@birdman518 Hi Mitch. The timing of your question comes right after I've had a diagnostic colon screening. Naturally, it makes me wonder if that is something that would benefit you in the diagnosis of the cause of the constipation. The other factors can also be how much water intake you have because water is absorbed in the colon when the body needs it. If your intake is not high enough, it causes constipation. You need enough water for filtration in the kidneys. There are dietary factors too, and my experience is that too much cheese can create constipation, while eating good fibrous foods like sweet potatoes can help it. Sure, there can be a spine stenosis component that affects it too. Stenosis can also cause both bladder and bowel incontinence. Have you tried prunes or prune juice or psyllium fiber? Those are things our doctors have recommended. Fiber helps hold water content as the food passes through the digestive tract.

I'm sorry I can't answer about the safety of taking laxatives. That is something you should ask your doctor and should be answered by a medically trained person.

What is your normal diet like?

Jennifer