I know this is TMI, and I'm not sure where it goes (here or nutrition) but I can't poo!
After reading advice here before, I've been all about upping fiber, insoluble fiber, soluble fiber. You name the high fiber foods, I eat them. I can have serving of dry Fiber One in the AM (I hate milk), I eat split peas, broccoli, I don't eat any grains unless they are whole wheat. I eat oat bran. Flax seed. I drink all my water and then some. Many days I hit like 40g of fiber and I still can't get regular. Its starting to hurt. HELP!
There isn't really so much "too much" fiber as "more fiber than your body can handle". People find that a slow increase in fiber is easier to tolerate and less likely to result in side effects than a slower increase.
Yeah...I had an "adjustment period." It did eventually work itself out. I would recommend a big cup of coffee and then a good run on the treadmill (seriously).
If the coffee and exercise doesn't work, try a little extra magnesium and vitamin c. That's what the Doctor recommended for my son who gets constipated frequently, (absorption problems) If all else fails there are also over the counter laxatives available. I'm not a huge advocate of laxatives, but a very occasional use is what they are made for.
I also have that issue. I eat Kashi Vive and it works wonders on me. I bought it by chance and when I got it home and started reading I thought I would try it and it works like a charm. It has dried broccoli, you can't taste it, and it is blended with probiatics. I am very happy with it and I have suffered with this anytime I cut my calories back.
You might have IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, its fairly common. Certain foods will either cause constipation or diarrhea. Please google IBS and you will find a wealth of information.
If you increase your fiber intake you also need to drink more water, plain old water is best.
Anything Fiber One kills me, so I stay away from it, I find I have less problems eating plain non processed fiber rich foods, like beans, green veggies and whole grains, again with plenty of water.
I am a bariatric patient. My doc has me drink Miralax once a day to keep me regular. It is tasteless and may be added to water, juice, whatever. It does keep me regular without getting the runs. My iron supplement constipates me.
Are you getting enough healthy fat? I find I get "stopped up" when I am eating very low fat. Sometimes, if I am hurting, I even decided to just not worry about the "healthy" part of that fat and will eat something fatty. That usually works.
Also the advise about the big cup of coffee and running on the treadmill is good advise. After having my last baby (long ago) they gave me coffee followed by a prune juice chaser to get me to go. It worked!
short term: if you are seriously stopped up, use a laxative/enema/huge cup of coffee/prune juice to attack the problem head on
long term: fiber+more water is your best bet. the next step i would suggest is miralax. it is now over the counter and you can start with the recommended dose and then adjust and use more or less as you need. as your body gets used to the dietary fiber and you increase your water intake, you will likely start to need less and less miralax.
Stroh's beer has legendary overnight properties. But I second/third/fourth the strong coffee recommendation - and for some reason, have found Maxwell House to be tops in the "response" category.
Sorry but...I can't go potty!
