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Originally Posted by PW06  I have a problem with what I call a lazy bowel. It seems that I am constipated but the stool is never hard, always fairly soft. I just don't get any urges to "go" except at 6:30 am. Even then I might not get an urge at all. I always sit for a few minutes when I get up just in case but quite often - nothing. I don't and never have taken laxitives but I will on occasion take magnesium citrate as this seems to be the only thing to make things move.
This has been going on for several years. Actually since I began menopause. I am now 65 and otherwise in very good health. Last year I had a colonoscopy and found out I have an extra long loop of bowel that prevents a colonoscopy from being completed so I had a barium xray to finish the job. Everything checked out ok.
In the past I have had many symptoms varying from painful gas to unexplained diarhea to constipation. I always figured I had IBS symptons but my doctors ignored my symptoms.
Is there anything I can do to tone the muscles of my bowel so I would have regular movements like most people? |
Try doing pelvic floor exercises and using bulk forming laxatives like metamucil and Citrucell 2-3 times a day. Just make sure you drink at least an 8oz .glass of water after you take the metamucil or Citrucell. This will help to maintain regularity. If you tend to have a bowel movement at 6:30 am then make it a regular routine everyday to sit on the toilet at that time. I have found sitting on the toilet everyday at the same time for 30 minutes and doing slow deep breathing exercises continuously until I have a bowel movement works the best for me. It relaxes you and relaxes all your muscles making it a lot easier to go. If I put on relaxing music it helps me to concentrate on my slow deep breathing and allows me to relax a lot better. I can't go more than 36 hours without having a bowel movement or I can't go without straining really hard to pass hard stool. I use a glycerin suppository if I haven't moved my bowels within 36 hours. If i don't drink enough water and eat enough fiber then I can't go . The extra loop you mentioned I think is called a tortuous colon which can cause you to get constipated a lot faster because the stool has to go through the extra loop slowing the stool moving down the colon. Eating a lot of fiber and drinking lots of water and having daily time on the toilet to have a bowel movement should help the constipation.
