How do you deal with constipation?

@baguette thank you! I will keep my consumption moderate. Fortunately, I don’t have acid reflux. But all things in moderation. And yes, eating is very complex

Research the Vibrant capsule. It is a battery powered initiated capsule that promotes peristalsis, the wavelike movements in your intestines. It’s expensive go figure and out of pocket, but it’s medicine free. Look it up. I have been severely constipated over 30 years. My colon barely moves. I do take MiraLAX, magnesium at night with gummy fiber chews and take Linzess every am still but the Vibrant capsule which I take 5 out of 7 evenings helps me to get past the narrowed passages in my colon and I have more of a normal regular BM. It Virates inside the intestines ad it travels promoting peristalsis. It has helped me about 50-60 present and that is significant! I’m praying Medicare gets it approved one day. I’m 66 and retired and I have 3, 3 tier drugs which Medicare doesn’t pay for. I finally got my Tirosint Solution approved with the help of an excellent thyroid Dr but the Medicare prescription is more expensive than the out of pocket cost for it. I also have to meet a high yearly deductible. I would have to poverty level to get it cheaper. The people who worked and saved for retirement, like NOT getting their hair and nails and plastic surgery but payed off their house car are still strapped because of out of pocket medical cost of meds. It’s 169 a month and for some it’s higher, but as long as I can manage to pay that I’ll continue. Only major thing is you can’t have an MRI because the capsule is met at with a battery in it. It’s the size of a big hard vitamin. You put it into n electric powered pad in to turn on the capsule.

I have dealt with constipation my entire life, even when I was a child. I strained so hard in my teens to be able to have bowel movements that I ended up damaging my rectal opening and then dealt regularly with the inability to have bowel control. I've had so many incredibly embarrassing situations throughout my adult life. I've now had two surgeries on my rectum to help with bowel control. It is much better, but I still will have problems on occasion. I go back and forth between loose stool to not being able to have a bowel movement for 4 or 5 days. When I finally am able to start going again, my bm comes out like little poop balls, and other times in tiny bits. I am so tired of having bowel issues and not feeling good. It affects every part of my body. I just listened to the sales pitch for "Emma", a supposed fix for bowel issues, but not all the reviews are positive and it is quite expensive. Over the counter remedies don't get to the root of the issue, and I just want someone to stop prescribing pharmaceutical or OTC options like Metamucil or laxatives. These things don't fix the bad bacteria in our guts. Has anyone experienced REAL help?

Hi @reulrey, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m sorry to hear how much these bowel issues have affected your life. Living with constipation since childhood, going through surgeries to improve bowel control, and still dealing with the unpredictability of constipation alternating with loose stools sounds incredibly frustrating.

It sounds like you’ve tried many of the usual approaches and are hoping to find something that addresses the underlying cause rather than simply treating symptoms. I love where you’re headed! I am attaching a link to Mayo Clinic’s overview you may find valuable if you haven’t seen it. It addresses causes, testing, treatments and providers treating constipation.

- Mayo Clinic Constipation Overview
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354253
While members here won’t be able to confirm whether a supplement like Emma will work for you, many have shared that getting to the root of long-standing bowel problems sometimes requires looking beyond constipation alone. For some, additional testing for things like pelvic floor dysfunction, slow-transit constipation, or other digestive conditions helped guide treatment in a different direction.

I’m hoping other members who have lived with chronic constipation or alternating constipation and diarrhea will join the conversation to share what has, or hasn’t been helpful for them. It may help others know how to comment to learn more about your experience.

Has a gastroenterologist ever recommended specialized testing, such as anorectal manometry, colonic transit studies, or pelvic floor evaluation, to better understand why this has been happening since childhood?

I don't get constipated from stress. But when I get constipated it is because my electrolytes are low, so I drink powerade or coconut water. I also sometimes take 3 docalax stool softener/ laxative with apple juice before bed. It also seems that 8 ounces of apple juice before bed also helps my constipation. Eating easy to digest foods also helps my constipation when I am constipated. Plain water makes my constipation worse because it makes me dehydrated. I sometimes get constipated if I eat to much protein. Fiber doesn't help my constipation.

