Principles of Constipation

[Kroeran]

We were at the gastroenterologist last week (for the wife) and he told us forget about the probiotics. If she is having problems, go for the Miralax instead.

I am trying to take a targeted probiotic, partially so that this box is ticked should I relapse and need to start up again with gastro MD investigation, they seem keen on it, but don’t feel well after.

If you have SIBO, small colon overgrowth, this will make it worse.

 

[Kroeran]

+1 on Miralax!

I have Miralax in my coffee but am nervous about long term use and try to slowly taper over time.

Saw one reference to a study that long term it thins the colon walls in mice.

 

[Kroeran]

There's a classic IBM Mainframe assembly reference "Principles of Operation " many times called the POO book.

A component of the pervasive Colonic Inertia Problem is embarrassment.

It is not discussed, and this is 50% of the problem.

My instinct is to cloak it in technical lingo to lubricate discussion.

 

[Kroeran]

I tried all kinds of diet approaches to no avail. Then I found out I have Parkinson’s which slows down the peristalsis. A bit of Miralax every night and coffee in the morning delivers the goods - for now. I need magnesium for leg cramps but I can’t take the citrate because it totally blasts out the colon. I use magnesium glycinate instead. TMI?

There are a number of conditions that can be the underlying cause which can be tested for.

I looked them up and suggested the blood tests to my doctor, and he complied.

Part of the problem is lack of knowledge or imagination of MDs and even gastro specialists.

 

[ER2B]

Yoga or just stretching and bending gets me moving. I also drink a glass of water as soon as I get up in the morning. Daily 500mg vitamin C.

 

[Nick12]

Yoga or just stretching and bending gets me moving. I also drink a glass of water as soon as I get up in the morning. Daily 500mg vitamin C.

There are yoga stretches that make one give gas and gurgles the stomach. It works. Just Google yoga poses for constipation.

 

[Kroeran]

Yoga or just stretching and bending gets me moving. I also drink a glass of water as soon as I get up in the morning. Daily 500mg vitamin C.

At the risk of TMI, a counter clockwise 145 degree rotation of the torso on the throne, works wonders

 

[audreyh1]

Yoga on the throne?

Someone should make a video, ha ha.

 

[REWahoo]

At the risk of TMI, a counter clockwise 145 degree rotation of the torso on the throne, works wonders

Unless your colon is threaded the opposite direction, then rotate clockwise...

 

[Kroeran]

Yoga on the throne?

Someone should make a video, ha ha.

Google Toilet yoga yields this

https://twitter.com/x/status/584433552923713536

 

[steady saver]

I tried all kinds of diet approaches to no avail. Then I found out I have Parkinson’s which slows down the peristalsis. A bit of Miralax every night and coffee in the morning delivers the goods - for now. I need magnesium for leg cramps but I can’t take the citrate because it totally blasts out the colon. I use magnesium glycinate instead. TMI?

no, not TMI but good information for others. I was going to chime in and say what you said - magnesium citrate if you're constipated and magnesium glycinate (or even a combo of oxide, chloride for ex.) if you don't need help in that area.

Most people could easily supplement and benefit from a magnesium supplements. Stress, poor diet and many medications deplete the body of magnesium. Magnesium is helpful for leg cramps, stress, among other things.

 

[harllee]

no, not TMI but good information for others. I was going to chime in and say what you said - magnesium citrate if you're constipated and magnesium glycinate (or even a combo of oxide, chloride for ex.) if you don't need help in that area.

Most people could easily supplement and benefit from a magnesium supplements. Stress, poor diet and many medications deplete the body of magnesium. Magnesium is helpful for leg cramps, stress, among other things.

I have also found that magnesium helps keep my blood pressure in a good range.

 

[O2Bfree]

Google Toilet yoga yields this

https://twitter.com/x/status/584433552923713536

Speaking of toilet postures, scrunching your knees to your chest can help things move more easily. Apparently that posture creates an angle in the rectal canal that reduces strain. I put my feet on the little trash can we keep by the toilet and yes it does help. Or you could buy a Squatty Potty.

 

[audreyh1]

no, not TMI but good information for others. I was going to chime in and say what you said - magnesium citrate if you're constipated and magnesium glycinate (or even a combo of oxide, chloride for ex.) if you don't need help in that area.

Most people could easily supplement and benefit from a magnesium supplements. Stress, poor diet and many medications deplete the body of magnesium. Magnesium is helpful for leg cramps, stress, among other things.

And sleep.

My experience with magnesium - when I started keto, leg cramps were a quick obvious side effect. I went up to 3 120mg pills of magnesium glycinate before bed to avoid morning calf cramps and aid sleep. It took 2 years! before I could reduce it to 2 pills and not experience cramps. I haven’t tried dropping it farther yet.

