Comments on: What can help with chronic constipation?

By: older sister

older sister — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

I have suffered from this since I was a child. From the sounds of your situation, your doctors aren’t much help…mine weren’t either until now.

First, please have your doctors check for a lactose and wheat intolerance because that could solve your problem right off the bat. If there is an intolerance and you eliminate these from the diet, problem should be solved.

Here’s what we have done and it is finally working!

2 doses per day of Milk of Mag, a daily dose of fiber and a TON of water. I had to do this for about two months to train my digestive system to go daily. Once I had gotten on a schedule of daily bowel movements, I was able to slow down to one dose per day of the Milk of Mag. After about a total of 4 months, my body took over and started to do what it was supposed to do.

I still have problems triggered by certain foods so I also did a food diary to try and figure out which ones were causing the problem.

Your child may have juvenille Irritable Bowel Syndrome as well. This can be helped, but not cured, with a certain type diet and help from the doctors. Keep hounding them and they should eventually start to get the ball rolling.

Good Luck!

By: Jennifer M

Jennifer M — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

Feed the child greasy food. Try activia yogurt, it is supposed to help regulate you.

By: Pooh-Z

Pooh-Z — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

Fiber therapy – it really helps regulate the system. (Metamucil is a good one.)
Also, she needs to drink a LOT of water.

By: jackiehenry_06

jackiehenry_06 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

laxatives or lots of fruit… such as prunes…. but stay away from apples and bananas…it will just make it worse

By: Dixie B

Dixie B — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

Foods high in fiber, drink plenty of fluids. Do they like raisins? They are like candy to kids, but also have laxative effects. Have them get plenty of exercise, walking, playing in sports, etc. You don’t say how young your daughter is. There are glycerin suppositories that are safe for babies, if they are still on baby formula, try putting a little dark corn syrup in their formula. Start with just a tiny bit, like 1/2 t. then gradually add more until they are regulated. Greasy or fatty foods will lubricate the digestive tract, helping the stools to move along the GI tract. If these things don’t help, call your doctor.

By: thegoodwitchmm

thegoodwitchmm — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

warm decaf green tea once a day will keep the bowels going! if you add a little bit of honey they love it! its natural and its safe.

By: a99blkdog

a99blkdog — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

fiber ..fluids and MOM, works for me .. no apples or cheese

By: monkee

monkee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

Citracil in the powder form. It is a good source of fiber that is needed to loosen the bowels. Mix with water…it tastes like an orange drink and is safe to use everyday. Make sure they drink plenty of water afterward. It does not cause gas and bloating like a laxative or a stimulant.

By: abc

abc — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

drink lots of water and eat foods rich in fiber – figs, whole bread, beans

By: edith

edith — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:06:26 +0000

In the first intance, if the constipation is bad (i.e. she hasn’t been for a week) you’ll need an enema. These can be bought from the pharmacy and you can administer them yourself, so no need to call the doctor. Next, introduce things like prunes, fruit in general and more fibre-rich foods (like Weetabix)into her diet. Drinking lots of water helps circulation and digestion, so this is a must. Another tip: too much sugar can cause constipation, so try to get her to cut down on sugary drinks and sweets if possible.