I have been suffering for a few weeks now and nothing seems to work for me.....I just made a batch of the fruit paste and took my first dose so I sure hope it helps (I will include the recipe at the end of this post)!
I began having trouble about a month ago and found out a couple of weeks ago that I have Arachnoiditis caused when NS nicked my spinal dura during surgery (no cure, pain control only) so I now know this will be an on going problem for the rest of my life
If anyone knows of any other tricks,tips....please share them here???

Yakima Fruit Paste

DOSE: 1-2 tablespoons per day

1 pound prunes
1 pound raisins-pitted
1 pound figs
4 oz senna tea (look in your health food store, it looks like a bunch of leaves)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup lemon juice

1. Prepare tea-use about 2 1/2 cups boiled water added to tea and steep 5 minutes.
2. Strain tea to remove tea leaves and add only 1 pint tea to a large pot, then add fruit.
3. Boil fruit and tea for 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add sugar & lemon juice. Allow to cool.
5. Use hand mixer or food processor to blend fruit mixture into smooth paste.
6. Place in plastic container and place in freezer. (Paste will not freeze but will keep forever in freezer).
7. Spoon out what you require each day.

Enjoy eating it straight off the spoon.
Spread it on toast or add hot water and make a drink.

* If the fruit paste is not working (you are not having bowel movements) then you need to increase the amount of fruit paste you are taking.

* If the fruit paste makes you have very loose stools then you need to cut down on the amount of fruit paste you are taking. Perhaps even taking it every other day in some cases.

Hello???????????

If i understand your post correctly, you're asking what othe rpeople do to relieve constipation? I usually just eat a lot of dried pitted prunes for snack, and/or raisins too. my doctor also suggested eating a lot of fruits but prunes work best for me. I cannot tolerate prune juice (yach!!), but i like prunes.

Hi Junie,

I, too, have a terrible time with constipation due to having to take so many opoids. I remember your thread on the depression site and you have been through so much. It just doesn't seem fair sometimes, does it? I am truly sorry for all you are going through. I always snack on prunes and sometimes have to resort to laxatives but I want to thank you for that recipe. I plan on making some and trying it. Good luck to you and please keep posting. Like I said, I care.

Love,
Linda

drink lots of water. keep your bowels hydrated.

a bowl of oatmeal with added raisens or other dried fruit.

eat whole grains.

be careful of some of the products like metamucil. you HAVE to drink LOTS of water. a member here had a horrible experience with a blockage.

drinking too much caffiene ( gasp ) can have a dehydrating effect. herbal teas can be soothing and add the extra water you need.

also...watch your dairy intake. that can bind you up.

how is the paste working? and how does it taste?

i take an herbal supplement daily. i have been taking it for month. boy has it helped me! it's a cleanse type of product. you can pm me for the info. or anyone can for that matter. i don't sell it...not affiliated...but i don't usually post those kind of links.

Fresh coconut meat. Hard to break open...but it does the trick if you eat enough!!! Also...tastes similar to pecans or some other nut. Pretty good.

Thanks everyone that took the time to reply...I really thought more people would have the same problems as me but maybe it is too much of a delicate subject for most....I just know my life these days revolve around this problem....I am completely miserable and I drinks tons of water...made the fruit paste and even started taking magnesium...anything!!Laxatives do not touch me...I guess its time to call the GP and ask for Reglan and anything else out there that may help me go. Everytime I eat I feel sick so I know I am full of it

Yes, Junie, you could be right. Some people may be too embarrassed. I have gotten way passed the embarrassment! Six weeks ago, I was so plugged that I was throwing up every day! I was throwing up bile and boy was I sick! If I ate anything, I threw up, if I drank anything I threw up. So, instead of doing the smart thing and going to the doctor, which I had been to more times than I can count over the summer, I decided to fix the problem myself. I started taking laxatives and I mean I took three every two hours until I ended up taking 27! I almost died!! It unplugged me alright but I was shooting it out both ends for hours!! Please, Please, don't anyone ever be stupid enough to do what I did. It's just that I was so desperate and with the other stuff that was going on in my life at the time, I just wasn't thinking correctly. I have had this problem all my life but now that I am on so many meds, it's so much worse. I did tell my doctor that I had a terrible problem with it and all he did was say I should start taking metamucil and I tried but would throw up every time. So, that's out. Many of you have given me ideas that I am going to try and I thank you all.

Love,
LInda

I have had this problem too. I have tried everything--including that nasty citrus liquid Magnesium citrate. It may work, but it can also make things flow around the road block.......I needed something that works everyday. A friend told me about Dr. Schulze's Intestinal Formula #1. It works, and I have never gotten crampy from it. The doctor's at the hosptal said it was fine to take.

typically results from Senna type laxatives.

http://www.medicinenet.com/melanosis_coli/article.htm

There has been a "movement" away from the use of these for that reason.

In long term care, the most common laxative now is Miralax, now available in generic called Glycolax.

Don't underestimate prunes/dates/figs...these are high in nutrients and do help some people.