What do you do when you are constipated?

See your doctor: These symptoms can only be adequately addressed by your doctor in real-time (face-to-face). Only after a thorogh evaluation, possibly including labs and other studies, can he/she determine what's wrong and what to do about it.

Most of the time...: ...Constipation is either from inadequate fiber in your diet, inadequate water, or too much constipating food. If there are no other symptoms and you're otherwise well, then the first thing to do is increase the amount of water and fiber. You may even add a fiber supplement like metamucil for a few days. If that doesn't work, then it's time to see your doctor.

Constipation: Your medication (clotrimazol and lamictal) can chip in it as well. To help your symptoms try drinking plenty of water, eating more fibers, fruits and vegies & abdominal exercises. It's good that you take probiotics.

Low fiber: And not enough fluids especially if much of your fluid intake is caffeine and or alcohol both of which dehydrate and constipate. Excess foods with calcium or iron such as cheeses and dairy products can constipate. Even if you ate the right foods but didn't drink the correct amount and types of fluids you could get constipated. Fluids are critical! stop the caffeine!

Not enough fluids: Fiber be it dietary or supplemental should be thought of as concrete mix from home depot. If you add the right amount of water it is not runny like diarrhea or hard from not drinking enough fluids or from excess caffeine and alcohol. More fiber without drinking fluids will make constipation worse.

What to do: Stay well hydrated (at least 8 - 8 ounces glasses of water per day). Try to get in 5 servings of vegetables and 4 servings of fruit per day – get that fiber in. Stay physically active if possible. There are a number of over the counter laxatives that can be taken orally to help pass retained fecal matter.

Low fiber: And not enough fluids especially if much of your fluid intake is caffeine and or alcohol both of which dehydrate and constipate. Excess foods with calcium or iron such as cheeses and dairy products can constipate. Even if you ate the right foods but didn't drink the correct amount and types of fluids you could get constipated. Fluids are critical! stop the caffeine!

Get seen: Medical causes that are often overlooked are hypothyroidism and porphyria. Otherwise, talking with your physician about diet and adequate hydration is a good start, followed perhaps by colonoscopy to look for tumors and other problems.

Careful: With taking excess fiber, as too much fiber along with inadequate fluids can make the constipation worse. Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and a liquid diet only until passing stool is best. Then avoiding recurrent constipation requires 80-100 oz of caffeine free, alcohol free fluid daily with no more than 25 grams of fiber daily. If keeps recurring, you may need a colonoscopy if you haven't had one recently.

Can give Dr. a call: Each person with constipation needs to be sure there is no other disease causing it. If constipation is just due to slow movement of the food and poop through the gut, then the things to try are vegetables, water, fiber with water, prune juice, prunes, polyethylene glycol, Senokot or other senna, milk of magnesia, other laxatives... A doctor can evaluate, if symptoms persist or are worrisome.