very very sorry about the difficulties.
I have very similar issues.
I have to do tons and tons of things to "get things moving."
First off - optimal hydration is super key. If you are not getting those 8 glasses of water and every single day...that alone can cause all kinds of havoc, maybe even every symptom you are experiencing.
The only way I can go is well, maybe a bit extreme. Its 12 ounces of prune juice daily, with a full dose of Miralax.
I also take senna, but not every day. I also take MetaMucil. And, on top of that, I try to generally eat a soft food diet.
My breakfast is usually some raisin bran cereal or a raisin bran muffin.
I also take probiotics.
I take ginger often, turmeric sometimes.
And, here's a weirder one....cola. When I was a kid, they used to sell cola syrup in the drug stores. Definitely settles my stomach and like little else. I actually do the diet version, because I don't want the sugar.
Some abdominal exercise definitely helps...but if the constipation is really bad, I don't do the exercises, I just massage the area.
Heating pad also seems to help.
And then into stress. If my stress levels are higher, constipation is definitely worse.
and, of course, the Squatty Potty. Device to raise your legs into the "squat" position. Has definitely helped my movements. They are not Beethoven movements, just movements.
There are different versions of those stools.
This is the one we use:
https://www.squattypotty.com/
Well, that is what I have for now.
again, very sorry about the difficulties.
I deeply and truly HATE my digestive problems, so I can sympathize...
take care
Well put Sam. Of all the indignities associated with aging, constipation is the worst. And it makes it even harder when the medical experts can't day what's causing it, so they came up with a fancy word, idiopathic - meaning - "We have no idea."