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I want to mention that I am NOT a doctor, so you should see your health professional for any health related problems. The following are just my opinions.
Constipation is uncomfortable, painful, and weird to talk about. It’s awkward for me to write this post, but…we all poop! Unfortunately, some of us have a harder time. So, when all the vegetables in the world aren’t helping, what do you do? Besides checking in with your doctor.
For an episode of acute constipation, these are the methods I’ve used to get relief.
1. Magnesium supplements
- I’ve tried these with good results:
- Magnesium Citrate works faster to relieve constipation than other forms.
- Magnesium Glycinate is absorbed better than other forms.
- I’ve taken both in one day, spread out and they’ve both helped.
- For an every day maintenance dose, I take what the bottle recommends or what Chris Kresser or The Perfect Health Diet says. But for acute constipation, I’ll up the dosage a little. The highest I’ve taken throughout one day is 800mg, but definitely ask your doctor or pharmacist before trying this. Everyone is different and under different circumstances and won’t react the same.
2. Vitamin C Supplement
- When I take it in conjunction with the magnesium, it can enhance the potential laxative effect. A lot of the vitamin C’s, even the buffered ones, hurt my stomach, unless I take them with A LOT of water or separate the dosages throughout the day.
- This is one of the ones I have to spread out:
- These don’t hurt my stomach but don’t pack as much of a punch:
and
- The dosage depends. For an acute fix, I’ve taken 500mg-3grams with good results. Kresser and PHD say similar things.
3. Prunes
- If the magnesium and vitamin C don’t do it for you, you could try dried plums. I’ve tried it and though it got things moving within a couple hours, the bloating was pretty annoying (thank the SIBO/IBS).
4. Suppositories
This is for when I’m really desperate for relief. For when the pressure, cramps and need to push is there, but the stool is impacted or just too hard. It’s weird and uncomfortable, but I get relief within 5-15 minutes! So worth the weirdness.
- The one that works for me, is easy to handle and has given me no side effects, is this one:
5. Jumping
- Yep, jumping. Like a kid on a trampoline or an overly excited dog. Bouncing on the balls of your feet, running, jogging, using a trampoline, jump-rope, squat and jump, skipping. Whatever gets your body to go up and down can actually help your colon move things along. See the resource at the end of post for more info.
- I usually bounce or do a light in-place jog or actually run outside. Don’t have to get sweaty, but just enough to start breathing harder. I do this as often as I remember throughout the day, and I usually see results.
- Either way, I’m getting some exercise, so win-win.
Things I avoid:
1. Senna
- Unless you’re backed up and have no urges, no feeling of having to go, you could try senna tea. When I tried the senna tea, it made the cramping and urge to go so much worse, but did NOTHING to help the softening of the stool.
- I do NOT recommend Senna, but everyone is different and it might work for some people.
2. Other oral laxatives:
- I’ve only tried Miralax and it’s horrible. Gave me terrible bloating and indigestion. Plus, it has unhealthy ingredients.
My best advice is to avoid getting to the constipation stage. If I notice my stools getting harder, lumpier and less frequent, I get to fixing it right away. The longer I wait, the more chance of an uncomfortable, acute constipation episode.
Next post will be about the things I’ve tried to help regulate my stools in the long term.
Sources:
