Delicately wondering

[indysteel]

The Regularity Gods must be angry with me or something. In the course of the last two months, I've gone from being pretty regular to all kinds of messed up. In that time, I moved, which was stressful and messed up my routine. I also had oral surgery to remove some teeth as part of my orthodontics treatment. That led to some dehydration and also required me to eat mostly soft foods (meaning little fiber) for a couple of weeks. That's when I started to get a little worried because I just couldn't seem to right myself. Then my cats both got sick, and I got even more stressed out. In the middle of that, I started to have some eye problems and was told by my doctor to not run or jump for the time being. So, between shorter days, busier weekends and my eye problems, my exercise routine nearly ground to a halt. As did my bowels, apparently.

I've had minor "'roid" issues here and there over the years, but nothing a little bit of witch hazel couldn't fix. Now, I've got a full blown problem and my constipation seems to be getting worse, not better, no matter what I try. I'm trying to get into my doctor, but apparently, if you don't have the flu, it's hard to get an appointment.

Ugh. Something better give soon.

[shootingstar]

In the middle of that, I started to have some eye problems and was told by my doctor to not run or jump for the time being. So, between shorter days, busier weekends and my eye problems, my exercise routine nearly ground to a halt. As did my bowels, apparently.

I've had minor "'roid" issues here and there over the years, but nothing a little bit of witch hazel couldn't fix. Now, I've got a full blown problem and my constipation seems to be getting worse, not better, no matter what I try. I'm trying to get into my doctor, but apparently, if you don't have the flu, it's hard to get an appointment.

Ugh. Something better give soon.

Uncomfortable. As for the 'roid' or hemroids problem, I did get advanced treatment which was prescription drug from doctor. It worked within 5 days...after I tried regular over-the-counter treatment for 3 wks. Too long and potentially not safe to be left untreated. Yes. Maybe you should say you're bleeding from your problem. (Presumably you are..)

Are you sleeping well, and getting up at usual normal times, eating breakfast /other meals at normal times? If not, maybe that's why things are temporarily out of synch. I've noticed this for myself in last few years. Prune juice is supposed to be a good natural laxative. (also it's healthy for other reasons too.)

Hope you get around to some exercise. Even walking at length may help. For certain, if I don't bike, doing stretching exercises (there's simple, slow stuff where you don't bounce around) regularily, helps also.

[indysteel]

Uncomfortable. As for the 'roid' or hemroids problem, I did get advanced treatment which was prescription drug from doctor. It worked within 5 days...after I tried regular over-the-counter treatment for 3 wks. Too long and potentially not safe to be left untreated. Yes. Maybe you should say you're bleeding from your problem. (Presumably you are..)

Are you sleeping well, and getting up at usual normal times, eating breakfast /other meals at normal times? If not, maybe that's why things are temporarily out of synch. I've noticed this for myself in last few years. Prune juice is supposed to be a good natural laxative. (also it's healthy for other reasons too.)

Hope you get around to some exercise. Even walking at length may help. For certain, if I don't bike, doing stretching exercises (there's simple, slow stuff where you don't bounce around) regularily, helps also.

Shootingstar,

Everything has been out of synch. During the move itself, I lost a bit of weight and was eating less than I normally do and at odd times. I also had trouble sleeping at the new house (I'm not a very sound sleeper as it is). That got me off on a bad foot, and things went downhill from there. Sleep, diet, exercise. Everything's been off.

From a diet perspective, I'm consciously upping my fiber and water intake. I'm hoping for a walk tonight and yoga tomorrow. I need to find a new routine at my new gym, but given my exercise restrictions at the moment, I'm finding that really challenging. I used to live five minutes from work and five minutes from my gym. Now, I still live five minutes from a gym, but it takes 45 minutes to get home, and I now have someone to go home to (my fiance), where before I lived alone. All of this life change--much of which is really positive--is harder than I thought it would be. It's a lot to adjust to physically.

The good news is that I had a decent BM (TMI? ) about an hour ago. Who knew that it could make me THAT happy? The bad news is that I still haven't been able to connect with my doctor's nurse to see about getting in for an appointment before next month. I'm just not sure I can hold off that long.

[BikingNurse]

Shootingstar,
Just thought I'd tell you about something I do. May help, I buy a bag of bran and mix it in everything we eat. I can "hide" it bout everything but Icecream. My family never noticed the switch and I've been doing it for a little over a year. and I'm a much happier lady. My daughter's doc had me do this because she had alot of problems I think she inherrited my IBS. but anyway. It's kept me goin like clock work.


