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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Constipation
Question: I have chronic constipation. What can I do? I've tried stool softeners, Milk of Magnesia, Prune Juice
Nothing helps. Thank you. I am just hoping it is not colon cancer.
Jeannie
Nothing helps. Thank you. I am just hoping it is not colon cancer.
Jeannie
Brief Answer:
may be diet related
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned regarding colonic cancer but constipation is most often diet related. Colonic cancer is often associated with additional symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain,loss of appetite, blood in the stool.
If you have your screening done then any changes to the colon would have been detected eg colonoscopy every 8 to 10 yrs or barium enema every 5 yrs or sigmoidoscopy every 5 yrs
In general, it is best not to use laxatives too often because they cause the bowel to change and so it soon cannot work properly on its own.
The prune juice should be continued but the laxatives discontinued unless really necessary.
Oat meal would help because it is fiber but you may also want to add a fiber supplement.
Most persons have difficulty meeting the daily fiber demands, this is 5 to 7 servings of fiber daily.
A fiber supplement would help. Eg benefiber, cetrucil, metamucil (sugar free is better).
You would start the supplement at the lowest dose and increase weekly till you are able to have daily bowel movement. They would need to be used daily.
Using enough fluid is also important (caffeine, tea ,alcohol would not count).At least 8 glasses daily.
If ,with the use of daily fiber and fluids , you are still experiencing problems or if you have weight loss/abdominal pain/loss of appetite/blood in stool then you need to see your doctor for assessment.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
may be diet related
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic
It is understandable to be concerned regarding colonic cancer but constipation is most often diet related. Colonic cancer is often associated with additional symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, abdominal pain,loss of appetite, blood in the stool.
If you have your screening done then any changes to the colon would have been detected eg colonoscopy every 8 to 10 yrs or barium enema every 5 yrs or sigmoidoscopy every 5 yrs
In general, it is best not to use laxatives too often because they cause the bowel to change and so it soon cannot work properly on its own.
The prune juice should be continued but the laxatives discontinued unless really necessary.
Oat meal would help because it is fiber but you may also want to add a fiber supplement.
Most persons have difficulty meeting the daily fiber demands, this is 5 to 7 servings of fiber daily.
A fiber supplement would help. Eg benefiber, cetrucil, metamucil (sugar free is better).
You would start the supplement at the lowest dose and increase weekly till you are able to have daily bowel movement. They would need to be used daily.
Using enough fluid is also important (caffeine, tea ,alcohol would not count).At least 8 glasses daily.
If ,with the use of daily fiber and fluids , you are still experiencing problems or if you have weight loss/abdominal pain/loss of appetite/blood in stool then you need to see your doctor for assessment.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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