Mirilax or milk of magnesia.
Kathi

I'm a believer in FLAX!

You can find ground FLAX in the baking section.

Flaxseed has a pleasant nutty taste. Start introducing it gradually in to your diet, then work your way up to 2 Tbsp. per day. Make sure to drink lots of water!

I sprinkle GROUND Flax on my oatmeal!

Be sure to refrigerate the flax in a plastic container, after opening.

I agree with the flax suggestion.

Using prunes is often helpful for some people.

Do you have quite a lot of fibre in your diet? Many say that having a substantial amount helps to keep one regular.

Are you drinking a good quantity of water daily? And, in most areas, municipal water undergoes more extensive testing than does bottled water (and how do we know how much testing was done on it in the jurisdiction where it was bottled?). Actually, a high percentage of the bottled water in our countries is sourced from ... municipal supplies (as they go through a bottling plant, located in a city).

If you are, shall we say, stuck ... maybe try a small quantity of epsom salts ...

... and don't get far from a bathroom!

Hope you can get the problem cleared up ... pardon, I meant, "cleared out" (and I hope that there isn't a necessity of "clearing up", before the whole issue is complete).

ole joyful

Make sure to get enough fluids, and stay mobile. Walking around helps to massage organs and keep things moving as they should.

It is one thing to try and prevent it by adding sources of fiber to your diet (prunes, flax, and so on). But if you are already in that condition, you need to soften and expel what is there. Prunes won't help unbind that, but they will help what is after is be looser.

In the short term try a stool softener. It helps soften the stool that is already there and make it easier to pass (colace, I believe is one?). You can try a warm hot water bottle on the abdomen as well to help relax the area which might help. Or maybe a nice warm bath.

Don't forget that certain foods (bananas) and medicines (tylenol with codeine) can make the problem worse.

If flax isn't ground up, it will just pass through your system undigested... so be sure to use ground flax if you decide to go that route.

I find that daily Magnesium supplements work very well. Take as many as you need... if you get diarrhea cut back on them.

Whole flax gives you the toots!

Trust me, I know :o)

Fish oil tablets.

Carrot Juice

Carrot juices contain certain oils that work on the mucus membranes of the stomach and colon. This helps with digestion and starts your bowels functioning properly. Carrots are high in fiber and beta-carotene, an antioxidant, which the body converts to vitamin A. Carrots can make your stools softer and larger.
Add some apples to it for a better taste.

Careful with whole flax seeds! If you have diverticulitis, it'll really mess you up (know from my dh's experience).

I hear that flax says, "Hi" on the way in ...

... and "Bye'" on the way out ...

... and doesn't do much for my nutrition or my system (apart from potential problems regarding certain illnesses) on the way through!

Heck - I should be able to do as well as that using (small) gravel! But ... I ain't no chicken!

o j

Prunes and at least 2 glasses per day of V8 tomato juice.

You can buy both economically at Sam's Club.

About a 1/2# of good greasy bacon empties me out quite effectively. And tastes good going in too!

Eat a bowl of Uncle Sam cereal at breakfast and drink 4 oz. hot prune juice with it. Works well.
Increase your fiber, drink more water, exercise on a regular basis.
I have found eating more fruits and vegetables really help.
If you haven't already, find the cause of the constipation.
Have a colonoscopy if the constipation is severe and a new symptom.

Epsom Salts will work very well, TOO WELL. Unless you are desperate, and can practically live in the bathroom, I would avoid them at all costs. :-). Guess how I know. LOL

Alexis

Grape Nuts cereal. Not a quick solution - but works nice and gentle :)

If it's a one time thing try eating around 6 fig bars and maybe some prune juice. It might just be a temporary thing . Walking is also good

I've always heard polk salad in spring is good. I think eating your veggies including leafy greens, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts would be best. They have a lot of fiber in them.

Stool softener gel caps
Canned pumpkin, if you can find it.
Fiber tabs.
Prunes of course.

