The Demon Constipation

[TinkerbellSwt]

oh man have I had a tough time with this, not so much for me, but for my son. I guess he was just eating too much rice, being in the bread, the crackers etc. I had to give him an glycerin enema. He just screamed as he finally went. OMG. I was crying with him. I now add some prune juice to his regular juice everyday.. does anyone have any other suggestions??? I would appreciate it.

[tarnalberry]

extra magnesium (most people don't get enough anyway) can help.

good luck!

[Anonymousgurl]

extra magnesium (most people don't get enough anyway) can help.

good luck!

I have horrible constipation as well, it's actually one of my symptoms that my food allergies cause. I take magnesium-oxide capsules, but it also comes in powder form which would be much easier for a child to take. I believe that you have to mix it in warm water, but I bet it would work just fine in warm prune juice.

Does anyone out there know if it's possible to just kind of get immune to magnesium? I'm starting to feel like I need to increase my dosage and im terrified that one day It wont work anymore...because this is the ONE AND ONLY thing that helps me to go. If i dont take it, i dont go to the bathroom for about 2-3 weeks. It's terrifying.

[Ashley]

I had a horrible problem with constipation myself---leading to go to the doctor with it. Aside from taking a powder lax, I saw that lettuce really helped me in fighting it. I sure do hope this problem for your son goes away---not a fun road to go down.

-Ash

[wolfie]

Lots & lots of water!! Make sure he drinks plenty. He also should eat plenty of veggies & fruits. Limit cheese (binds you up).

I know that constipation was one of my main symptoms. Drs kept saying I had IBS and to eat more fiber (whole grains......that just made things MUCH worse!). Now off of gluten (and now soy, too), I feel much better and only have constipation occasionally.

Good luck!! I know how uncomfortable it is.

[Looking for answers]

I suggest you add Psyllium Husks into his diet. I add them into my smoothies in the morning and it keeps me regular. I even give it to my cat! You can buy it by the can at any health food store and a couple month's worth is only $7-8.

[CarlaB]

The water, psillium husks (fiber), magnesium are all essential.

I take a lot of vitamin c. The way you know when you take too much vitamin c is when it causes diarrhea. So, I have been thinking that the next time I'm constipated, I'll just take a little extra c for a few days. Haven't tried it, but don't know what it would hurt.

I would also think eating a lot of fresh fruit would help. Prune juice is a great idea. You can get whole prunes, too. They can be eaten like raisins. My problem is I LOVE them and will sit down and eat the whole bag!!

[Ursa Major]

Is your son still eating/drinking dairy? It is known to cause constipation in people intolerant to it. You might want to eliminate dairy, to see if it would help.

[Creative-Soul]

Just be mindful that some people find Psyllium to be a little harsh on the system! If you do try it, start with slowly increasing amounts. Another alternative is flaxseed; I use ground flaxseed in my gluten-free granola or fruit smoothies in the morning. I've also included it in pancake batter, and even in soup!

Fruits and veggies are great; I also drink prune juice or eat the prunes themselves (but then I have to resist eating half the container at one go - yum!). Remember that as you increase the fiber in your diet that you have to really increase your water intake or else you'll have even more problems!!!

[TinkerbellSwt]

We have been trying so many things now.. we cant afford to go out and buy some of these things. We have been adding prune juice to all his juice, not his milk though, that is gross. We dont give him much dairy at all, just his milk and occasionally cheese. We called his doctor today and they said add mineral oil, just a tablespoon a day until he gets regular again. This morning was another bad one.. he was screaming, so I of course, was crying. He finally got it out with the help of glycerin and vaseline. I hope this ends soon. I dont think I can take much more of anything these days..

[Phyllis28]

If you have not already done so, you can try switching from white rice to brown rice.

[plantime]

It sounds like maybe his poops are too hard to pass. Magnesium powder is fairly cheap, and you can put it in his juice. It will cause his intestines to hold onto more of the water he drinks, which will make his poops softer and easier to pass.