For all you that suffer with chronic constipation, can you please give me some advise as to what has worked for you.

I had surgery (supracervical hysterectomy and sacrolcolpopexy) about 5 weeks ago, and I cannot get my bowels back to working. I have always had difficulty.

I have literally taken a bottle of colace, a bottle of miralax, a box of exlax, and a bottle of magnesium citrate over the last five weeks. I did go after the bottle of magnesium citrate....but haven't went again since (about a week)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Interesting site. Hope it helps some.


http://www.livestrong.com/article/19...complications/

You absolutely do not want to strain to have a BM.

I am or was a chronic constipation patient. Poohing once a week was the norm for me. when I was in the hospital I ate all their yogurt and fruits, every day. One day I started to be regular. When I returned home, I continued the routine and I am no longer constipated.

Be careful though, too much yogurt and fruit in one day and you have diahrea. Some days I skip it and that helps.

It feels so good to be regular again.

Good luck.

Daisygirl,

Are you still on pain pills from your surgery? Most narcotics paralyze the bowel.

Drinking fluids, esp. water and walking if you are able should help.

Miralax works for me. If I haven't gone for 3 days I take it the third night. Works well (for me).

Hope this gets better for you- I know it can be miserable.
ANN

Once a week is normal for some people. Every few days for others or every day for some.

You say you were OK while on the Mag Citrate. I have taken magnesium in a better form than that for a quarter of a century, since a neuro put me on it for leg jerks and spasm.
I have only been constipated two times during that period. Once after surgery, and had to be manually evacuated by a nurse. once after a trip and eating bad food and worrying, then I had an intestinal block which needed to be relieved by an oil enema (you can buy oil enemas in the drug store). I use Twinlab Maxnesium oxide, which is one of the least expensive. I take 1000 mg a day.

I also second Sally's suggestion on eating fruit. Yoghurt I'm not sure helps me although I eat it often, so maybe it does. Without fruit and water one is more likely to be constipated.

Mariel...
Where do you get Twinlab Maxnesium oxide?? All I need, another pill to take everyday, but if it will work, then I will try it.
thanks )

Story of my life...at least after two kids. Have used lots of things over the years, but have left all the icky unnatural stuff behind (pardon the pun).

Every body has different triggers for release; used to be able to go after eating dried prunes. Or Maxwell House coffee. Never failed. Now have moved (again, so sorry, puns oiy!) on to stronger coffee...expresso. Senna works also (if it's been longer than a few days). Mag Citrate is ok for after a week but be careful with it.

Drinking lotss of water is recommended. That fruit & yogurt thing never worked for me, but, like I said everyone is different. Psyllium husks are the last, last resort here. You can get them at the health food store. Usually, it only takes a few teaspoons of the stuff. Mix it into something. I can't mix it into drinks anymore. Choking stuff is worse than no crappy stuff.

Hope it helps~

Mag07
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobic-Life-O.../dp/B00014H7GA

Scroll down for product info
http://www.mariepace.com/shop/index....n-cleanse.html

This stuff is amazing! Have been using it for years and have also recommended it to patients. It does not cause loose stools or irritate the gut like senna (ex-lax), mineral oil or any of the other products that either block the reabsorption of water from the colon or cause spastic contractions of the bowel.
It actually improves gut function through providing oxygen and the magnesium molecule stays in the gut as it is too large in its oxidized form to be absorbed into the blood stream...so it won't mess with electrolytes.

Hope that you find a solution soon.

With love, Erika

wonder how this differs from the one Mariel suggested?