Does anyone have chronic constipation?

Not milk but just about all other liquidy foods, especially soups.

That's great. If you're really interested in this avenue, your vit D and PTH will need to be tested. Over 17 years, first I was diagnosed with secondary HPTH(Hyperparathyroidism) completely by accident. Low vitamin D was the only thing my PCP was concerned about..led to my PTH getting too high..led to GI endoscopy and an accidental diagnosis of celiac disease, stayed on high vitamin D supplements, stopped eating gluten. Drs washed their hands of me, declaring that my celiac was the whole problem...idiots. Several other medical problems began. Along with the CIC just getting worse and worse. Another accidental finding dealing with my pancreas and that I have redundant splenic flexure( both are very often never noticed), ....now I find out that I have had primary HPTH for 10+ years, 3 opinions later, I have tertiary HPTH, my glands are so worn out and overstretched that I have to have 3 1/2 of the 4 glands removed...which for me is a GREAT accidental finding, cuz this affects the whole body. Look up the symptoms, severe fatigue and CIC are at the top. If you're 16, like your name suggests, in my humble opinion as a 65 yr mom/nana I'd follow thru with this. But it will probably be like swimming against a rip current....no one will believe you could possibly have this problem. I have twin 45 yr old daughters. One started with kidney stones at age 16 and has had many more since, no dr ever mentioned any of this and I didn't know until now. The other daughter has CIC, has just been tested for celiac and HPTH issues, answers are eagerly awaited. You deserve a chance at a healthy life.

For me, the Big C seems to be related to food. Please look at the food you eat. Things that don't constipate most people may constipate you. For example, fish may be okay, but chicken breast may not. Rice may not work, even brown rice.

Of course, food may not be the trigger for everyone, and even if it is food, it may be hard to discern which are problematic or it could be too sacrificial or inconvenient to avoid the offending item.

Whatever works is what you should do.

Wow this study and the results are a bit stunning. I've always heard that fiber was a necessary part of the diet. I'm a little concerned about trying this, but I've tried the high fiber route with very little success - meaning I still need miralax and occasionally a stimulant laxative.

Thanks to researchmaven for sharing. And along with Mayo, the Cleveland Clinic has an international reputation for medical excellence.

Hi @gamaryanne et. al. Good luck. It took me over three months to make a system that works for me, after a lifetime of issues with constipation. I wish I had known about the redundant colon sooner than December of last year. I feel so so much better being a participant in my own health and that I found a solution that works for me. Again best of luck, I kept records to watch my progress as I made little changes at a time. Admittedly there is a stress "oh my goodness will I be constipated forever!" but that has mostly gone away with successful regularity. Like my Naturopath said, for most people with slow motility or redundant colons we need a plan for regularity we can't just cross our fingers it will go away. @farmersmith

thank you

Thank you---What did you do to change your situation?

I’ve had chronic constipation due to being on a GLP1 medication. It was horrible. I started taking Mag07 and it seems to help a lot. It’s a brand I bought off Amazon but I believe CVS and Walgreens sell it. Hopefully you can see a specialist to find out what the source of your constipation is because you don’t want to develop a fissure or haemorrhoids. Straining like that can’t be good for you. Hope you feel better soon. I know that struggle and it’s absolutely miserable.

I now am able to control my regularity naturally, with prunes, rhubarb, squash and sweet potatoes. Soak ground chia and flax seed overnight in prune juice or goat kefir - half for the morning and half for the evening. My supplements help balance my minerals to aid my osmotic gradient - OptiMag, K2+Potassium, Real salt (I have low BP and low sodium so check for what your body balance is). I even take some minerals in the middle of the night so osmotic gradient maintained in colon until morning. First thing in morning I drink a quart of hot water (boy scouts.) Back up's Smooth Move and coffee – don’t like coffee (use these about four times a month). I appreciate being able to go naturally instead of being dependent on medicinal drugs.
Good luck and look up osmotic gradient balanced and migrating motor complex. If your food goes through your colon to quickly = diarrhea. If motility is too slow = constipation. Gotta, work at balance and of course relax because stress can fowl our regularity too. It really helped me to understand the process our bodies go through instead of just throwing things like anti-freeze at it! lol It helps to throw out less than optimal food like processed food, sugar, etc. too. Again good luck, you can meet the challenge by working with your body. A gulp of hot water to you this morning!
@farmersmith

Thank you