Anyone Have Problems With Constipation

[KLTerry]

WARNING: THIS E-MAIL MAY GROSS YOU OUT!

Okay, so I'm sure that most of you are having the opposite problem. I've been constipated since I had my first child . . . he'll be three in May. I'm not just talking about being irregular. I'm talking about not being able to go at all for days at a time (up to a week) and crying at the though of having to prepare myself to use the bathroom. I also have hemorhoids and fischers. I have tried every laxative (now I know a lot aren't gluten-free) and stool softner and tucks and witchhazel and foam and fitz bath (or whatever you call it), but nothing works. I have an appointment with my new GI on Monday (the other guy diagnosed me, then left me to fend for myself), but I was hoping for some relief NOW! Any suggestions?

[angel-jd1]

Prunes

Prune Juice

Fruit juice in large quantities

suppository laxatives (some you will need a Rx for)

Hope you get to feeling better.

-Jessica

[mopsie]

Hi,

I can sympathize with you as I also tend to constipation and have had fissures several times.

It may be helpful to eat lots of vegatables especially dried peas and beans, carrots, fresh fruit especially oranges and apples. Meats have no fibre, so they tend to increase constipation, and the same goes for dairy products. White rice also tends to constipate. Drink at least 8- 10 glasses of water per day. I find it helpful to drink several glasses of water first thing in the morning before breakfast. Hope this helps.

[judy05]

Citracel fiber pills work for me. The tablets are gluten-free and usually

"work" in a few hours. Must drink a full glass of water, very

important. They were recommended by GI Dr.

[KLTerry]

Thank you all for your replies and advice.

[BamBam]

Have you tried perscription Zelnorm? I would get so constipated for up to seven days, and then I would have to go like three or four times in an hour. I felt horrible and how can a person work when you have to run to the bathroom every fifteen minutes for an hour and then I would feel sick for a day or two. Zelnorm plus the gluten free diet has regulated me to where I go three or four times a week and more normal than I have ever been.

BamBam

[JUDI42MIL]

I was the contipation queen before being dxed with celiac.Many trips to the dr to be cleaned out here it was so bad. It took about 3 month for my body to become normal after going on the gluten free diet. Now i go to the bathroom like a normal person should.So I think it said you just started the diet-- so hold on hopefully your body will respond soon.laxatives never worked for me.One thing I did have luck with occasionally was a tea called morning thunder- bought at the grocery store.And some if you like it tell me popcorn is good?i dont personally knwo about that cause i dont like popcorn. but it is worth the try.Good Luck

[KLTerry]

BamBam, I think I saw the commercials for zelnorm. Isn't it for women with IBS like symptoms, pain and bloating, etc.? Every time that commercial comes on, my husband elbows me and tells me I should get that. I will talk to my doctor about that on Monday. Thanks.

Jud, Yeah, when I had my colonoscopy over the summer, I figured that my system would be cleaned out and I could start all over again, and I would be normal, but Nope, wasn't the case. And I'm not just constipated for days at a time. I've honestly been constipated for almost three years with absolutely no relief whatsoever. Isn't that terrible? And, unfortunately popcorn doesn't work. I eat it often enough, and I'm still constipated.

Also, yes, I am new at the gluten-free diet, and I am having an incredibly difficult time with accidently ingesting gluten. I don't get terribly sick when I eat gluten, but I suspect that once it's completely out of my system, I will start to react more. For now, I just have problems like cramping and bloating, dizziness, inability to think normally, confusion, joint pain, and of course the constipation. Every once in a while I'll get nauseous. Hopefully once I get used to being better to my body, then I'll start to remember what it's like to be normal again.

[BamBam]

KLTERRY:

From 1996 till last August or so, I suffered from constipation also. I wouldn't go for up to five or six days, and then I would go three or four times in an hour, and by the time that was over I felt so sick and sore and yucky. I've had four colonoscopy's and upper GI and lower GI. Until I started completely gluten free I started getting better. But still not too much relief on the constipation. So my doc made me start Zelnorm. I didn't want to take it cause of all the side effects on the tv commercials. Well, they have to list all side effects whether it happens to 1% or 10% of the people taking the drug. I take 4 mlgs once in the morning and once at night. I tend to have bowel movements at least three times a week, sometimes more. And they are normal. Before I could never tell if I was done or not. I have yet to get diarrhea from the meds. ONe warning, this is an expensive drug, something like $3.00 a pill, so I am hoping you have health insurance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. It is worth a try, go to your doc and get some free samples, and then go from there.

BamBam

[skbird]

Hi -

Constipation was one of the reasons I never thought I had Celiac. I don't think I ever went two days without going but it was always an effort. One supplement I tried earlier this year to "clean myself out" is called Oxypowder. You can find it if you search on the internet. There are a couple of other products like it, Colosan, Homozone, Mag7, Oxy Cleanse, and they are all some sort of magnesium with oxygen. What happens is the oxygen is carried to your intestines by the magnesium and it oxidizes the "stuff" - think of when you pour hydrogen peroxide on a cut, how it bubbles up - and this helps break down the stuff which liquifies it and it all comes out. Supposedly if you take the product for a month (one week cleanse and then maintenance for the rest of the month) it will help clean you out and re-train your bowel to work properly.

