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Originally Posted by KaylaMcC  I'm 16 and I've been dealing with constipation since I was a baby.. And when I do go its just like pebbles.... My stomach always hurts to push on it... I usually go about every 2 to 3 days but I sometimes go 6 to 7 days. I'm getting tired of it it's embarrassing sometimes... I just want awnsers... |
I can feel the pain you're experiencing with the chronic constipation since I have had this all my life and I am fifty years old. In early March 2011, I decided to take the bull by the horns to get this constipation under control. I started drinking 64 oz. of water a day and 25 grams of fiber a day, Citrucel in the morning and then again after work. I sit on the toilet every day for 30 minutes at the same time to have a bowel movement. I use slow deep breathing exercises to help relax my muscles so it helps me to go with no pain. It takes more time,patience,and commitment to have to do this every day but at least I am not in pain trying to go. I also make sure I eat 6 prunes and oatmeal with flax seed in it for breakfast. I can't skip even day without having a bowel movement or I have a real problem going the next time I try to go. There is a condition called slow transit colon meaning that the stool doesn't move along down the colon fast enough so it becomes dry and hard and that's why we get constipated. Not drinking enough water and not eating enough fiber also contributes to constipation. Sometimes taking a warm tub bath helps your muscles relax so it makes it easier to go. Eating a meal with some dietary fat in it help peristalsis to kick in faster . I have never tried this but it might help you: eat a large meal with fat in it and a hot beverage and then go sit in a warm tub of water for 20-30 minutes. Hopefully it will kick in peristalsis faster and make it easier to go. If you try it and it works let me know. You're young enough now to try to change your eating,drinking,and bowel habits so you don't have to endure this pain for the rest of your life. I wish I done something about this years ago.
Unfortunately chronic constipation over many years can make you more prone to colon and rectal cancer later on in your life. That's because the toxins that are in the stool that stay in our colon too long can start to absorb into the intestinal walls. Also, when we don't drink enough water the colon starts to absorb the water out of the stool which makes it dry and hard and doesn't move down the colon so it gets drier and harder the longer it sits in our intestines. That's why it's so important that we have a bowel movement every 1-2 days.
