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[menopausalalways]

Hello out there

I am suffering from chronic constipation 
I am upping my fibre and drinking dam loads of water - but still I cant go for a wonderful poo 
I have now got 2 shelves full of David Walliams books above the loo, hoping a good belly laugh will kick me into action......
NOT WORKING
When do all these nasty symptoms begggar orf!!!

[Dierdre]

When I've not been for a few days a couple of glasses of red wine never fails. I think it relaxes me and then I'm able to go with no trouble.

[Evie606]

Magnesium Citrate is a good supplement to take but a side effect can be loose motions, it might be beneficial in your case.
Otherwise a large cup of coffee (proper filter etc. not instant) usually does the trick in my case, assuming you haven’t any issues with caffeine. 

[Deeble]

Hi
A few possible solutions that I can vouch for:
Try a kiwi fruit or two - take the top off and eat with a spoon like a boiled egg!
A strong cup of coffee with some very dark chocolate.
A desertspoon of flaxseeds sprinkled on a yoghurt followed by a large drink of water.
Magnesium citrate - this can be helpful for aching muscles, help with sleep and/or constipation, depending on the amount you take. Can't remember the dosage but various brands available in health food shops.
Good luck!

[CLKD]

Drop the amount of fibre! the body can have too much which slows the digestive system down.

I find that if my bowel is slow and I don't take 1 dose of my regular ADs then I 'go' within 24 hours. 

Coffee makes me nauseous.  Maybe eat less for 24 hours to allow the bowel to catch up?  Sometimes those nerves can be over-loaded with info so that we feel we should 'go' but the body actually doesn't need to.  I'm an 'every morning' Girl but sometimes it can be mid afternoon then I miss a day 

[menopausalalways]

Thanks Ladies
Will give 'em all a GO..............
Bout time this Meno Lark beggared orf

[Kathleen]

Hello menopausalalways.

I have never had this problem fortunately but a friend of mine suffered terribly. She was referred to a gastroenterologist and was told to take two tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily. It is important to grind the seeds otherwise they just pass through without being digested but maybe that would also work?

I wonder if a lot of fibre is only a problem if you suddenly ingest a lot in one go. Perhaps the trick is to work up slowly so that your body and your microbiome has a chance to adapt.

Wishing you well.

K.

[RebJT]

Constipation is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism, which usually shows up around the menopause ...

Might be worth ruling his out (btw, like with hormones, don't take a GPs 'everything is normal' for it, you need your TSH below 1 to be euthryroid, anything above is suss, not that you'll get an NHS GP to agree).  I'd find out your last set of blood results.  You could look at thyroid supporting nutrients in any case.

Agree re coffee and wine, also probiotics might help, and there are some yoga poses that help too!  https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/yoga-for-constipation

[pepperminty]

Hi,  down load this - The constipation cure by Michelle Lyons - loads of good advice.

https://celebratemuliebrity.com/resources/

Hope it improves soon- I have the same issue and mine is partly due to a tight pelvic floor as the muscles effect how you go!

Pepperminty xx

[Mogster71]

Plenty of good advice so far, I can definitely vouch for the hot drink (plenty of mugs quoting "coffee makes you poop") . Also a brisk walk or some yoga can sometimes get things moving...I tend to find that if I sit about too much it can make my whole system feel slow.

I would say be careful with the flaxseeds or you'll be scared to laugh for a while  - increase your fibre slowly

One thing that might be worth a try is the "poop button" located 3 finger widths directly below your navel; if you apply firm pressure to it for about a minute it's meant to do the trick!!

All the best x

[Gilla999]

I'm also suffering with this! Haven't had a proper bowel movement since early December which is when I started taking Zoely contraceptive pill for my horrific perimenopause symptoms. Blood tests etc have come back fine. I'm sure it's something to do with the hormones and water retention. I'm sticking with the Pill as the positives outweigh the negatives, but I have tried EVERYTHING in terms of diet and nothing works! So annoying... good luck, I hope you see improvement x

[dahliagirl]

Oral contraceptives have a high level of progestogens, which relaxes smooth muscle which is muscle that you do not consciously control eg bowel.  It slows down the speed at which your food travels through the intestine.  When it takes longer to get through your colon, more water is reabsorbed making stools harder.  This in turn slows down transit further.

Soluble fibre is recommended (ie oats, beans, fruit and veg, stewed fruit eg apples, prunes, apricots - incidentally these are supposed to help with cholesterol too)
Plenty of fluid
feet on a stool, or equivalent
exercise 
encouraging an urge at the same time daily
coffee, chewing food well to promote peristalsis, regular mealtimes.
Pre/probiotics etc

Pre-empt constipation by taking laxatives when you know it will happen.
Movicol works well 
(I was recommended senna and ortis cubes but they both give me tummy pains.)

[CLKD]

Mum swore by Ortis - it's got figs in 

MayB stop most foods for 24 hours, go bland.  Give the digestive system a rest?

[dahliagirl]

I quite like figs, but it is hard to find the fresh ones that are the right level of ripeness.  Dried ones are good in worthy cakes, along with dates and seeds.

One thing that works for me is a nice bracing walk at the seaside and stuffing myself with fish and chips 
Unfortunately you can't do this every day.  I don't know what the position  is with regards to queueing for the fish shop with covid and all that - haven't been there for ages. 

[CLKD]

Is it the vinegar on the chips that might be the trigger?

I was thinking of this in the bath last night  .  The doctors don't worry until a person hasn't passed a stool for at least 3 weeks 

Any improvement this morning?