Interestingly, I think it’s also helped keep my blood calcium numbers normalized - i.e. below 10. I had trouble with it getting a bit high and persisting high push a few years ago prompting all sorts of parathyroid investigations.

I don’t take calcium.

 

[audreyh1]

Speaking of toilet postures, scrunching your knees to your chest can help things move more easily. Apparently that posture creates an angle in the rectal canal that reduces strain. I put my feet on the little trash can we keep by the toilet and yes it does help. Or you could buy a Squatty Potty.

Laying on your back on the floor with your knees hugged to your chest and relaxing in that position for a long while should help relax the colon.

Not on the toilet obviously, but perhaps before visiting the throne.

 

[O2Bfree]

Laying on your back on the floor with your knees hugged to your chest and relaxing in that position for a long while should help relax the colon.

Not on the toilet obviously, but perhaps before visiting the throne.

I don't think it's so much a matter of relaxing but of a positional change in the angle of the colon, like this:

 

[NW-Bound]

I dunno about the "Principles of Constipation".


I thought people would be more interested in the "Principles of Non-Constipation".

 

[Koolau]

Read somewhere that whole husk is more effective than ground husk in capsules.

I put a pinch of this in most meals.

Never supplement with Psyllium without adequate fluid.

Thanks and that's not a problem with me. I drink gallons.

 

[HadEnuff]

I generally don't have a problem, but here are a few things that keep things moving optimally for me:
Around noon, I like an orange, a tall glass of water, and 3 capsules of psyllium seed (Metamucil or house brand)
I drink a tall glass of water with my vitamins in the AM (just happens to include C and Magnesium for leg cramps- I did not realize it had a motility side effect also),

And a regular diet, I guess, but I do like my veggies...
Also a morning yoga/pilates/ physical therapy blend of exercises that does also include torso rotations, and I have definitely notices that can trigger an event that is non-negotiable, requiring a recess in the exercise program...
AND...I have noticed that for me, toilets that are raised high to make it easier for old people to get up and down onto, do NOT get me in an ideal posture...I remember seeing a product called the "Squatty Pottie" or something like that, designed to raise the feet, and I don't have one, but I would if I had high toilets.

So glad we had this conversation...gotta go now.

 

[Kroeran]

I have also found that magnesium helps keep my blood pressure in a good range.

Apparently pumpkin seed butter is the food with the highest concentration of magnesium

 

[Kroeran]

I dunno about the "Principles of Constipation".


I thought people would be more interested in the "Principles of Non-Constipation".

Colonic Motilic Principia ?

 

[ls99]

The hypothesis is that most people benefit from an unirritated colon full of enough volume, from fibre and liquid, to stimulate movement.

1) dial back common irritants such as gluten, dairy and the worst FODMAPS such as garlic and onions, alcohol.

2) encourage liquid in the colon by dialing up foods that contain liquid, drinking, putting miralax in your coffee until you are healthy enough to taper.

3) move flexibly toward a unprocessed foods vegan diet as easy way to dial up fibre. The idea is to be eating A LOT of natural foods that are not calorie dense. Start measuring your daily fibre intake. Keep upping it until you achieve results. Try to get to 50 grams.

4) drink light roast coffee in morning which has more caffeine, and more is better. Bulletproof it with butter rather than cream or milk to dodge milk proteins and lactose.

5) once you start getting results, start drilling in on how to get protein ie eggs, chickpeas, quinoa, nut/seed butters and carefully with small portions of lean chicken and fish to see if you can not backslide on fibre and results

And vigorus excercise, frequent moving of the body should help as well. Being parked for extended period of time promotes stagnation, in many ways.

 

[Kroeran]

A key part of the toolkit, skillset, is deploying a Ducolax Suppository for relief within minutes.

Especially while travelling.

Awkward, but rewarding. Just don’t get addicted to this last resort.

 

[dixter]

well if we are on the subject... many years ago I asked a friend of mine how she had so much energy and just seemed happy about life in general...she is 97yrs and acts like she is 50.... so she said you try to eat right but its better to make sure what you eat gets out of your system so your not over working your organs... so she said she substitutes salt with a product called Metabolic Vitamin C Powder (reduced acidity) she had a salt shaker filled with it and used it just like salt... if you keep your body high in vitamin C you will be regular and you won't get as sick as often... like I havn't had a cold in years... if you do eat something and its not moving like you would like you just take two table spoons in some water... not much water.. you just want the powder to disolve and then take that and swallow it.... it takes about and hour and you better be close to the house cause your about to flush your system... anyway... thats how she says she has lived for almost 100yrs...

 

[imnontrad]

Or it could be that the amount of fiber is okay but you have something like low Magnesium levels which means your system is not balanced. In addition, you could be dehydrated.
Every morning, I add a little "Natural Calm" Magnesium supplement to my drink - a 1 liter glass. No problems.