Constipation - Bane of my Life!

Women's health
1

Hiya All

I know that there's lots of others on this wonderful site who discuss anything from head-to-toe, and anything in between.  Think I'm the worse culprit!

But can I just ask:  aside from the ladies diagnosed with IBS pre-Peri:  Has anyone found that things are even more sluggish than normal?

Hate to say it, but my WHOLE persona changes if I'm constipated: it takes over my every waking hour, fretting about how long I haven't been; how hard its going to be (like giving birth sometimes, believe me!); should I take a laxative etc etc??

Have upped my water intake, and have been peeing for Britain!  Have always loved a wide variety of veg, not so keen on fruit (hate juices) as I'm more a 'savoury' than 'sweet' gal.  Xmas saw the true emergence of my relatively controlled sweetie craving, so will avoid sweets/biccies etc as I wonder if there's even a connection here- OD-ing on sugar??

Have to admit to resorting to a mild laxative now and then, and since a bout of unusual, and unwanted 'looseness' from 1 Jan (which tied in with Xmas Period Pt 2 urghh!) I've gone full circle. Its got to the stage now where I've really struggled for 5 days. Now on the stool softeners!! Have never had piles, but know enough about them to worry about internal ones as opposed to the external.  After 'giving birth' earlier this week, it felt like I'd been booted up the jacksie: throb. throb. throb.

I know a lot of ladies attribute this to IBS. Have to admit my bowels have always beeen quite emotional TBH!  Having run a busy business for 22 long yrs, I had been very good for caring for others, meeting their needs etc, but I think as a result I had enough stress to develop IBS.  Now I'm a lady of leisure (bored!) I thought they'd lighten up. Huh!

I come from what I would call an extended 'windy' family, and we've never really been one's to hold back on this front. However, in terms of IBS, I NEVER, EVER get diahorreah. I've got a gut of cast iron, me. 

So please ladies, I'll leave my 'toilet humour' aside:  Is anyone else suffering like this sister?redface x

 

2

Hi shaznay

Yep i get this still, and resort to lactolose softener sometimes, black licorice helps.,

Ummm try not to strain or you will end up with a mild uterine prolapse.. Like me

Force nothing in menopause ..

I am not like it always, i go through periods of it, try a lactolose from the farmacy or natural senna tablets

Real bummer isnt it 😃

Jay x

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Once again shaznay you have made my day! I buy Dulcoease when I need help. After a few days back to normal in the plumbing department.

4

Ta Matron

Alas, I am their main Shareholder!  Prefer them to others as less purging.  Oh well, I'm making a vegetable soup as I type, so I'll get even more fluids in me.  (Understand overdoing the fibre in various sources can be counterproductive, so taking things easy).

S x

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jayneejay - I will heed your advice re prolapse!

And Hey Missy - I'm the Pun Queen  (Loved the 'Real bummer' comment:  sometimes, you just can't resist it can you? x

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Hi - I used to suffer terribly with constipation, I am a vegitarian & eat lots of pulses & Lentils, my sister was the same to. I started taking I take Osteocare by Vitabiotics it has (Calcium-Magnesium-D3 & Zinc) this was for the muscle & bone pain I had been suffering with which has also gone but I now go every day, honestly I am so excited as I had suffer with constipation for years! My sister has also started taken them & like me is so happy with the results! The tablets are large to swallow but who cares! Its the magnesium that is helping but its a good combination tablet with the Calcium. mag, Zinz & D3. Good luck its not fun being like that & its a worry whats happening inside!

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You are right shaznay. Too much fibre can bulk the old stools up so they are harder to pass. 

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I had a prolapse repaired 4 years ago. If you need advice.

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Thanks for replying barbara

I've read a bit on here about the magical properties of magnesium in regards to shifting things along. 

I'm not on any meds at all.  Given in to buying myself Menopace Viabiotics,like you for the aches & pains, which I believe contain the vits/mins you mention. Not sure of their doses in relation to RDAs. Might be wise for me to check to see if there's any leeway for me to up my intake of some of these and completely reap their benefits.

Unfortunately, due to this bloody cast iron gut of mine, I haven't had much benefit  from its shifting properties........yet!

I've been feeling decidely chilled for the past couple of weeks, very unusual so making the most of it.  I think once I get back to being a little more regular, I'll be fine. 

My whole family are great veg fans, so we generally eat our 5-a-day allowance in our meals.  Cutting down on coffee. Might reaquaint myself with green tea and just get myself out of the extended Xmas sugar craving binge. That stuff's no good for us - grateful that my 'tooth' is savoury rather than sweet  (successfully weaning myself off of diet coke to avoid the bloat: easy peasy!).

Ta Ladies. Much appreciated advice x

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Hi hun

ref.. Prolapse, mines only slight, Gyno told me about it, and pelvic floor excercise can help me, and the ovestin ovules i use ..

and deffo no straining on the loo, ( bearing down pushing no no ) 

jay x

 

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Hahahaha

yes i have a wicked sense if humour, but curb it in here, just incase some dont like it ..

hehehehhe

jay xx

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If they don't like it they don't have to read it do they? Don't change

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I am a fellow IBS sufferer, not sure it got worse with peri but I do manage mostly by taking fybogel every night before bed....keepsme regular. I so identify with the kicked up the butt bit

I also have a slight uterine prolapse which I am managing at the moment.

Bloody hell, who'd choose to be a woman??

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I love it!!  

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Hi dear Shazam I had a hard time too hehe 

i dunno I changed my diet to more fruit.  I started to eat, I swear to God, that apple a day saying really does keep the doctor away.  That's the only thing I added recently to my diet and it changed my toilet experience! xo 💙💜💛

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hi shaznay,

i think i should be on the fibroids forum but as you say we digress.

i'm still looking for an answer to my left pelvic pain and today have had a barium enema. last week i had a CT scan.

i've been getting tossed from gynno to digestivo for over 3 years.

hopefully somebody will see the cause this time around and give me my life back.

nearly 67 so i still have a lot i want to do. especially as i live in spain.

one of the spinoffs of my infirmity is loose stools or none at all.

i'm glad to hear you are a lady of leisure these days as its crucial you become a creature of habit concerning your bowels.

my newly discovered constipation aid is salted pumpkin seeds.

nibble away in the evening watching tv and in the morning there you go.

i do hope you can get them in uk or wherever you live.

they are delicious.

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Hi Shaznay ,firstly may I say that I love reading your threads ( so amusing ) but of course of a serious nature ! ,anyway on to the matter in hand ,I used to suffer from slow bowels but started eating Kelloggs All Bran Golden Crunch ( like you I have a sweet tooth ) so this is actually an enjoyable way to have All Bran ,anyway it seems to work ,almost too well if I overindulge on the stuff ,find it quite moreish ! My mum also used to suffer with constipation and she is now a lot better after eating this ,anyway it is a suggestion ,may or may not make any difference !

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Hiya sarah

My take on life is this: we get a lot of things thrown at us to deal with, and its up to us (and those around us who love us) to deal with them.  I'm very fortunate that my ol' man is truly my best mate. We met at 17/18 and believe me when I say that a man that can make me laugh could get in my knickers!!   We've been laughing ever since!!  And, as that cheeky sod always tells me:  'Its what's inside that counts!' - back of the queue, me, when they were dishing out the looks I'm afraid.  Just had to get a personality and a sense of humour to compensate!

Shame I didn't get a fast metabolism and good bowels too!!

All joking inside, I've started eating Bran Flakes with some blueberries thrown in.  I don't drink milk so I'm happy with soya or just boiled water really.  I think I've got to take care not go OTT on the fibre for now, but I've certainly got a taste for them. 

Glad your mum's benefitting.  Actually, when I look back, both my late mum and my 2nd eldest sister (who I'm like, apparently:  she's a size 8. I'm not. I think that's my other 2 sisters trying to be funny!!) were/are a bit inclined to get the flags out when they finally got to 'Go'.  I think its definitely a woman-thing.  Can't say I've ever known a bloke who's admitted to having problems with their bowels. From experience, its generally the women in their lives who find their bowels a problem!  x

 

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I knew you lot would come to my rescue!  Thanks HotDot, I think I'm going to have to start eating some fruit. 

Tell me: where else could we all have such an in-depth discussion about our bowel movements, bleeding, aching boobs, etc outside of a Doctor's surgery?  I love this site! x

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Ya know what chica, I have a big tub of sunflower seeds that sound like they'd work well for me, maybe. Worth giving it a try huh? 

Remember my mum having a barium enema........say no more!

Hope you get some answers soon.

Thanks for your advice x