What are the natural ways to treat constipation?

Hah. Yes, fiber is a binder and rice is a constipator (esp. white rice -- but brown and wild rice are fiber bulkers). Unfortunately, when I eat a lot of fiber, it bulks up and dries out my stool, to the point where I get backed up.

There are so many ways to eat, that it has become overwhelming:

FODmap
Low histamine
Low fiber
High fiber
The Whole30
Mediterranean
Vegetarian
Vegan
Meat and veggies and starches
Liver nutrition
Pancreas nutrition
Gallbladder nutrition
Diabetic nutrition
Thyroid nutrition
Rosacea nutrition

I mean, really?! One way isn't the right way. The only way to know what to eat, is to keep a food diary (I am going to start one for myself) and write down what is eaten at what time of day, on what day, and how soon after one had a bowel movement and what the bowel movement resembles on the Bristol Scale poop chart. I think that is the only sane way to combat constipation.

All those digestive disorders, I believe now, come from eating too much fiber, and relying on medications and OTC products that treat constipation. It gives me anxiety just thinking about my constipation.

Like, when I have to strain to push out a bowel movement, I'm probably creating the formation of fissures or hemorrhoids or hell, or increasing my risk of having a stroke or heart attack and who wants to die on the toilet?

I bought the OTC products out of fear and if I have to resort to taking a laxative to soften my bowel movements - like Colace or Miralax, then I will.

Will I ever again resort to that horrid fizzy drink you have to mix in 16 ounces of water then guzzle and wait up to 8 hours for it to soften your poo to liquid that shoots out of you for a good 3-5 hours after an anxious 8 hour wait (I've done this, it was traumatizing).

If only my digestive system would respond to your proposed balanced diet of starch, protein, fruits and vegetables with fiber. Unfortunately, that has never been the case. I think once I start my food diary I will uncover which foods, fruits, and vegetables and meats and seafoods contribute to or help me avoid constipation. That is my goal anyway.

I read that some teas can help treat constipation so I may investigate those.

Exactly. We have to self-advocate b/c doctors aren't always on our side.

Shutter.

I say this a lot but no one listens, when we get out of the dark ages of medicine, which we are in now, there will be a reckoning that all medical issues really are highly complex and individual. People will be taught from an early age to pay attention to their bodies and what does and doesn't work for them. Hopefully a simple test will tell people what is going on. I just sent in a sample of my "poo" to a company to test it for gut bacteria. Hopefully that will inform future decisions.

Right now the "medical" authorities push the same thing working for everyone because that keeps the "medical" system around as a thing. It also allows employers to appear to care about your health while demanding you ignore it for their work.

My go-to is a night or two of having shredded wheat for dinner. Usually doesn't take more than 48 hours for the morning constitutional to come back. Try the old-school ones, the little bricks you have to break up in the bowl, not the frosted mini-wheats.

Prunes. It PAINS me to say that because I am 43 years old but they do the trick.

I'll have to try the shredded wheat cereal (not the frosted kind).

Oh, I tried prunes and all they did was make me gassy for about 5 hours before I had a very difficult bowel movement. So, no prunes or prune juice for me anymore. That method didn't really work for me, which is odd.

A stool softener can help, too.

How exactly does a stool softener work? Does it draw liquid from your intestines the same way that an osmotic laxative works?

I have to restart taking OTC iron pills again (I won't do a transfusion for it) so I assume that will add to my constipation problems. But I plan to take the iron every other day. Supposedly, that helps the body absorb it better if it's not taken every day, but taken every other day.

Have you ever had to use a stool softener? How did it make you feel?

I’m not sure if this will help or not. I’m sorry if it doesn’t.

But I was constipated for two weeks in October. I took half a dose of Philips milk of magnesium. I was pooping water all night. I had one of those black Halloween icees from Burger King the day before. So it looked like I was dying. But I haven’t had any issues with constipation since. I have been totally regular. So it was worth it. Just don’t drink anything weird colored.

How exactly does a stool softener work? Does it draw liquid from your intestines the same way that an osmotic laxative works?

I have to restart taking OTC iron pills again (I won't do a transfusion for it) so I assume that will add to my constipation problems. But I plan to take the iron every other day. Supposedly, that helps the body absorb it better if it's not taken every day, but taken every other day.

Have you ever had to use a stool softener? How did it make you feel?

To answer these questions, I think it must draw liquid out, since I don't know how it could work otherwise, but I'm not sure.

Yes, I take a stool softener, since the opiate drug I take tends to clog me up. I haven't noticed any difference in how I feel.

My god! A black icee? Ewww! Well, I will keep the Milk of Magnesium and the stool softener as back-up plans in case my Slow FE Iron every-other-day dose backs me up.

Ok, since you didn't notice a difference in how you felt -- bloating, gas, or belching, I'll assume that the stool softener doesn't cause those side effects that a laxative or prune juice does.

If I want to get things moving again I find porridge (oatmeal) in the morning helps and so do bananas.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will add that to my constipation arsenal. Although, I did read online that bananas cause constipation b/c they are recommended as part of the B.R.A.T. diet when one has the stomach flu and diarrhea.

I hope the oatmeal works for you. Kinda reminds me I need to eat some myself. A new medication has changed my normal functions. Bananas are a great source of potassium and fiber. It's truly amazing how our bodies are the same but they react differently to things. Make sure you are drinking enough water.

I have a sensitive gut so normally I have the opposite issue.

For me kiwi fruit and those seeds are deadly as well as stone fruit. Again they are a great source of fiber. Even pickles......
PS. Never forget good old baked beans ..... Try making lentil soup too.