be to call your local pharmacist and ask.

That's about all I have here. Hope everything "comes out" okay (chuckles).

Answer 5

try drinking some prune juice before u decide to take a laxative. prune juice has a natural way of "pushing" it out, lol

Answer 6

eat some fiber...add fiber in the diet.