How do I fix/regulate my bowels and what about laxatives?!
Question: How do I fix/regulate my bowels and what about laxatives?
Lately (almost a week) my stomach has been upset. It's the sensation like when you end up having diarrhea, like cramping and thinking you need to go sit on the toilet for a while, only not that severe. It's low key, but present enough that I feel sick and just not well. On top of that my bowels are probably more irregular than they already were. I've been considering taking a laxative to just purge, but I don't know if that's a good idea. And I don't know how many I would need to take or how often. My aunt has mentioned eating more fruits and vegetables, but I don't know how much I should eat, how often, and how long it will take to work. I know there's Activia but I'm really not a yogurt fan. I've also heard fiber is good, but I've also heard fiber will constipate you and believe me, if I get any more constipated I'll be taking a trip to hospital to get something to come out. LOL. So I guess this is what I really want to know:
How much fruit and vegetables should I eat a day and what kinds (to help my bowels)?
How many laxatives should I use? How often? Is it safe?
Could it be something other than my diet??? O_O
Is this going to kill me? No just kidding!
Thanks guys I really appreciate your help. Feel free to e-mail me directly.
Answers:
First of all. Fibre does NOT constipate you at all.
Chronic constipation will cause diarrhea. So even if you eventually get diarrhea, it will be because of constipation.
Going every few days may be just normal for you IF your weren't pushing out hard pellets. If you had normal, thin, soft motions, that would be better.
You ARE going to have to add fibre to your diet BUT do it slowly or you will find you will get severe stomach cramps and diarrhea without moving the backlog of faeces.
The pains in your stomach you are getting is hard faeces slowly moving along the bowel.
You can add fibre by eating nuts or seeds. A piece of fruit. A salad. Or even a healthy bar. Read the back of the box for healthy bars as most are full of fat and sugar.
Add water. Make it your best friend.
I used to hate water. Couldn't stand it, but for a New Years Resolution a few years ago I wanted to start to drink more water. So I started with one glass, then 2 now I'm addicted to water. I drink over 2 litres a day. You need to be doing this with the fibre which helps it digest, move and soften the faeces.
Start walking too. Excercise get's peristelsis, the movement that moves the faeces along, going.
But for a start, you should get a hold of some fairly strong laxatives, as it sounds as if your bowel is full. It can actuallly start backing, back into the stomach when you are really badly constipated.
You may have to take twice the daily dosage for a few days. Take them at night and drink that water.
You may need to do this for two weeks to really clean you out.
Once you start having daily motions that are soft but not loose. Stop the laxatives and increase your fibre.
RN
FIRST for about 2 weeks drink two glasses of warm water first thing when you wake up, then don't eat breakfast for at least half an hour. Most people find that is all they need to do to achieve regularity. If that is not adequate, e-mail me, and I will send you the next step.