I had constipation and 1) hydrating daily is critical, adding fiber to your diet daily is very helpful, not eating foods that can cause constipation (do some research on that), and initially to get me started my doctor recommended Colon Rx - supports bowel motility and tonicity. You take at bedtime with plenty of water. Also exercise helps but be sure to hydrate if you sweat!

I have difficulty eating high fiber foods, makes constipation worse for me.. also, slow motility is the bigger issue. Sometimes my large intestines stall out at the top of my abdomen and I don’t know what to do from there… any insights??

@cherrybaby
I have similar issues. I am trying to stick to smaller meals, slowing down while eating and chewing more., hydration. I have found that visceral massage has helped a great deal.

Asked A.I. about constipation cause I myself have trouble pooping. Here is what A.I. wrote back.

The 10 most constipating foods typically feature high fat, low fiber, high sodium, or heavy processing, which collectively stall the digestive tract. Conversely, foods that relieve constipation are packed with fiber, natural sugars like sorbitol, and high water content to add bulk and soften stools. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The 10 Most Constipating Foods
These items slow down your digestive system by draining moisture from the colon or lacking the necessary fiber bulk to stimulate bowel movements. [1, 2]

Cheese and Dairy: High in fat, completely devoid of fiber, and contains lactose which can cause severe digestive slowdowns in sensitive individuals. [1, 2]
Red Meat: Contains tough protein fibers and high saturated fat levels that take a long time to digest, while offering zero dietary fiber. [1, 2]
Unripe (Green) Bananas: Packed with heavy resistant starches and tannins that actively slow gastric motility, unlike their ripe counterparts. [1, 2]
White Bread and Pastries: Made from highly refined flour that strips away the grain's natural fiber, leaving behind a sticky paste that stalls the intestines. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Fried Foods: Deep-fried items are loaded with saturated fats that take immense energy and time for your gut to process, slowing overall transit time. [1, 2]
Frozen Microwave Meals: Highly processed foods that are traditionally packed with sodium, which actively pulls essential water out of your colon. [1, 2]
White Rice: A heavily processed grain with the fiber-rich husk and bran removed, frequently resulting in harder, firmer stools. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Milk Chocolate: Contains a double-whammy of heavy dairy fats and highly refined sugars, both of which slow down intestinal contractions. [1]
Fast Food: Items like burgers and fries combine high fat and high sodium with almost no fiber, creating a sluggish digestive environment. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Eggs: Though highly nutritious, they are incredibly dense in protein and have no fiber, which can cause a backup if not paired with plant foods. [1, 2]

Foods That Relieve Constipation
These foods work as natural laxatives by drawing water into the colon, stimulating bowel contractions, and introducing bulk. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Prunes (and Prune Juice): The ultimate remedy; rich in fiber and loaded with sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol that acts as an osmotic laxative.
Kiwifruit: Contains the enzyme actinidin and high soluble fiber, which clinical studies show significantly improves stool frequency.
Chia Seeds: Act like a sponge, absorbing up to 12 times their weight in water to form a slick gel that helps stools slide out effortlessly. (My suggestion here is to make Chia pudding - not safe to eat the seeds without first letting them soak to expand.)
Flaxseeds: Excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber; best consumed ground to provide a lubricating effect in the gut. (Safe daily amount: 1 to 2 tablespoons per day is the recommended and safe limit for most adults.)
Pears and Apples: Eaten with the skin on, they provide high fiber along with pectin, a compound that helps maintain smooth digestive pacing.
Oats and Oatmeal: Packed with beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that absorbs water to create a soft, easily passable stool mass.
Beans and Lentils: Legumes contain a potent blend of soluble fiber and resistant starch that fuels healthy gut bacteria and bulks up waste.
Sweet Potatoes: Contain gentle, easily digestible fibers alongside natural laxative compounds like pectin and cellulose.
Spinach and Leafy Greens: Provide a powerful combination of dietary fiber and magnesium, which helps relax the bowel muscles.
Berries (Raspberries & Strawberries): Feature some of the highest fiber concentrations per cup out of all fruits, alongside high water

@vjs003 Thank u a great list in one place