Constipation

[Bambiagain]

I have never, ever suffered from this before - in fact I generally have the opposite problem and am more than regular. But the last few days have been bad and last night was awful. I won't go into details. I have been racking my brains as to what might have caused it and the only, absolutely only, change in my diet that I have made recently is that I have been eating a lot of apples. They can be picked from trees everywhere at the moment and I've been doing just that and eating at least two a day.

I did a search on AB and found this:

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1074385.html

In which the questin was asked whether apples can have this effect. Sqad came out with a categorical no! But does anyone else have information to the contrary? And how, apart from laying off the apples to see if that helps and drinking lots of water, can I do something to clear the problem. Given that there are no shops open here on Sundays and I don't have anything in the cupboards in the way of laxatives, I'm stuck (in more ways than one.)

[Eve]

Keep on with the water and very strong black coffee with a load of sugar (or lots of orange juice)? Lots of fibre will get things moving again but be careful if you are very painfully blocked up as it could be horrendous if air builds up behind a blockage trying to shift it and get it through your system.

Might sound weird but when on the loo try and have your feet raised a bit and sit so your body is straighter and massage your tummy gently.

Do you have anything like bran you can soften down with milk or dates or figs or anything like that?

Have you been taking any painkillers with codeine in lately?

[Bambiagain]

Jenna, thanks. I can't drink milk - intolerant and it quickly shifts things upwards! Having no bran in the house, or dates or figs, I can'T get anything before tomorrow unfortunately. And I'm allergic to opiates and take as few painkillers as possible. I have taken no new drug and had no food I don't usually apart from the apples.

[murraymints]

drink lots of strong black coffee..or better..cider /real ale...I always have a good clear out when I do this !!

[Ann]

Similar to what Jenna suggests - while on the loo, massage your LOWER BACK for 5 minutes from your waist downwards, with the base of your hand to press really hard. I find that often helps. When the shops open, buy a punnet of fresh apricots and eat about 5 at once, they always do the trick for me. I only suffer with this when i go away, I think its the change of water, or the fact that I can't use my own loo! Hope you feel better soon, its really miserable feeling bloated.

[Ann]

I eat loads of apples too, especially now the English varieties are in the shops, so I'm sure its not apples causing the problem. Drink lots of warm water ..... you may be dehydrated, I always thought coffee caused dehydration?

[Bambiagain]

Thanks everyone. Ann, I was the same as a child. When I was away from home I couldn't go! But this is much, much worse. I shall try all the sitting on the loo tips.

[Ann]

Another tip, Lie on the bed and massage your tummy for 10 minutes or more - in a clockwise direction, that sometimes gets things moving.

[Eve]

Bending over can help too, especially it it puts gentle pressure on your tummy. I usually have the opposite problem but have had a few horrendous episodes of being blocked up. I have a small sofa and kneeling on it and gently leaning over the back so there is a bit of pressure on my tummy can help. Eating a lot of protein (meat usually) tends to go right through me.

I find lactulose very good for gently getting things moving without being so explosive, it's usually behind the counter in pharmacies in cheaper bottles.

Do you have sugar in the house? You could try sweetening water?

[jno]

this surprised me, though it refers only to children:

http://answers.yahoo....20070628061908AA1tG1e

[HowardKennitby]

I do not suffer from constipation. I do, however, sometimes find the need to go after having a bath. Might be worth a try.

[anneasquith]

see the posrt from pusskin, re constipation. good luck !

[bednobs]

the absolute best thing you could do today is to increase your water intake. Go to the kitchen right now and drink a pint of water

[islasmum]

When you can get to the shops, get some Senakot - I get really bunged up from time to time, and as soon as I start to feel I can't go, I take two tablets. the directions on the packet say it may take twelve hours, but I've found that they work after eight hours. A good stand-by for the medical cabinet. Incidentally, lactulose is basically sugared water.
I do hope that your problems are relieved very soon.

[boxtops]

Good point, bednobs, most of us don't drink nearly enough.

[Sqad]

\\\\\Good point, bednobs, most of us don't drink nearly enough.\\\\

mmm!///not so sure about that.

Sure....go and drink a pint of water and you will be peeing for the next 6 hours.........but still constipated....

I think, my opinion, that a lot of nonsense is talked about the need for water in the human body.

If you feel thirsty, then drink..........but don't drink litres of water because "people tell you to.".......you just pee it out.

[Bettypat]

Try this: Stand with your feet together, arms raised and out to the sides; gently lean forwards without beding your knees until your heels just lift off the floor; repeat this several times. Years ago my aunt was given this advice by her doctor, and on the rare occasions I have had the problem it has worked for me. May not work for you, but worth a try until you can get your medication.

[Bambiagain]

I've got plenty of suggestions to work on now, so thank you all! I have just tried Bettypat's aunt's remedy with no result so far except to convince the dog that I'm going mad. I've been out all day since my last post and have been drinking as much as I can, although thank you Sqad for confirming my opinion. My OH tells me I should drink at least 2 litres every day, but I can't as all I do is spend the day peeing. It's the chemist tomorrow morning, I think.

[atalanta]

Fresh ripe raw plums work for me. A few of these, (and they are plentiful in the shops at the moment) , and they go straight through me.

[Ann]

How are you bambi? anything worked?

[Bambiagain]

Hello, Ann. Yes. Things have gone in the other direction now! But I've certainly cleared everything out. Thanks for your help.