Help w/ constipation

Vitamin E suppositories helped me with this, basically the last BM of the morning was reluctant haha.
And if you can afford to waste a Canasa supp. those work well too but I say "waste" because if successful it'll be down the toilet in under an hour.

It's the last bit of inflammation IMO keeping the last BM from blast off. When all else fails I head to WalMart, for some reason it always works (there was a thread about this). Just walking through the store.

Sure diet can help but even with low inflammation diet the rectum is still physically pretty far from that solution. Hit it where it needs help and suppositories do that.

I was at my GI's on Monday and while waiting for him to see me I grabbed a couple of brochures he has in his exam room, one for IBS (of course lol) and the other for constipation (since that's what my IBS mainly consists of) so here's a some info written in the pamphlet in regards from the constipation brochure...

Factors that can contribute to constipation often by altering transit time include;

-medication side effects (e.g, some narcotics, antidepressants, codeine, calcium or iron supplements and medications that affect the nervous system)

-diseases in which there is a physiological change to some tissue or organ of the body (e.g, radiation therapy, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, diabetes, stroke, hyperthyroidism, or Parkinson's disease).

-functional disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic idiopathic constipation, intestinal obstructions or strictures resulting from surgery.

-diet and lifestyle choices, such as consuming a diet too low in fibre and fluid, insufficient activity and chronic use of laxatives, suppositories or enemas.

Medication Thereapy

If constipation does not improve with diet and lifestyle changes then there are supplements and medications available.

-Bulk forming agents, these are made of indigestible fibre which absorbs and retains fluid and helps to form a soft, bulky stool (metamucil, benefibre, prodium). While not quick acting, they are safe for longterm use. Add these to your diet gradually and increase your fluid intake at the same time too.

-Enemas, and enema involves insertion of a liquid, usually water into the rectum, typically after holding the liquid in place for a few minutes there is an intense urge to move the bowel.

-stool softeners (no need for explanation)

-Lubricants, lubricant laxatives coat the colon and stool in a waterproof film, allowing it to remain soft and slip easily through the intestines, usually within 6-8 hours. Don't use these products for longer than a week, as some have been shown to cause vitamin deficiancies and medication interactions. An example of a lubricant laxative is mineral oil. Not recommended for pregnant women or for people with trouble swallowing.

-Stimulants, these laxatives increase muscle contractions to move food along the digestive tract more quickly (and the gist of the rest of this explanation is do not use them long term and only under the recommendation of a physician because repeated use could cause the digestive tract to become stimulant reliant.

-Hyperosmotics, Osmotic laxatives encourage bowel movements by drawing water into the bowel from nearby tissue (intestinal lumen) therby softening stool. Some of these laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalances if they draw out too many nutrients and other substances with the water. They can increase thirst and dehydration -Saline laxatives are salts dissolved in liquid, they rapidly empty all contents of the bowel usually working with in 30 minutes to 3 hours (like the products we use for C-scope prepping)

Lastly, perscription medications used for constipation, Enterokinetics but they often come with temporary side effects of headaches, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain usually following the initial dose then subsiding with ongoing treatment.

If constipation is something new for you it's advised you contact your doctor.

Thanks for advice guys. I have some canasa samples at home, I think I'm gonna start using those and start up metamucil. In case that doesn't work, does anyone know if miralax is harmful to UC? What about castor oil?

For me the thing that helps me immensely is making sure I drink water and plenty of it every day. If I drink more tea or something else instead I will start getting constipated.