I have been heavily abusing laxatives on and off for the past 12 years or so. Sometimes, I would stop for several months, and then I would go through periods of increasing both the dosage and frequency. I also have a binge eating disorder.

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Needless to say, I have been severely constipated over the past year or so. I strongly believe that the reason high-fiber and water intake does not work for me is because my stomach nerves and muscles have become so damaged that they don't contract properly, so the colon lacks tone. Even now when I take these huge amounts of laxatives, I get more cramps than diarrhea.

I eat A LOT of fruit and vegetables, and also drink herbal teas. "Normal" people would certainly get diarrhea if they ate these foods in the amounts that I consume them, yet I don't even have a bowel movement at all (just bloating and gas). I usually go to the bathroom once every three to four days and I used to go once to three times per day! I recently started taking acidophilus and doing colonics but even they are becoming less and less effective when I can't stop the laxative abuse.

My question is: what are some of the things I can do to restore my colon health (other than obviously stopping the laxatives all together, which I have to do anyway, b/c they don't work anymore)??? Has anyone gone through a similar experience or know of someone who managed to recover their bowel function? Would Chinese herbs help? I'm so desperate, I'm open to anything, as this is completely ruining my life.:confused: :o :( :mad:

Thanks!

Dear stig,

Please see a doctor, better yet a gastroenterologist; they will run the necessary tests to rule out or detect certain gastric conditions.

Take care.

Phoenix