Constipation and stomach issues - any advice on remedies? (1 Viewer)

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

The woman to whom I’m related to by marriage has always had stomach issues. Constantly constipated. Shes been to the doctors and they can’t seem to find anything. 

He diet is impeccable. She exercises 6/7 days a week. She takes probiotics and that seems to help. Other that no dairy. Little to no gluten. Lots of veggies and salads and meats, nothing man made. 
 

Shes thinking of taking a laxative or a cleanse of some sort. We know nothing John Snow. She’s even let order a shower kit enema thing  
 

Anybody have and gastrointestinal tips? 

 

[SoBeDad]

The woman to whom I’m related to by marriage has always had stomach issues. Constantly constipated. Shes been to the doctors and they can’t seem to find anything. 

He diet is impeccable. She exercises 6/7 days a week. She takes probiotics and that seems to help. Other that no dairy. Little to no gluten. Lots of veggies and salads and meats, nothing man made. 
 

Shes thinking of taking a laxative or a cleanse of some sort. We know nothing John Snow. She’s even let order a shower kit enema thing  
 

Anybody have and gastrointestinal tips? 

My grandmother had periodic constipation. Her remedy was homemade prune juice. She'd boil prunes and put the juice and prunes in a large jar in the refrigerator. 

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

Cheap beer does the trick for me

 

[Kal El]

My grandmother had periodic constipation. Her remedy was homemade prune juice. She'd boil prunes and put the juice and prunes in a large jar in the refrigerator. 

I was thinking prune juice, maybe checking on fiber intake. There is also the nuclear option: Taco Bell

 

[JetMaxx]

The woman to whom I’m related to by marriage has always had stomach issues. Constantly constipated. Shes been to the doctors and they can’t seem to find anything. 

He diet is impeccable. She exercises 6/7 days a week. She takes probiotics and that seems to help. Other that no dairy. Little to no gluten. Lots of veggies and salads and meats, nothing man made. 
 

Shes thinking of taking a laxative or a cleanse of some sort. We know nothing John Snow. She’s even let order a shower kit enema thing  
 

Anybody have and gastrointestinal tips? 

Emotional issues a cause?

Wife and I always try to look deeply into any physical ailment because at times there can be an underlying psychological issue at the root. Just throwing it out there, hope she finds relief. 

 

[Scoresman]

Taco Bell

 

[jvdesigns2002]

If she exercises a lot—-is she drinking ample water?  The first thing I’d do is tell her to take a ginger shot a day for 2-3 days in a row and to increase the amount of water she drinks daily during that same 2-3 day period and see if it helps.   

 

[johnnycakes]

A daily dose of Miralax should do the trick.  

 

[leftcoastguy7]

Have her ask her doctor for a prescription of Linzess.

Works wonders for my constipation. 

 

[Cjw_55106]

So the doctor just sent her on her way with no root cause or suggestions?

 

[The General]

Try some Metamucil for 2 weeks. See if that helps. If it does work for her I think she will see some movement in about 3-4 days. But give it a try for longer just to be sure. 

 

[The Football Freak]

Ibgard

It’s natural, enteric coated to ensure it works in the intestines, and does the trick. Just take one before meals for a few days, and repeat if the constipation persists. If the minty aftertaste is too strong, some raisins/dates/prunes and peppermint tea could help, too. You can take the ibgard for as long as needed. Good luck to your wife getting those kids to the pool!  

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Ibgard

It’s natural, enteric coated to ensure it works in the intestines, and does the trick. Just take one before meals for a few days, and repeat if the constipation persists. If the minty aftertaste is too strong, some raisins/dates/prunes and peppermint tea could help, too. You can take the ibgard for as long as needed. Good luck to your wife getting those kids to the pool!  

If it works, take that as a sign to bet on the Browns to go to the Super Bowl.

 

[D-Day]

Add fiber supplement and stool softener as maintenance.  Add Miralax once or twice a day to start clearing things out then as needed.  Could also add mineral oil.   
 

ETA:  magazine subscription. 

 

[Osaurus]

Tell her to try a Starbucks’s Mocha. It’s like a faucet turned on within 10 minutes. 

 

[fruity pebbles]

As someone else said, a lot of it ends up being psychological. Becomes a vicious circle. Person is constantly thinking about their poop cycle and the consequences of not going regularly and that in turn slows them up.

 

[dkp993]

Tell her to try a Starbucks’s Mocha. It’s like a faucet turned on within 10 minutes. 

Lol.  I’m so Pavlovian trained that the smell of coffee has me running to the bathroom.  

 

[dkp993]

A daily dose of Miralax should do the trick.  

My daughter was born 6 weeks premature and has had MAJOR constipation issues from the beginning. At first we wrote it off to an underdeveloped digestive system, but it still continues to this day (she’s 6).  Our Dr had us give her a daily dose of Miralax starting when she was 2ish.  Has been a life changer, as long as we don’t miss a morning dose she has zero issues.  I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of research looking for any long term effects from long term use, couldn’t find any.  From your description @STEADYMOBBIN 22 I’d give it a shot. No real down sides I can see.  

 

[Terminalxylem]

The advice in this thread has been good - eat more fruit/veg/fiber and hydrate first and foremost. Adding miralax and/or Senna if medications are needed. Don't add Colace (docusate) - it's been proven not to work. Reserve Linzess for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome. The data for probiotics is limited, and the formulations are inconsistent - Culturelle is one of the better ones. And her doctor should review if any of her medications are contributing, especially anything related to opioids.

When you say doctors can't find anything, what does that mean? Although most chronic constipation is idiopathic (unknown cause), there is a fairly standard work up including thyroid function studies, electrolytes and possibly gastroenterology referral for specialized testing. If she's older than 50 (soon to be lowered to 45) she should have colonoscopy, or if she has alarm features like unintended weight loss/blood in her stool.

 

[need2know]

Go to a Mexican restaurant 

 

[jrt103]

apple cider vinegar 

 

[mr. furley]

The advice in this thread has been good - eat more fruit/veg/fiber and hydrate first and foremost. Adding miralax and/or Senna if medications are needed. Don't add Colace (docusate) - it's been proven not to work. Reserve Linzess for constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome. The data for probiotics is limited, and the formulations are inconsistent - Culturelle is one of the better ones. And her doctor should review if any of her medications are contributing, especially anything related to opioids.

When you say doctors can't find anything, what does that mean? Although most chronic constipation is idiopathic (unknown cause), there is a fairly standard work up including thyroid function studies, electrolytes and possibly gastroenterology referral for specialized testing. If she's older than 50 (soon to be lowered to 45) she should have colonoscopy, or if she has alarm features like unintended weight loss/blood in her stool.

Culturelle worked well for my youngest when she was battling constipation. she would go days and days without a bowel movement and her stomach would get bloated. nothing worked until we started mixing in Culturelle.