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The most popular and probably the best medication for constipation is docusate sodium.  The brand on that is Colace.  But, let me just quickly describe what’s going on when you have constipation.  If you believe Jon Barron from the last podcast, you have 50 pounds of poop in you.  Listen to the last quackter report, if you haven’t, you’ll see what I mean.

The actual medical definition of, being regular, I guess, is going three times a day to three times a week.  Now, I think three times a week is not enough.  Probably five times a week, or really at least once a day.  Don’t think that if you don’t go every day, that it’s bad.  You’re not going have undigested stool stuck in your intestines, it doesn’t happen.  Toxins are not going to accumulate or anything like that.  Constipation also involves the size and consistency of the stool, straining at the stool, lower abdominal pain or discomfort, and sometimes it feels like you always have to go.

Probably the most common reason for constipation is not enough fiber in your diet.  I don’t know the age of your husband but this condition is pretty common in the elderly but the number or frequency of your bowel movement should not decrease as you age.

If it starts suddenly and there is any pain involved, you should really head to the doctor’s office because there are some medical issues that need addressing immediately for that case.  Generally, the constipation will sort of creep up on you.  It comes on slowly but sometimes certain medical conditions can bring it on like pregnancy, or organ dysfunction.  Also, certain pain drugs medications can cause constipation and so can some antidepressants, taking iron supplements, and some other medications.

Alright, what do we do.  It really depends on the severity.  First off, increase you fiber.  That’s more fruits and vegetables or fiber supplements.  There are plenty of fiber supplements; metmucil, benefiber, I don’t think there is too much difference in them.  It’s better if you eat more vegetables but you can go with, fiber in a bottle, sort of speak.  Now walking after dinner is more helpful than many people think.  It gets your intestines churning and stuff, moving around.

That docusate sodium, it’s used to soften the stool so you don’t have to push so hard when you are going.  There’s mineral oil that sort of lubricates everything, I’m not a big fan of that but it works for some people.  Stimulant laxatives, like Ex-lax, cause the bowel to move faster.  You shouldn’t use those more that two days in a row and they tend to cause some cramping.  Another problem there is that they completely empty the bowel and you don’t go again for a couple days.  Some people think they’re constipated again because they can’t go.  Well, you can’t go because there is nothing in there.

There’s enemas but, I think, most people would rather do something else if possible.  If you are really having issues, I’ve recommended drinking magnesium citrate, it will work rather quickly but this is just a one time deal, not something that should be done on a regular basis.  What else, castor oil, if you use it and like it, OK, but other treatment is better I think.  If there is constipation in a child or infant, check with the doctor but something that is often used is glycerin suppositories.

What about natural stuff?  OK, often times, gas, like flatulence, and constipation are caused by not having enough normal gut flora.  That’s the beneficial bacteria that we have in our digestive system.  By taking some digestive enzymes with your meals and taking something called lactobacillus can really help.  Flaxseed oil is used by people and is just acts as a lubricant, and it has those omega-3s that are good for you.  And we talked about fiber already.

If you can find it, aloe vera can be helpful.  Not the lotion or gel that you’d put on your skin but the dried yellow stuff that they use.  It has a natural laxative in it.  Psyllium is a good fiber source like we talked about.  It’s a bulk laxative.  That means it increases the water content of the stool and makes it easier to pass.  Then there is something called cascara sagrada that some people use.  I’d say try it if you want but use fiber, or the docusate or something like that first.

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