Hello there. Thanks for invite. Constipation started 20 years ago. Coincidentally (or not) with menopause. 70 years now. I did get a laparoscopic colon resection about 10 years ago. It was for worsening diverticulitis. Surgeon said my diverticuli was gone after surgery. Surgeons say a lot of absolutes. I still struggle with constipation but glad to get rid of diverticuli. When I complained about thin stools my GI MD insisted on fiber. Instead of recommended dose I started with 1/4 TEASPOON then very gradually went to current dose of 1- 1.5 teaspoon now. I drink 8-12 ounces water when I wake up. It is recommended to drink 16 oz when awaken. I am vigorous with getting rid of gas. I find Pepcid AC very helpful. Don’t take it daily. Look at label it has 120 mg of magnesium which seems to work within the hour for me. Think of gas being trapped in your colon tube- nothing is going to move unless the gas releases. Also I lay on floor to do my back exercises- always have gas release. There are exercises on YouTube to look up for constipation. I do take 400 mg Magnesium oxide and 2 stool softeners every night. There is a tea at groceries or Target called Smooth Move - a Hospice RN told me about it. Use it occasionally. I take Physicians Choice probiotics (Amazon) sometimes and a few nights in a row but stop when it straightens out. MiraLAX doesn’t work for me. Probably the biggest recommendation I can make is to look at all medications you are on to be sure they aren’t contributing. Meloxicam is incredibly helpful for my back but very constipating - I take it once every 2 weeks or so. Also I gave up broccoli, cabbage. Have reintroduced beans. You could keep a food diary daily along with bowel stuff to figure out if foods have impact. Apples are helpful for me. If all else fails I take a few ounces of Magnesium Citrate which I keep in my refrigerator. It is in clear bottle at grocery. Clear liquid. In the old days it was bowel prep recommended for colonoscopies. Anyway don’t give up.

Started sometime last year. I’m really not sure what is going on. I thought I had something going on with my liver because I had pain in my back(liver area), loose lighter color foul smelling stools. That has resolved, but then the narrow stools started. I probably need to increase my fiber intake and see if that might help

Bristol Stool Chart? Another-heretofor- unknown-to-me-piece-of-information! This quest for gut health is arduous, sometimes demoralizing. Im glad for this space for us.