Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => New Members => Topic started by: Hamilton on January 03, 2018, 11:36:25 AM
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Hi there I go a hysterectomy in Aug and really suffering to go to the loo ,I have gagtroparesis (slow emptying of the tummy)and slow transit of the bowel ,got really worse since op ,anyone got ideas how to help please x
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Hi Hamilton
I have the opposite problem - everything goes through me really quickly. Have you had advice from a dietician?
I suspect the answer for you will lie with diet and exercise. Plenty of fibre in the diet e.g. fruits, veg, pulses, grains etc. but also drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Brisk walking and swimming can also be very beneficial to get the digestive system moving well.
Golden rule - small meal portions often with a glass of water. I assume you use laxatives? DG x
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I've tried so many things over the years but nothing had really worked. The last few years have been even more of a struggle with it because the constant constipation I've had most of my life has caused a prolapse. About 6 months ago I discovered glycerin suppositories. They are amazing! I use one every morning and am able to empty my bowel without all the straining etc. Prior to that the shortest gap between bowel movements was a week. Because I'm able to go everyday the waste isn't backing up and food is leaving my stomach quicker. I'm much more comfortable now. Out of all the things I've been prescribed for it this has been the only thing to truly work.
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just want to add that I have a really healthy diet but for some people that makes no difference. For me it's to do with nerves not working as they should in part of the bowel. The glycerin suppositories have meant I've been able to delay a bowel operation (I hope forever). They're available at chemists and supermarkets.
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I have very slow transit time too ( the little markers used on the transit test have never moved during the five day duration of the test for me)but I've been very surprised at how much the glycerin suppositories have helped with that. I can only think that when they stimulate the rectum it encourages the rest of the bowel to move as well. Since My periods started at the age of 10 I would get so full of waste I would feel like I was going vomit it out and when I did eventually go it was an ordeal with everything exiting at once (sorry Tmi) I wish I'd found the suppositories years ago. They're ace
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I've just ordered some from amazon brainless ty for that I'm the same no matter how healthy I think I'm eating I always end up feeling constipated and struggle to go so I th7 k a bit of help now and again is useful to help detox the body.xx
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After you've inserted one lay on your left hand side while it works it's magic 😉 I intend using them everyday forever😀
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Hello ladies.
I am like Dancinggirl in that my bowel has a habit of emptying quickly so I've never been constipated but a friend of mine has this problem. Her gastroenterologist told her to eat ground flaxseed every day and she finds that this works well.
Hope this helps and wishing you all well.
K.
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I have slow transit sometimes.
HORMONES can affect bowels. For years during my menstruating years 10 mins. B4 a bleed began even if a period wasn't due, I would have to find a loo, FAST as I had 'the runs' >:(.
My Mum swears by a chewy sweet (name escapes me) : it has figs in it : that she buys from Holland and Barratt. I had Colpermin peppermint capsules to ease upper gut wind and Motillium which is an anti-sickness medication which moves the bowel to empty - I had to swallow both within an hour of eating my main meals. To clear the upper stomach B4 the next food entered, my bowel spasm had practically stopped. Get a copy of Micheal Moseley's recent book about the gut as it explains fully how food enters the stomach and is processed ....... [not to be read B4 or after eating ;)].
I took the upper mixture for 5 years then tried Actimel - which worked well for me. Again, swallowing 3 pots daily initially encouraged my bowel to get back to 'normal' - I'm a go in the morning Girl - and certainly, when on holiday where we didn't have a fridge I noticed that my bowel slowed up within 36 hours without Actimel.
Sometimes my bowel doesn't feel as though it has emptied fully ........ >:(
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I tried flaxseed and managed to get things moving to about every 5 or 6 days but it really irritated my bowel so got a lot of pain and just a bit of movement so not worth it for me. I know it does help a lot of people though so I wonder if it depends on the reason for the constipation.
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A good intake of liquids is important to keep the bowel lubricated. That is from tea, coffee, juice, water, alcohol and food stuffs.
Exercise is important. Swimming can stimulate the bowels if the pool is warm enough. My sister at age 2/3 had constiptation but her bowels opened every night in the bath :-X
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Hi CLKD is the Michael Moseley book called the clever guts diet?
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I think that's it, :medal: - but it's not to hand so I can't remember - meno-brain here ;D
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Thanks I will check it out
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Hi Brainless.
Please ask your GP to prescribe Movicol for you...it's brilliant for constipation...I'm a retired children's nurse but adults use this med too.
It rehydrates what is there so to speak...no laxative effect but gentle on your tummy too.
Hope it helps
Woodlands x
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Thanks woodlands I used movicol for years but unfortunately I needed to take too much everyday to get a result so it affected my electrolytes. Although I was able to go a bit more often it wasn't enoughthings still backed up a lot. It was better than laxatives though. The glycerin is the only thing that's really worked well for me
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So your body emptied itself too fast .......... I have the same problem with onions, which I love but they clear me out and it's the closest I have ever been to a 'trip'. ::). It caused me to feel really as my minerals went haywire!
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Hi - I suffer constipation at the drop of a hat. If I do not drink enough water, get hot, eat crisps.........the list is endless. I saw a physio when I was post surgery who gave me lots of tips - will update tomorrow when I am not tired.
Meanwhile, I was told that a kiwi fruit a day will sort things and 2 will shift anything.
Daily Kiwi fruit does work very well - keeps things from drying and produces perfect number 2s daily. :D If only I liked them and they did not make my mouth itchy ::) >:( :(
They are well worth a try - they worked even better than movicol when I ate them.
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I suffer really bad, for years I use a herbal tea called ideal health slimatee, from Holland and barrette.
I have it at night and really dose help although I've taken for so long I think I'm getting use to it.
Are suppositories OK to use daily? X
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Yes they are ok to be used daily although it does say on the box to check with a doctor if needed more than short term. I think that is to check on the cause of the constipation. I get mine on prescription but also buy them at Tesco.
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Great thank you xx
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That sounds like an allergic reaction to kiwi dahliagirl!
I have slow transit this morning because we have funerals to attend so my anxiety levels are up :-\
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Yep - fruit is a problem :-\ and nuts :-\
Anxiety usually gives me faster transit ;D Unless I am completely bunged up, which doesn't happen now because I am more careful.
Successful toilet tips 8)
1. feet up, sit up and lean forward. Look at http://www.squattypotty.co.uk/ for tips and diagrams (no need to buy the thing though).
2. Stimulate peristalsis with a really good breakfast every morning. Coffee is helpful too. Chew well.
3. Go to the loo after breakfast and give yourself 10mins peace and quiet.
3. Eat plenty of Soluble Fibre (beans, veg, fruit, porridge oats) (This is also good for cholesterol levels so 2 birds with one stone there)
4. Regular exercise is good for your insides.
5. Plenty fluids
5. If you know you will be in a situation where you will get constipated, take the laxative pre-emptively.
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I find that sometimes I feel that I need to go but it takes several trips - in between I move around the house/garden to stimulate the bowel ;-).
Prunes
Olives
Oily fish
A good muesli - I eat Lizies
Dried apricots
Figs
Also, have a day with plenty of fresh drinks and fruits, but nothing filling - then began eating little and often .........