I bought some and tried if as I was on a cleanse, I wasn't actually constipated at that point and time (that has largely cleared up for me since going gluten free). But it definitely gets you going. I have also tried Oxy Cleanse as it was available at my health food store but it is a much weaker version and didn't have a very noticable effect. Oxy Powder seems to only be available online.

Finally, I have found taking magnesium in sufficient quantity will make me go easier. I often tend to get slowed up right before my period so I tried taking 900mg magnesium (I have 300mg pills, usually take 600mg) and I find myself going right before work each morning.

Hope this or any of the other suggestions help!

Stephanie

[rmmadden]

You might wish to try a product I have used in the past.....Dr. Schulze's Intestinal Formula #1.

Dr. Schulze is an alternative medicine doctor who created a variety of medicinal formulas to purge your system of toxins, etc. The Intestinal Formula capsul is taken with your largest meal (most likely dinner) and will improve digestion, relieve gas, cramps, increase the flow of bile which in turn cleans out your gall bladder, bile ducts, liver and destroys intestinal parasites, increases gastro-intestinal circulation and is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal.

Some of the ingredients include Aloe, Senna, Cascara Sagrada, Barberry, Garlic, Capsicum, Ginger and Cayenne.

This formula was designed for people with sluggish bowels. Some of Dr. Schulze's patients reported having only 1 BM per week before taking Intestinal Forumla #1 and now they are regular as can be. You start off with 1-pill at dinner and if you don't notice any difference the next day then you take an additional pill with your next dinner (and so on) until you get yourself to be regular (Dr. Schulze says that 2-4 BM's per day are normal but I think the 4 end is a bit high). Anyways, it has helped me in the past as well as my wife.

Dr. Schulze's products can be found online at www.herbdoc.com or call them at 1-800-HERB-DOC (They are in Marina Del Rey, California)

Best Of Luck!

Cleveland Bob

[CateK]

My son was just diagnosed via blood test with Celiac Disease. After 14 years of dealing with chronic constipation and impactions and stool leakage, I finally put my foot down and told the family doctor I wanted him seen by a specialist.

Well, guess what, this little, skinny rail of a child is anaemic, may have weak bones and there may be a problem with his thyroid (waiting on these additional test results).

I feel horrible that I made him wait so long for an accurate diagnosis... but I trusted my family doctor and we ran through years of laxatives, stool softeners and the whole nine yards. I've also been following the traditional advise of high fiber and baked our family's bread and included (what else) whole wheat, wheat bran, etc. I have been virtually poisoning him all along.

I'm really upset about all this but now that we know, I understand we just have to move forward.

Thankfully, I like to cook and bake and will now learn to bake gluten free stuff. He is excited that he will get his own special foods to eat in his own special cupboard. His brother is allergic to shellfish, peanuts and nuts and has his own cupboard for treats. I'm allergic to soy and beef and his stepfather is allergic to tomatoes so it's going to get real interesting around here...

[flagbabyds]

I have suffered years of constipation, because when I was a baby, they ruled out celiac because I was conspitated, I finally got so sick they thought I have apendicitis, but I went to the ER and have molasses and mily ennames, and then was given MiraLax, which softens it up so I got loads better.

[KLTerry]

Thank you again for all of your responses. I saw my new GI last week, and he gave me some MiraLax, and it seems to be working. My only problem is that I don't want it to work to the point where I might get diarrhea, but the doctor said that I can just take it once every other day or even less if it starts to get to that point. Relief! Thank the Lord!

[Maggie1956]

I'm better than I was before going gluten-free. I used to have to rock back and forth, digitally get it out , and try to get rid of a little at a time.

Now, it's not so bad. I take Peratine Herbal Laxative capsules every day. That helps a lot. Plus make sure you have a lot of fruit, vegetables and as it was said before..PRUNE JUICE...it sets you free! Well, hopefully anyway.

[KLTerry]

Maggie - I've been rocking back and forth for years!!!! It's sad, but I'm hoping to get some much needed relief. I have medication for the fissures and hemrhoids, but I haven't had the money to get it filled.

[Maggie1956]

If all else fails, get a bowel d%$#@#$ kit. In other words, an enema. i've no idea how much they are outside Australia, but they are fairly cheap here...$25.00AU. approx., and they are reuseable. Needless to say, you sterilize it after use.

It has helped me when I'm desperate.

[kvogt]

I suggest dried apricots. 5-10/day will dislodge most anything. CAREFUL! They cause you immediacy problems (a welcome relief for some). Don't get discouraged if they don't work immediately - once you are impacted you still have to pass that hard stool.

[lilliexx]

i had the same problem. the following got me back to normal in a couple months and i dont have that problem anymore

miralax AND citrecel

flax seed

giving up dairy ( temporarely)

drinking more fluids

more fruit

only use enima in extreme situations, or your body will come dependant on them,

best of luck to you!! i know how aweful it is to be constipated