I second the magnesium pills. Have been taking one before bed for several years. If you need it take one in the morning too.

I have had problems with this for years and have now found that a cup of Activia yogurt everyday has taken care of the problem. I love the vanilla yogurt.

Stay away from fish oil, unless you're already dependent on it.

It makes your S*it stink horribly, and after a time, does create a dependency.

I take 1 fish oil softgel every day...not for constipation but for the Omega 3 which is suppose to contribute to heart health. I do not have the problem Monica talks about. A friend of mine was having problems with constipation and her doctor recommended fish oil pills as did my husbands doctor. I did find out that two pills a day was a problem for me which is why I know it helps for constipation so I'm only taking one.

Another believer in ground flax which is very high in fiber (don't take it whole as it doesn't do much for you that way - it must be grinded). Add a tablespoon to cereal in the morning, up to 2 per day. You can use this in/on almost any meal. I especially like it in fruit smoothies and on salads. It's a nutty taste as someone else mentioned.

I buy the golden, whole flax and grind it myself, but you can buy it already grinded. Store the grinded seed in the frig in a very tightly sealed container.

In a pinch, Miralax works without the cramps or being uncomfortable....but if you've been constipated for days, you might want to take this everyday, twice a day until it does it's job.

Organic 2% chocolate milk. It works. Also if you are taking calcium pills - take 200 mg or so of magnesium as well.

I have some medicine left over that will cure it n less than 3 days. The MD originally told me to take it for a month! After 3 days, I called and told his assistant that I was no longer in need of anything! LOL

I don't post often, but lurk alot. I couldn't resist adding to this thread. What works for me: Taco Bell. Enough said.

STOOL SOFTENER STOOL SOFTENER STOOL SOFTENER colace is good
then milk of magnesia

I have major problems with this with chemo. these two things worked the fastest for me...
oh, and one ingredient that you will find in "woman's laxative"(safway's brand) called BISACODYL

these are the ones that the nurses told me to get and
they worked!
miralax takes too long.

oh, I find dried apricots help me too... LOL

The milk of magnesia, mint flavor is easy to get down and works quite well without alot of physical cramping.

Also, oddly enough I have found that a half can of spinach does the job for me. Regular use of fresh spinach in my diet (I have a big salad of fresh spinach every day) keeps the pipes clear, but a half or more can of spinach REALLY does the trick within about three hours. Or less. So keep the bathroom handy.

Too funny Shay....must post more often!

All I need to do is mix a STRONG cup of instant coffee, put in a pkt. of dark chocolate hot chocolate mix and KABOOM - in 15 minutes I'm clean as a whistle!!!! LOL

Two cups of coffee really work for me. My Dad used to drink a glass of hot water with a squirt of lemon juice.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. One thing I forgot to mention is I do have diverticulitis so flax seed
is not a good option. I have taken Miralax but it didn't work right away. I should have taken it twice a day.

miralax will take up to 4 or 5 days to work. Milk of magnesia and stool softener! lol

And if all else fails, get your thyroid levels checked. (Coming from someone who knows ; ))

I was fighting this the last few days. The only thing that helped was Epson salts with warm water. But works really really good, but i was in such pain I would rather be jumping up to go, rather than not going at all. I also read that 2 tablespoons of honey a day can help. Heating pads or a hot bath can help with the cramps before the medicine works.

Stacie

I second the Taco Bell suggestion. ;)

If you're *really* stuck ...

... sounds like an enema is in order (to go at the issue from another angle, so to speak).

ole joyful

LoL - I thought clubm was asking us if WE need an easy cure for constipation! Sure are a lot of suggestions here. I'll keep them in mind for those occasions.

Found out the hard way, eat large amounts of sugar free gummy worms at the movie, worked in about an hour on DS and myself :(

4 dried apricots a day. Also helps keep me regular is having 2 cups of instant International Foods Swiss Mocha coffee.