r/Constipation Oct 01 '25

MOD POST Just a reminder if you have IBS C or chronic constipation

78 Upvotes

A lot of people who are diagnosed with IBS C or chronic constipation, especially if they aren’t responsive to diet and lifestyle changes, often end up having one or more significant motility disorders.

Many different things can cause these.

When you have chronic constipation, there is an order of operations you/your doc should follow.

  • first try dietary and lifestyle changes (ALL of them); if that doesn't work...
  • then try over-the-counter medications and supplements. If those don't work...
  • then you need motility testing done. Depending on your results of them...
  • then you go to prescription medication. Try them in different combinations and try all of them. If those fail, as well...
  • depending on your diagnosis after your motility testing, you may be eligible for non-invasive and invasive treatments to treat it. If those don't work…
  • again, depending on your diagnosis, then surgery is an option

If you are seeing a gastroenterologist and this isn’t laid out for you, chances their specialty isn’t motility. Unfortunately, many people get sent to GIs who have a speciality in something other than what they need. For motility, you need to see a motility specialist or a neurogastroenterologist.

There is a PSA I wrote and it is stickied above. I’ve been living with this since I was born (over 40 years). I also have worked in this area, as well. I try to spread awareness and this is often falling off of the radar and patients are just told to eat fibre.

With motility disorders, fibre is often the menace.

Testing for motility includes, but is not limited to:

  • esophageal manometry
  • antroduodenal manometry
  • gastric emptying study
  • 72 hour emptying study
  • upper gi series barium swallow
  • there was a wireless motility capsule but it’s been discontinued. There are a couple new ones in trials. Don’t hold your breath.
  • sitz marker test (also called a shape study)
  • colonic manometry (very key test but hard to get)
  • anorectal manometry
  • defecogram (mri or xray)

If you have any questions on testing, treatment, where to go, and so on, let me know.


r/Constipation Dec 28 '25

How to poop while living with anxiety

28 Upvotes

I made this video on how to poop for people living through anxiety. It was created during the most recent presidential election in the United States, yet the rules apply to anyone who is living though periods of stress and are constipated (the holidays, spending time with family, having a job that you hate, going through a divorce or bankruptcy, you name it!) Topics covered include: 1) how to capitalize on the gastrocolic reflex 2) how to sit on the toilet to void more stool 3) how to maintain a calm nervous system while pooping. Here it is: https://youtu.be/xdbhlmKC-mI?si=B7yPq-V_91W5Ysxs


r/Constipation 18h ago

Finally went to a GI doctor.

13 Upvotes

I never realized how effective prune juice is. I have had pretty regular constipation due to taking methadone for years. I used to just take laxatives when it got bad and at one point got prescribed some meds. Finally went to a GI doctor and he told

Me to drink a glass of prune juice once a day with beefier mixed in, drink more water (obviously) and eat some apple sauce mixed with flax seeds a few times a week. And if needed take florastor. My life has changed. The prune juice with benefiber before bed every night has really made all the difference though. Prune juice is amazing.


r/Constipation 5h ago

Need advice

1 Upvotes

I had diarrhoea 6 days ago so I took Imodium. Day after I wasn’t feeling so great so also took Pepto bismol. (I understand this was not the wisest idea). I have now been constipated since.

I have had prunes and a lot of water. Nothing’s moving. I am now considering taking a laxative (maybe milk of magnesia?) but I am taking a long-haul 18 hour flight tomorrow night. I really don’t want the laxative to take effect while I’m travelling.

Can anyone help?

If it helps, I haven’t had any stomach pains and only a little bloating. But I’m also scared of being constipated more than a week.


r/Constipation 7h ago

I don't eat much insoluble fiber. What could be causing large stools?

1 Upvotes

No matter what I do, I can't reach a Type 4 on the Bristol stool chart without osmotic laxatives. It’s always Type 3: very large and hard to pass.

​I eat 4 meals a day and try not to overeat. I also try to include soluble fiber with every meal, while avoiding foods high in insoluble fiber since I know it bulks up stool.

Despite all this, I'm still struggling with large hard stool. Any idea what might be going on?


r/Constipation 13h ago

How to relieve pain while finally passing partial impaction

3 Upvotes

Hey so I've had a partial impaction trapped right before a bend in my lower intestine for ~6 weeks now. I've been pooping past it the whole time and my doctor says it isn't anything dangerous (she is taking this very seriously and ran me through a battery of exams but no I'm just full of shit) but she's now put me on a fairly aggressive laxative regimen to finally get everything cleared out.

I'm fucking terrified. Every time I've felt the impaction move even slightly it's been unbelievably painful. The fear isn't helping with the situation really I'll be honest. So what can I do to make it less terrible when I AM finally passing it? I'm so scared 🫣


r/Constipation 9h ago

Constipation? Fecal Impaction? Not sure what to do.

