Constipation questions - Bowel Disorders Message Board

scorpion14 · 12-17-2003, 06:56 PM

I just have a few questions about some things. I have suffered from constipation almost my entire life (I'm 20 now) and have just delt with it. But in the last year Ior two 've started to think that this is ridiculous and I have to find some way to deal with this a little better than just letting it be. I told my doctor what I was having problems with and she just told me to try Metamucil or Benefiber. I've had pretty good luck with Metamucil but I still have problems from time to time if I let up on the intake. And sometimes when I'm taking it I still have minor trouble. My first main question is if a fiber supplement like Metamucil is just supposed to be a temporary thing until I'm back to normal or what? Cause in my case, I don't believe there is a 'back to normal' because I have never been 'normal.' Can I just keep taking it as long as it's helping me and working fine? I am trying to up my fiber intake with actual food but even if that is unsuccesful is it still ok to keep taking the Metamucil? Water is another thing I'm working on. It's just a very frustrating thing that I'm sure anyone here can relate to! Perhaps I should look further into this in thinking it's more than constipation but I also have anxiety that I believe causes me to look way too far into things. I have no cramps or pains or anything like that. There is mucus once in a while but I have read that that is a 'normal' thing when talking about constipation and bowel disorders. Just looking for any insight on the things I've mentioned. Going to the doctor and drumming up more stuff than necessary will just send me further into an anxiety filled life and then it's off to that message board! Thanks in advance!

scorpion14 · 12-17-2003, 07:33 PM

One more thing I forgot to ask. I am having pretty major back surgery towards the end of January and I am wondering if any of my bowel conditions should be discussed again with the doctor that will do my full physical prior to the surgery? The doctor giving me my full physical before surgery is NOT my regular doctor and that has been frustrating but I don't want to leave out any information no matter how big or small that he would need to know. I am wondering what sort of issues I would have with my bowels in general when I have surgery. That's a lot to go into but it's an 8 hour surgery leaving me in the hospital for a week. Any input on that and what any of the doctors would need to know? Lots and lots of stuff going on in my head right now...

snowmelts · 12-17-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpion14

One more thing I forgot to ask. I am having pretty major back surgery towards the end of January and I am wondering if any of my bowel conditions should be discussed again with the doctor that will do my full physical prior to the surgery? The doctor giving me my full physical before surgery is NOT my regular doctor and that has been frustrating but I don't want to leave out any information no matter how big or small that he would need to know. I am wondering what sort of issues I would have with my bowels in general when I have surgery. That's a lot to go into but it's an 8 hour surgery leaving me in the hospital for a week. Any input on that and what any of the doctors would need to know? Lots and lots of stuff going on in my head right now...

I wish you great results on your surgery. 8 hours.. oh my goodness. {{{hugs}}}
I would suggest, since you have a computer, just start typing everything you can think of about your health and then edit and organize it in a readable manner. To protect yourself you should give the finished paper to your Dr. and let him/her read it and decide what is there that needs paid attention to.

About constipation.. unless a medical problem is causeing it .. my suggestion is have a couple cups of hot cocoa. Cocoa has magnesium in a natural form and it works as a natural laxative..very gently...very naturally.

OK, so now you are laughing at my silly simple suggestion.

BUT it works.

I have always been constipated. sometimes worse than others. Then I would use Metamucill. Yes its a temporay fix. My elderly mother actually takes it or Benifiber 3 times a day EVERY day ~sigh~

Last month I read about magnesium and chocolate and Cocoa. I tried it. OH yes this DOES work. A cup of hot cocoa (or a couple home made with cocoa brownies) is defiantely preferred by me over a glass of metamucile. I have found a multi-vitimen with about 50% of the daily recommended magnesium in it and I'm taking that and haveing a little of something with cocoa in it every day ( even a few Chocolate Chips) and I find the new-found regularity amazeing.

I have allergies to most foods high in magnesium so I really don't eat much of that mineral and it just never dawned on me that something so simple as magnesium in cocoa could solve my constipation.