I have always struggled with constipation, even had a tear in my colon at one point. I am able to stay regular if I consistently drink enough water and take stool softeners, but not otherwise. Do you mind sharing? Did you once struggle and now are regular? Share your tips!
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I was until Zofran entered my life during pregnancy. Woof!
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Not at the moment (first trimester problems)
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Always been super regular - sometimes 2x a day!!
My DS takes after me in that department as well!
DD had issues when younger but goes every other day now and takes fish oil everyday
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I struggled with IBS for years, but amazingly, pregnancy made it better and even now, 9 months PP, I'm quite regular. Maybe because I drink tons of water since I'm still BFing?
Before, I would take Citracel every day (the powdered drink mix) and it helped a ton. I didn't feel the pills helped as much, even though they were more convenient.
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I was until my gall bladder and pancreas acted up. Now I am at their mercy until next week.
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Yep! I take fiber gummies every morning that help. But I am usually 1-3 times a day. I guess that is where R gets it.
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Normally, yes - I was a little anal (no pun intended lol) about my fiber intake but since getting pregnant, it is a freaking war right now. I take colace when i can remember but it's seriously miserable - i've never had constipation problems before in my life!
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struggled with it my whole life. I usually go to the bathroom twice a week... three times at the most. i've heard you need to go at least once, preferably twice a day!
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Nope, never. I have major issues in this department. I've been seeing a GI doctor for years....fiber doesn't help, stool softeners don't help. I get recurring SIBO, that has to be cleared up with antibiotics. Miralax helps, but I have to be diligent about taking it (and take more than the average person). Missing two days really causes problems. My GI doc recommended therapy (so I can learn to use the right muscles more effectively?) but it's only offered Wednesday mornings at 6:30, so.....not gonna happen. I keep a stock of enemas and suppositories around for emergencies. Eating well (and not eating too much) and drinking water helps, but it's only 25% of the battle, honestly. My GI doc is happy if i go every other day, and that works for me (sometimes)
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I have the opposite problem
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Nope. Good old IBS .
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Never been that regular!
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I always had serious constipation issues until I started adding green smoothies with lots of ground flax and chia seeds to my diet. Then I would go once a day
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I was like @Mrs. Bee: . Only went like maybe once or twice a week. I seem to be more regular now (DS is 9 months) so I'm not sure if it's what I'm eating, the vitamins or what so we'll see if I continue to be regular once I wean him.
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@luckypenny: Im thinking of starting to make chia pudding for the Omega-3s (which I have read a lot about helping with PPD!). Have you ever tried them that way? I know they have a lot of fiber as well right?
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Regularity has always been soooo important in my life!! I recently experienced some major issues with constipation (I didn't have a regular BM for 2.5 weeks) and I have never been in as much pain in my life. GI pain is seriously the worst
. When all of the nurses and doctors would ask about my bowel history, I wanted to yell "No, this is not normal for me! I love pooping and I usually go 2-3 times a day!" Anyway, after two surgeries, I am very regular although I do experience gas and abdominal cramping at times. Some things that have helped:
1) Staying hydrated
2) 1-2 tablespoons of a chia, flax, hemp mix in my breakfast - the stuff I take is called Holy Crap Skinny B (www.holycrap.ca) - it was on Dragon's Den, the Canadian version of Shark Tank!
3) Taking stool softeners with any medication (e.g. painkillers or anti-nausea) -
So some of you saying that you are NOW regular after having a baby....my GI doc told me that was a possibility b/c pregnancy stretches out/relaxes some of the, ahem, anus muscles.
You're welcome
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@Sammyfab: Oooooo interesting!! Thank you!! I was considering starting to make chia pudding (omega-3s for PPD) but I like that it will probably also help in this area as well!!
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Nope! I've had recurring issues with IBS-like symptoms for years. Finally after talking to a nautropath about it and trying different things, she figured that I probably have fructose malabsorption (a cousin of mine has been confirmed to have it). Once I was put on the FODMAP diet things became pretty regular until pregnancy, now things are all over the place again.
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Yes, but only because I've been taking magnesium for the last couple of years. It's a miracle worker.
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@Torchwood: Really?? I have never heard of that before!! Do you take it in a pill form? Like a vitamin?
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@citymouse: Yep. It's actually better to use the oil topically, because it's better absorbed through the skin than digestive tract, but that stuff is super expensive. The pills work fine for me (and I know for sure, because I accidentally doubled my dose once, and very much regretted it), so I don't see the point in wasting money on the oil.
Also, some people swear it helps prevent morning sickness (though most say you have to have been on it for a while, and not just start it when you get MS). I never had any with my pregnancies, so it's possible that's true.
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@citymouse: I don't really love the texture but if you can get over that, it's tasty.
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It was much better before LO. Now I am definitely not as regular. I think I need more fiber.
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Yes. Coffee helps!
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I always had issues with constipation when I was younger and would only go 1-2 times per week. In my mid-20s, I got more regular, but it wasn't unusual for me to go 2-3 days without a BM.
Now (6 mo PP) I am still very inconsistent and sometimes go 2-3 times per day, but it is rare to go more than 2 days between BMs. (Unless I am traveling - for some reason, I don't typically go if I'm traveling to unfamiliar places.)
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I have never had constipation issues but I used to go about once every few days. Now that I eat a more plant based/higher fiber dirt I go once or twice a day.
ETA: haha I don't eat dirt...I'm guessing that was supposed to be food? I am laughing so hard at myself right now!
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I'm regular for me.
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Too regular! I average 2x per day.
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Pretty regular. I drink a lot of coffee, I'm sure that helps
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Yes. Once in the morning as soon as I wake up, and once after dinner. Twice a day, every day! I can't ever think of a time I have been constipated.
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Nope. Not regular. Once every 2 or 3 days. Sometimes coffee helps, but day one of menstrual cycle is often my fav day besides the cramping.
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Only regular with the aid of medicine because I have to take iron. I also still take Zofran every now and then.
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Chia seeds help quite a bit! I add 1-2 tbsp to my morning smoothie. Staying hydrated also makes a difference. I also find that i get a bit backed up if i don't do any exercise. Plane rides or long car trips usually mess me up.
Being regular is so important to me. It stresses me out if i don't go at least once a day!
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I was very regular pre-delivery (2-3/day), but I'm still having issues with regularity at 7 weeks postpartum. I'm still taking my softeners because otherwise I goes days (I went 5 days about 3 weeks pp and it was awful). I've been putting fiber in my coffee though in hopes that will help regulate things again.
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Usually very regular. When I was unregular during pregnancy I started stirring flax seeds into my yogurt and my OB recommended magnesium supplements. They worked wonderfully.
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I'm regular as long as I drink lots of water and take a fiber supplement. And no matter what I do, I get constipated when I travel- not fun for vacations!
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