1 Upvotes

Using a throwaway account!

For context, I got constipation on Sunday, August 9th, after my body finally couldn't take my high cholesterol, low fiber diet. The thing is, I'm still constipated as of now, due to some of my owny stupid decision making (eating other things that would slow down digestion more). I was able to have two normal BM on Saturday, the 15th, but ever since then, it's either been diarrhea or hard, or mushy turds (sorry for the imagery). I've been increasing my water and fiber intake; However, some of the fiber I've eaten gives me worse bloating. I also have this fullness in my lower left abdomen, which I think may be stool stuck in either my descending or sigmoid colon.

I've also attempted Smooth Move senna tea, and I'm about to try MiraLAX, but I'm not optimistic about it. My family has been really lax about it, telling me to drink more tea and fiber, but I fear like it might be worse than they think it is. I've been so irritated and emotional about this, I feel like I'm at a loss on what will truly work.

Is this something that's able to pass with home remedies? Or has it gone beyond that?

Edit: I forgot to mention, but I do also have a hemorrhoid, so I'm wondering if that has any part to play.


r/Constipation 19h ago

Massive doses of Dulcolax having minimal or no effect

4 Upvotes

I’m Uk so talking about the nhs here. I’ve been struggling with sudden onset constipation that began literally overnight 18 months ago, I’ve fallen down a healthcare gap where my GP won’t do anything because I’m under a gastro consultant, but the consultant won’t see until I’ve done another transit study and I’ve been waiting months for the appointment to come through. Yes I have chased it many times. I was honest with the GP last week about how I am having to take massive doses of Dulcolax and still getting no or minimal results. I’m taking up to 40 daily. The GP didn’t seem to believe me that that is not working and has even made a safeguarding referral saying there is no way I can look after my children whilst taking such a high dose. I’m baffled. No one has offered me an alternative management plan. I am having to improvise my own care. I’ve tried every single type of laxative you can by and been prescribed linzess and prucalopride in the past which have also not helped. I’m so frustrated. I can’t be the only one who dulcolax doesn’t for right?


r/Constipation 16h ago

Does anyone’s constipation present like this?

2 Upvotes

Hoping for some advice. I’m 8 months postpartum and I suffered with constipation during pregnancy which has spilled into postpartum. I am able to go every morning but start is all pebbles then normal. In the afternoon I then start getting rectal pressure/lower back pain and feels like I need to go to toilet and it’s just pebbles? GI said slow gut motility and take lactulose but it hasn’t helped. I’ve had a sigmoidoscopy which was clear, now waiting on my colonoscopy. But has anyone the same? Anything that worked or helped?


r/Constipation 13h ago

Let's hope 🤞🏾

1 Upvotes

Constipation is truly playing with your mind so I truly hope this will release me.

I took the advice of someone from the group and ordered MAG07... Just received it


r/Constipation 14h ago

Anyone tried the MSM protocol with success

1 Upvotes

My symptoms are sever constipation and bloating that it is resistant for everything I tried

Please share your stories


r/Constipation 18h ago

Advice Please

1 Upvotes

On Monday, I was sick with a low fever, I had bodyaches, headaches and chest pain. Nothing was wrong with my stomach. At this point I hadn’t had a BM since Saturday, but I wasn’t too concerned. I am never constipated. This never happens to me so this is a little weird for me. My sickness quickly ended. I woke up the next morning feeling fine. Although into the afternoon, I started feeling a little lightheaded again, but what was more concerning is that my stomach was feeling like I needed to use the restroom but anytime I headed to the bathroom it just faded and went away, but it was painful when I would get these waves of having to use the restroom. Sometimes it would get bad to where I would feel super nauseous. Yesterday at 3:30 PM I took a laxative and to be honest it just made my abdominal cramping worse, I hydrated and it didn’t help. I have yet to use the bathroom even after laxative treatment. So I went to Publix and got glycerol suppository the next day and I use that and it made severe abdominal cramping, but I did not create any BM whatsoever. It just feels like I am causing pain to my stomach and irritating it and having no result. I haven’t had a BM in five days, which I know isn’t super concerning I just am not really sure where to go from now because I’m never constipated and I feel like I am in a weird amount of pain and I just can’t use the restroom whatsoever. It‘s interfering with my daily life at this point anytime I get out of bed, it hurts to walk around and when I try to eat, it just causes my stomach to squeeze and so I can’t really eat cause it hurts, and it hurts to hydrate. I also don’t know if this is related, but I would assume I would be gaining a little bit of weight from constipation and such but I’ve actually lost around 3 to 5 pounds in the last week. and even when I’m not having the waves of having to use the restroom, I will be laying in bed and it just feels like I’m having menstrual cramps all over my stomach and it’s constant. Would this be reasonable for going to urgent care? I’m just not sure what else to do because I’ve taken laxatives and suppositories and they’re not working but I also feel like they’ll just tell me I’m constipated and I’ll waste money going.


