jdv, thanks for the advice. I haven’t been taking it seriously because I’ve had the problem all my life. Long time ago I brought it up with anothr doctor and even had a barium enema which showed no pathology, but I will ask my current doctor about it.
Eat oatmeal for breakfast every day, and drink lots of water. And eat all those things that have lots of fiber–apple skins, bran muffins, beans, etc. Finally, exercise. Sit-ups are good at getting the ol’ colon working.
Sycorax: any results?
You might also want to try yogurt. Mom has the same problem and has found yogurt to be helpful. But, I recommend ruling out lactose intolerance first, or yogurt could be counter-productive.
And be sure to tell us if everything comes out ok 
Mastery is not perfection but a journey, and the true master must be willing to try and fail and try again
Guy: My main source of fiber has been Metamucil; now trying Citracil; I don’t get much fiber from food - I’m always watching my weight and eat mostly chicken & veggies; do drink lotsa water; and I do Jazzercise (aerobics) for an hour 3X a week.
Zyada - thanks for the suggestion; I’m not lactose intolerant and don’t eat yogurt, but I used to and didn’t find it helpful.
Sunbear: as for results; well, as I mentioned above, I eventually do get results; like, suddenly the dam breaks and relief at last. It’s just those coupla days that I’m bloated and so uncomfortable before the dam breaks.
Thanks again everyone.
[[as for results; well, as I mentioned above, I eventually do get results; like,suddenly the dam breaks and relief at last. It’s just those coupla days that I’m bloated and so uncomfortable before the dam breaks.]]
This sounds a lot like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You might bring that up with your doctor.
Sycorax:
Here’s something tasty and I can practically guarantee the effectiveness.
People have mentioned psyllium already. But for truly intractable constipation, just taking a few capsules or a spooful is not enough.
My Magic Yummy anti-constipation breakfast:
In a blender:
)a banana
2)Frozen fruit of your choosing…I go for a berry mix. A handful.
-
Big 'ol spoonful of nonfat yogurt
-
Some OJ or other juice: pineapple, apple, cranberry, whatever.
-
If necessary, a little water and/or ice (to make it blend better and cut the richness of the fruit)
Blend briefly.
Grab a package of psyllium, dump a couple of heaping tablespoons on top, blend again.
Drink through a straw. Delish. (And drink it relatively fast. Within 20 minutes. The psyllium starts to swell and then it gets kind of a weird slimy texture that isn’t very pleasant.)
It’s a smoothie, essentially. But the whole fruit AND the psyllium together work wonders. After two days of this, your system will start working amazingly well. It might take a couple of days to get comfortable, too, because this mix can make you feel a bit bloated inititally. But after that, I DARE you not to go.
And you gotta do it pretty much every day. After you are in the habit, you might be able to skip one or two days out of 7, but develop the habit first.
(By the way, this mix also makes for very TIDY elimination, if you get my meaning. Again, after a couple of days.)
Stoidela
Don’t meddle in the affairs of dragons, cuz, like, you’re crunchy
and taste good with ketchup.
Stoidela - Sounds good - I will give it a try. (And, yes, “tidiness” is greatly desired; when the dam does break, it can be pretty messy, if you know what I mean.
Thanks.
Good, let me know how it works for you! ANd hey, if nothing else, it’s very yummy!
Stoidela
Don’t meddle in the affairs of dragons, cuz, like, you’re crunchy
and taste good with ketchup.
Try WOW pototo chips
Markxxx,
I was just about to suggest that. Let me tell you… the warnings on the package don’t do it justice. Whatever is in olean (olestra) does the trick and then some. If that doesn’t cure someone of constipation, they had better seek medical attention. I just had some WOW Doritios yesterday, and I’ve been visiting the bathroom since 3 am this morning. They should call it o-clean.
It’s not really anything “in” Olestra that makes it do what it does; it’s the structure of the stuff itself. Olestra (aka Olean) is just a form of oil that the human body cannot digest, so it comes out the same as it went in.
Eating Olestra is like greasing your intestines with vegetable oil. That mental picture is enough that I’ve resolved never, ever to try the stuff.
I’m not a warlock. I’m a witch with a Y chromosome.
This is a sure fire remedy: Drink Vodka & Tonic, or Vodka & Orange Juice till just before you get sick. Go to bed, and in the morning you’ll poop your brains out.
An apple a day…
honest, it works well. I chop one apple (large) up, fry them in butter until soft then throw on about 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, let that melt, and serve them over 2 toaster waffles. Yummy, plus you get a serving of fruit. Good luck!
A chronic condition really needs to be followed up under medical supervision to find the root cause, as has been mentioned. If an allergy is suspected, go to an allergist to find out what it is – quickly. If your doctor can’t help you, go to a specialist.
The association of constipation with colon cancer is a definite cause and effect link. Pushing the too-hard stool creates diverticuli (unbroken ballooning ruptures) in the intestinal wall. These can get filled with impacted feces, become infected or even cancerous.
Now, I know you said you drink a lot, but many Americans’ idea of ‘a lot’ is really too little. Are you drinking at least eight tall glasses a day? Not to be gross, but one’s urine should always be flowing clear for optimal health. If it’s yellow or darker, you’re not drinking enough. (Side note – the only way to loose fat weight is with an abundance of liquid in the diet. Dark urine usually means that the body is preserving fat, not breaking it down.)
The fiber issue has been covered adequately already.
With regard to movement and exercise, you should be walking briskly for an hour at least five times a week or exercising aerobically for a half hour at least three times a week. This is not merely to shake things along, this helps oxygenate and stimulate the intestinal muscles.
And don’t forget stretching. Besides a regular twice daily routine of stretching all your muscles (recommended for everyone); you should especially do waist bends – side to side and front to back (keep knees slightly bent)-- and waist twisting with arms extended. Don’t push too hard or too far. And if you have any health concerns or are middled-aged or older – see a doc first before you start a new stretching or exercise regimen.
I hope everything works out in the end.
Peace.
Try eating some White Castle’s
Contestant #3
Exercise regulary. And do your stomach crunches. Nothing regulates me more than a good round of abdominal work. It must “push” everything down. Good luck! 
Thanks again everyone. I’ve been using Fiberall, which has different kinds of fiber in it (including fruit fiber) and that’s helped a lot.
The cure for constipation (don’t laugh) sugar-free gummy bears. Constipation is caused by lack of moisture in the bowls. The sweetner (sorbitol) in the sugar free gummies mixes with the fluid, but is indigestible and passes through undigested taking the fluid with it. just don’t eat too many or I promise you’ll regret it in the middle of that ride to work.
Sycorax, we’re all hoping that you’ve spoken with your doctor, and your doctor has paid serious heed to the fact that you’ve had colon cancer in your family. We’re all also hoping that you’ve got regular fiber, water, veggies and exercise in your daily regimen. If you’re still having problems, I can GUARANTEE the following: equal portions of prune juice and Phillips Milk of Magnesia. If you can get it down, it won’t stay in your long. (No reading material required in, say…30 minutes)
“There will always be somebody who’s never read a book who’ll know twice what you know.” - D.Duchovny