Help With Constipation

[JustMe75]

My fifteen year old daughter has been dairy free (positive allergy blood test) since November, gluten free since Jan. 1, and a vegetarian (basically a vegan) since mid December. She eats very good since there isn't a whole lot left she can eat that is bad. Well her constipation isn't better. I have only had that problem a few times in my life (mine was the other problem) so I don't know what else to do for her. She said she used to go about once a week and now goes at least once a day but she says she still has to try to go and doesn't get much result. She has been taking a Citrucel tablet 2x a day for a couple months and it helped a little, but seems to be getting less effective. She seems to be doing much better on the gluten-free diet. Her mood swings have disappeared, she has more energy and her stomach doesn't hurt as much. She does get a terrible cramp right around her belly button just after she eats and then it goes away. I was thinking that might be because she is backed up.

Does it take longer to notice results for constipation gluten problems? My D problems went away within days of removing gluten so I expected the same for her.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want her to fell great, not just better. She is being so good about the diet, hasn't considered cheating once!

[Lisa]

I don't know if this will be helpful to your daughter, but dried apricots might help. And, they are taste good. Salads, Sweet potatoes and an increase in water will also help.

Everyone is different. Someone's constipation is another's regularity.

I am sure that you want to ease her discomfort.

[lizard00]

One thing that has been pretty helpful to me was aloe vera juice (probably because of it's magnesium). I mix it with some juice or something and that usually does the trick. Applejuice also works for some... I'm finding that things in the liquid form seem to work better for me.

[RiceGuy]

Actually, it may just take some more time before certain things clear up. It took about 6 months before I noticed much of anything. It does depend on the person, and how long the symptoms persisted before going gluten-free. Others factors play a role too I'm sure. Also, there may be additional intolerances or allergies to discover.

But, in the mean time, I find magnesium does wonders. A powdered form, mixed in orange juice for example. The citric acid from the juice combined with the magnesium enhances the absorption, and thus the effectiveness.

[JustMe75]

Thank you for the ideas. She eats a lot of veggies and fruit so I know she is getting enough ruffage, and all she drinks is water. I remember hearing about the magnesium before, I will have her try that. Her doctor suggested laxatives or stool softners. I really don't want her to have to use laxatives, the are so uncomfortable.

[ravenwoodglass]

You may want to give sweet potatoes a try. They work very well for me overnight, I can't say whether it will help her but it might be worth a shot.

[Ginsou]

I also get plenty of roughage, but for some reason constipation has always been a problem for me. There are times when I find 2 stool softeners in the evening work wonders. 1 doesn't do it...I need 2. I buy the Walmart Equate ones.....very inexpensive ...docusate sodium 100mg. Get the ones without a laxative stimulant ingredient!

I was also taking Flora-Q probiotic for a while, and that helped keep me regular. For some reason, I don't need the Flora-Q product anymore. Perhaps because it is because I am eating a lot of sweet potatoes lately!!