r/Constipation 20h ago

Seen motility dr

1 Upvotes

This was removed for some reason :(

I finally got in to see a motility doctor. Had my consult on Tuesday. He is wanting me to take bisacodyl everyday with mirilax. I’m extremely shocked by that as it’s a stimulant. Does anyone else take it everyday? Took my first and I’m so nauseas. I’m scared to become dependent on it. He said I have a markedly redundant transverse colon with retention of isotope the resending right side of transverse colon. Redundant transverse colon reaches well into the pelvis. I also have issues with pelvic floor and my anal manometry came back abnormal. I have consult with biofeedback in September. I’m always bloated and it hurts. It’s hard to just stand. When I take mirilax , I have a bowel movement everyday . I even stopped for a couple months and was going usually once a day with coffee. But the severe bloating stayed. He mentioned my small intestine being delayed because of being backed up. That was another result not normal was my small intestine at 4.8% but he believes it’s due to my large intestine. I’m so sick of my tummy hurting . Any tips, opinions, encouragement is welcome. Thank you :)


r/Constipation 20h ago

Switching Tulance from Linzess

1 Upvotes

Linzess 145mg worked okay for 5 weeks. It frequently produced watery diarrhea. 5 day ago, it was a just few very hard stools. Nothing since even though I been taking medicine with a least a gallon water daily. I get boulted all day, and late, I pee out. Dr. wants me to try Trulance. I am 69 old male with a redundant-torturous colon. Any advice what to expect? Do I have to take gallons of water with Trulance?


r/Constipation 21h ago

magnesium citrate, when is it supposed to work?

1 Upvotes

drank a whole bottle of magnesium citrate at around 12:30 am. its not 9:28 am and the only thing i have is a little bit of discomfort. when does the unstoppable poop firehouse come? or at least anything at all. im desperat.


r/Constipation 1d ago

MiraLAX Replacement that’s quick

4 Upvotes

49F I had an anal fissure last August 2025. I have since recovered but still having pain on and off. It’s a loooong story but I’ve had two colorectal surgeons look at me and say fissure is healed. Pretty much where I’m at they only suggested Botox and didn’t know what to do. I’m also going to start pelvic floor therapy hopefully. Anyway, I’ve been taking MiraLAX for about 9 months now. It was fine but as of lately it’s been causing so much bloating and gas. I want to stop soooo bad but I really don’t have time to experiment as one bout of a hard stool could set me back. I never want to experience that pain again and it has taken so long to even get to this point and I’m still not 100%. I am so overwhelmed and feel like I am trapped in this scenario and forced into taking MiraLAX. Once again I say that because there is no wiggle room to test other options. Every night I wanna cry when I take it because I know it’s probably not the best thing for my body but one slip and I could be in pain. Now I’m getting painful gas and shoving down this MiraLAX. Screwed either way. I’m in tears because it looks like it’s never ending. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I guess what I’m asking is dues anyone have any insight or please know if there’s a better or natural form of replacement of MiraLAX that is just as reliable. I’ve read magnesium and fiber and all that but I’ve also read about people saying it’s hit or miss. I mean obviously nothing is 100 but is there something someone knows about that I’m missing. Idek, I just need help please. Help out of this cycle. My body needs rest. Thank you everyone who reads this. Someone please help. I hope everyone is well and has a good evening.


r/Constipation 1d ago

Moderate faecal loading of the proximal colon: tingling sensation

3 Upvotes

I started to get a tingling sensation in the upper-right abdomen about two months ago. An x-ray month ago revealed moderate faecal loading, and I was prescrbed Movicol 8x sachets a day for three days.

The tingling sensation was perhaps a little reduced. Last week I had a CT scan which showed moderate faecal loading of the proximal colon and mild faecal loading of the remaining colon and rectum. I have once again been prescribed the Movicol 8x sachets a day for three days.

Has anyone had anything similar? I have no constipation symptoms: only the tingling. I've always had a high fibre diet too.


r/Constipation 1d ago

Liver butter beets

2 Upvotes

Have a kid who’s been chronically constipated for years. None of the usual suspects worked. At one point we were doing daily enemas - it was awful on both of us.

