Constipation in Adult

How much Miralax did you take? If you take too much it acts like concrete and blocks you up even more. It takes lots and lots of water to correct this problem.

Prunes!

Apples and applesauce used to work for my kids when they were little.

Oh and bran (up the water even more if you go this route).

Natural remedies are prunes and raisins, like eat the whole box. If they don't work then see a doc because something is likely more wrong than just being blocked up. Good luck.

You don't say if this is a chronic problem or something fairly new. I have several co-workers who had chronic constipation (one even "failed" her colonoscopy prep and they were unable to do the test!) - they used a better product than Miralax that combines soluble and insoluble fiber to keep things moving (vs. something you just use when there's a problem or that only has one type of fiber). It also matters what sort of fiber is being used. That's the food science approach which helps people avoid drugs or more aggressive treatments that can have side effects. It also provides ongoing healthy approaches to bowel issues without the unbelievable and generally unhealthy stress of a cleanse.

But if this is a new problem and you cannot attribute it to something radically different, I would recommend that you discuss with your doctor whether you need a diagnostic test (X-ray or ultrasound, for example), to determine if you have a blockage of some kind. Those situations can be serious and need to be ruled out.

Two words - Fleet enema

How long has it been since you went? How often do you usually go?

It's important to make sure that you don't have a blockage. You could do an empirical approach by drinking tea and clear broth for 3 days. It's hard to do, but it will help clean you out. My GP had me do this.

Tip: Don't go shopping during this 3 days. All of a sudden my "blockage" decided to come unblocked in a department store and I barely made it to the bathroom.

If this has been going on longer than two weeks contact your doctor. We can't give you any other advice because there may be something going on inside. There are many reasons why this happens and many have to do with medications.

Consult your physician.

the other S.

Read the package on epson salt. You can also try a glass of warm water, warm tea, or any other warm beverage after your meals.

There are a lot other good suggestions below.

Castor oil. take 3 tablespoons, drink a full glass of water ... and wait.

Magnesium Citrate (buy in your local CVS/Target/Walmart). Comes in pills and tablets. Drink it down. Walk up and down the stairs a few times. :)

Walk, walk and walk some more.

For short term solution, take mineral oil as directed. I was advised by my doctor to take it when I was constipated during one of my pregnancies. It worked pretty quickly.

For long term, exercise. Movement will help things move along your digestive tract, which will ease constipation.

Fruits and veggies have fiber in them. Sometimes you have too much fiber in there and it clogs you up. Foods like bananas are extremely constipating. You need to see what foods you shouldn't be eating. When I eat food like Sun Chips I clog up like crazy. They're full of fiber but they are too much for my body.

Take the Miralax and eat stuff like Prunes.

If you can't go you might need a doc's help. If the blockage is too large they might even have to do surgery.

fuzzy and osohapi hit the nail on the head... those were my 2 suggestions. and if they fail then off to the dr you go

Is constipation a new symptom? How long since your last bowel movement? Have you been diagnosed with an illness that could contribute to constipation? Examples: IBS, colitis, ulcerative colitis. I suggest that you see your doctor to be sure that your situation isn't serious.

Keep drinking water.
Eat a yogurt every day or try some probiotics.
Walk and do a lot of stairs.
Benefiber helps me up my fiber content - I can put in in almost any beverage.
As long as you keep your water intake up you can try having an all bran cereal every morning for breakfast.
Stay away from anything on the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast).
For some people a tablespoon of olive oil every day helps keep them regular.
If you're really desperate I suppose you could try an enema.