Laxatives

Hello @cirilu223 and welcome to Mayo Connect,

From what little research I have done, I see that anal stenosis is a rather rare disorder which often follows rectal surgery. If you are comfortable sharing more of your health history is your problem a result of rectal surgery? How long ago were you diagnosed?

I found an article on the NIH website regarding this, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675080/

Please click on the link to get more information.

I'm sure that your doctor would be the best person to advise you regarding diet and the continued use of prune juice. Perhaps a dietician would also be helpful.

Please post again, I hope that you continue to work out the details of a healthy diet so that you can feel well.

@cirilu223 It seems rather unusual to be told to have a low fiber diet! For most people that helps with their bowel movements of course. I agree with @hopeful33250, you do need to check with your doctor on the prune juice. I know people who have a little daily though to keep themselves regular. I don't think prune juice can hurt, but I am not a medical professional so perhaps there are things about it that I am unaware of.
JK

Thank Teresa for your concern. Yes l had a rectal surgery very close to the anal canal 24 years ago. Since then l had bouts of constipation despite the high fiber diets which includes psyllium, whole wheat breads, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and 8+ glasses of water everyday. I had a regular colonoscopy every 5 years. My doctor saw nothing except narrowing of my anal canal due to scarring. I believe the scarring was caused by straining during bowel movement. My doctor still wants me to keep the fiber for digestive health. I did my own research and l read about prune juice. Prune has sorbitol which is laxative but natural, not made by chemist. I tried it. It didn’t work. I went online searching for solutions. I tried one after another. Didn’t work. Had to strain during BM. I went further taking snapshots of my stool and download them in my computer and zoom it to see its form especially the color. I even scoped some and found out undigested fiber in there, still rough to touch (of course with sterile gloves). The size of the roughage was the problem. It can’t pass through my narrow anal canal. I experimented with low fiber diets, including white bread, almond butter instead of raw almond, carrot juice (l bought a juicer) instead of raw carrots and prune juice instead of prunes. It worked. The thing l’m worried is the sugar alcohol in the prune juice.

I’ll check on link you gave me for more info. Thank you. I appreciate your concen.

@cirilu223
I certainly applaud you on all of your efforts to find a solution. Have you ever talked with a dietician?
Will you post updates on how you are doing?

I will say, my grandfather used to drink prune juice every day (he called it purge) and lived a long life. If the sorbitol is natural, I would check with your doctor as others stated but if it helps, keep going. Maybe every other day ?

Hello JK, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I didn’t expect that high fiber diets for constipation was a myth until l discovered it myself on my own case. I read the study published in the NIH website recommended by Teresa. I exactly did what the study concluded about fiber except that l added prune juice in the equation.

For those anal stenosis sufferers, sitz bath with epsom salt from pure dead sea salt in warm water done after every bowel movement for 15 to 20 minutes works for me.

As long as the prune juice doesn't bother you ( e.g. excess gas) shouldn't be a problem. Much better and safer than prolonged use of laxatives.