Constipation: What helps you?

Magnesium was mentioned, but make sure it is Magnesium Oxide (same as in Milk of Magnesia). Other forms of magnesium do not cause looser stools.

@trishball1 just guessing here: Prescribed antibiotics will kill ALL the good & bad bacteria in your gut (I experienced that and am trying to rebuild). So logic says maybe a good probiotic might help the good guys build back. There are soooo many out there, IDK which is best. Maybe other members have suggestions about that. I DO know that Docs don't have a clue about gut health, but only prescribe more chemicals.

@lauracbaker I have been constipated for 20 years and since starting Gpl-1 for wt loss it is worse. Docs just Rx expensive meds that don’t work after awhile. Did have good result on that Gundry diet but my hair fell out and I felt unhealthy as didn’t buy all his vitamins etc: Desperate after no BM for 3 wks so now using a glycerin suppository 1-2 x per wk and taking two different probiotics as recommended by chatGPT5 when I asked how to repair my microbiome. The advice is better than I’ve ever gotten but not easy as must eat 30 different veggies per week. I am vegetarian and use frozen veggies. So far I think it’s going to work. I prepare 3 veggies/day so get 21 / wk.

Hi Laura,
Thanks so much for reaching out with your thoughts! I really appreciate you sharing your perspective, especially about how antibiotics can impact gut health – that's something I'm very aware of, and your suggestion about probiotics totally resonates.
You've really hit on a major challenge I'm facing right now! I've been on a mission to find a doctor who truly specializes in SIBO, but it's proving to be incredibly difficult to locate someone with that specific expertise. There are quite a few holistic practitioners who seem to focus on it, which is an avenue I'm definitely exploring, but as you can imagine, the costs for that kind of specialized care can be pretty substantial.
Honestly, I feel like I'm learning so much more about my condition from podcasts, YouTube channels, and various online forums than I am from traditional medical consultations these days. It's a bit frustrating, but it also shows how much knowledge is out there if you dig for it.
Thanks again for your concern and for bringing up such an important point about gut health!
Warmly,
Trish

@maysh47 wow, I can't believe you're considering going that route. Seems like you would do nothing all day but food prep! LOL I think I'd look into the pre-pro-biotic supplements, if I were you. I wish I could recommend a brand, but every body is different. In my own case, I have always been "allergic" to dairy (not lactose, but casein) my whole life; even a pc. of pizza would drag me down when I had a slice in college, but I didn't realize the problem until I was 40 yrs. old! I had headaches that I called migraines; had MRIs and drugs for that. But no Doc ever addressed my fatigue and slight depression and I didn't realize that I was slightly constipated also; my BODY was TIRED of trying to process that dairy! So, I know most ppl don't have my issues; that's why I say, do some searching about how to re-populate the gut. I do know that it takes some time; probably weeks. A healthy gut will move food through on a good schedule. (Right now, I'm trying making my own yogurt from full fat coconut milk - just started that. I have packets of dry probiotics/Prebiotics to add, as it cooks. We'll see!) My advice would be to search available pre-pro-bio.on Amazon, look at the ingred., give one a try.

@lauracbaker

The only antibiotic I've ever taken that killed off good gut bacteria is one called Ceftin. It didn't cause constiation, but had the opposite effect. A pharmacist friend suggested at the time to eat PLAIN yogurt and not the stuff with the fruit in it. I suppose one could add fresh fruit, but not the kind with added sugar. Added sugar defeats the effectiveness of the yogurt. I suppose one could take probiotics too, Plain yogurt is all you need.

@gardeningjunkie

Magnesium Citrate is the one doctors have told me to take. That is the one the makes looser stools.

@mercellort- Evidently we're both right. Mag Oxide is an osmatic laxative relieving constipation and mag citrate can also. When my husband was prescribed mag oxide for low magnesium it caused explosive diarrhea so he takes mag glycinate which is more absorbable and has no laxative effect on him.

@gardeningjunkie

I agree! I take 3 tipes of magnesium: Citrate, glicinate and malate. Definetely citrate for constipation.

@bajjerfan

Since it's too late to edit, I would add that for me eating plain yogurt daily doesn't have a noticeable effect on my regularity.