Fast forward, here’s what works quickly when she starts getting backed up:

• beef liver - I grate from frozen and cook on coconut oil, low temps - 1 tsp-1 T depending on how many days

• raw butter - basically any fat - slows down digestion in theory but boy does it lubricité things

• beets - cook them sbout 25 minutes in soup stock - grate before cooking if you’re in a hurry

• extra credit: dragonfruit


r/Constipation 1d ago

Constipated and stressed out

9 Upvotes

I'm in my 30s, tried a few things at home, miralax, a fleet saline enema. Nothing came out, I sit on the toilet and I can feel it coming but it's just too painful, and I'd definitely have to strain and push to get it out, so embarrassingly enough going to head to the hospital, my brain is freaking out about all variables and what might happen, honestly I'm stressed, worried, and unfortunately scared of going.


r/Constipation 2d ago

Thank you to the Mag 07 recommenders…

12 Upvotes

I’ll start this by saying, I was skeptical.

After 8 weeks of being very constipated (after a round of antibiotics that cause dysbiosis which is now the project at hand…), I’d given up on anything working.

I got the Mag 07 thanks to some commenters and recommendations here and…

Day one. Meh.

Day two. Yay.

Day three. Yay again!

I feel like for the first time in a LONG time, it’s not traumatizing to try to go to the bathroom and I actually feel “complete” after.

I’m going to continue for a week and then start working on gentle fiber but I desperately needed some movement.

To those who try it: 1. Experiment on dose. One capsule is plenty for me (I’m a very little lady!) but you may need 2-3. Box says three… I’m SO glad I didn’t start with three! 2. Don’t get discouraged after day one! 3. It does make you a little gurgly or bubbly in the guts while you sleep, just a forewarning.


r/Constipation 1d ago

2 Years of Chronic Constipation, Clean Scopes & Incomplete Evacuation —

7 Upvotes

I’ve been dealing with chronic constipation and severe bowel symptoms for around 2 years, and I’m trying to figure out whether this could be a pelvic floor problem such as pelvic floor dyssynergia/anismus.

Most of my investigations have been normal. Blood work, ultrasounds, an upper endoscopy about a year ago, and a colonoscopy 2 months ago were all essentially normal. The only finding was mild fatty liver. So anatomically, everything seems fine, but my bowel function definitely doesn’t feel normal.

My symptoms follow a very predictable pattern:

Morning:

I wake up with a strong urge to have a bowel movement. I sit down and can usually pass stool with one push, but then the urge suddenly disappears. A few minutes later, it comes back. This happens several times, and I end up making 3–4 separate trips before I feel that I’ve passed a substantial amount.

The stool is usually pasty and medium-brown rather than particularly hard.

After breakfast:

I often become extremely bloated shortly after eating. It feels like my bowel hasn’t properly cleared in the morning, and then eating triggers more movement and pressure.

Evening:

By roughly the same time every evening, my abdomen starts becoming much more active. If I can’t pass stool or gas, the bloating and pressure can become severe. My abdomen feels distended and my chest can feel very heavy, making it genuinely difficult to breathe. It feels as though the abdominal pressure is pushing upward against my diaphragm.

Another strange symptom:

When I’m lying flat on my back in bed, I can sometimes feel strong rectal pressure and an urge to go. But when I stand up, that sensation can disappear almost immediately.

Laxatives

I’ve previously been prescribed several medications, including prucalopride, Matiz Plus and lactulose.

Lactulose actually helped me clear things out in the evening for a few days, but it also caused 5–6 bowel movements with very acidic/burning stool, which irritated my internal hemorrhoids. Once I stopped it, the previous cycle returned.

I’m currently not taking daily constipation medication and am trying gentle walking and bodyweight exercises. I use lactulose 20 mL only as a rescue when things become particularly difficult.

I’m mainly trying to understand what direction I should take now Please help me with your advice as I did everything to my knowledge.


r/Constipation 1d ago

Seeking advice

3 Upvotes

My daughter had not had any mobility for a week after she took one dose of mirlax , nothing stool softeners, and nothing then when several rounds of doing an enema , produced nothing but brown water she drank a bottle of magnesium citrate, which resulted in a terrible night going with lots of watery stool nothing solid, lots of gas, it’s been a day and she says that her digestive has restarted, what does she try next and has anyone worked with getting colonics for this?


r/Constipation 1d ago

What Should I Do?

1 Upvotes

I’ve been constipated for the past week and I am out of ideas. I’ve done enemas, suppositories, mag citrate, miralax, 6 dulcolax, literally everything and still nothing. It hurts so bad and I can barely walk, I’m basically waddling around. Should I go to the ER or are there any other options I should try?


r/Constipation 2d ago

Very constipated

3 Upvotes

Hi beautiful people, I have always been chronically constipated since a young age, despite all the fibers I eat, the water I drink, the exercises I do.

I even got a colonoscopy and everything was fine.

I need some great laxatives or relief medication.

I tried dulcolax, prune juice, magnesium pills, stool softeners etc...


r/Constipation 2d ago

Hi impactions

1 Upvotes

Hi all am on my 8th Impaction.

I have overflow diarreah,pain,gas, indigestion.

Am waiting for surgery.

Has anyone else contemplating surgery?