Here's to regular days......... and less stress.

[snapdragen]

Indy, jupitern (at that other place ) recommended Miralax when I was having 'issues'. Mine were from the vicodin, but it made all the difference. It's super mild, no cramping etc.

, and I now have someone to go home to (my fiancé.)

Hello? Fiance! Congratulations?!?!

[Bike Chick]

Indy, jupitern (at that other place ) recommended Miralax when I was having 'issues'. Mine were from the vicodin, but it made all the difference. It's super mild, no cramping etc.

Indy, I recommend Miralax as well. I never thought about bm's (except when I was occasionally in the shape you are right now) until I was hospitalized for 5 days last year for diverticulitis. Now I pay close attention to my bodily functions and I never thought I would ever pay that much attention to poop Drs orders are 2 stool softeners a day (one am and one pm) and Miralax when things aren't moving. I pay close attention to what I eat and how much water I drink. If I misbehave, I pay for it. Regular exercise is a must but nothing gets the plumbing working better than cycling.

Congrats on the move and the fiance! Hope things settle down for you soon.

[badger]

I found drinking kefir made me regular like nothing else. It was quite remarkable, and that's coming from somone who exercises and eats loads of vegetable and still manage to not be regular.

I used to buy these huge jugs of kefir from Washington, but stores in Canada only sells them in small containers that are much too expensive to buy regularly so I haven't had kefir in a while. Needless to say I'm not as regular as I was when I was consuming it.

You can also make kefir quite easily by buying the kefir grains. The bonus is kefir's good for your gut and immune system, too.

[Bike Chick]

Now I have to admit I had to google kefir to find out what in the world it was. Sounds interesting.......but can see how it would work. Yogurt also helps keep the gut in check and guess it's along the same lines.

[indysteel]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point. My doc's office just called with some meds to try. I blanched at the word "suppository." Ugh.

Thanks for the well wishes, too! I'm so not "bridal" in any way; neither of us really want a wedding. So we're planning to exchange our vows privately (we're thinking Bruges or Paris but are still toying with other locales) and have one of the judges/lawyers I know perform what's needed legally. It'll probably be this spring. Thankfully, we have our parents' support in foregoing a wedding.

I really like the juxtaposition of poo and marriage in this thread! How hilarious. In all seriousness though, you know you have a keeper when, in two months' time, they nurse you after you have 4 teeth extracted (nothing says love like changing somebody's bloody dressings), help you nurse and pay for two sick cats (nothing further says love helping you rush a kitty to the vet) and lovingly listen to you whine about 'roids and constipation. How sexy am I?

[deeaimond]

Congratulations Indy! both on the movement and the engagement


I have to go everyday, sometimes twice a day if not i just feel like crap, pun totally intended. BF and I were just discussing this yesterday... strangely...

as for inspecting yr stool... I do that everyday. The colour, shape and consistency are actually indicators of bowel health, and in general overall wellbeing.

In traditional chinese medicine, if a child has a fever that is not explained by a cold or something, the doctor will ask the mother to feed high fiber foods to induce BM, and it usually works. fever will go away.

[Jolt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsVgi8hoFFc "Everything Comes Down to Poo" from Scrubs. Very appropriate for this thread!!

[shootingstar]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point. My doc's office just called with some meds to try. I blanched at the word "suppository." Ugh.

Thanks for the well wishes, too! I'm so not "bridal" in any way; neither of us really want a wedding. So we're planning to exchange our vows privately (we're thinking Bruges or Paris but are still toying with other locales) and have one of the judges/lawyers I know perform what's needed legally. It'll probably be this spring. Thankfully, we have our parents' support in foregoing a wedding.

I really like the juxtaposition of poo and marriage in this thread! How hilarious. In all seriousness though, you know you have a keeper when, in two months' time, they nurse you after you have 4 teeth extracted (nothing says love like changing somebody's bloody dressings), help you nurse and pay for two sick cats (nothing further says love helping you rush a kitty to the vet) and lovingly listen to you whine about 'roids and constipation. How sexy am I?

Glad you found true love, indy via these 'tests' of his care for you Are you going to do any cycling on your vows-exchange-honeymoon?

Suppository isn't bad for curing problem. Worse things in life. I just make sure I don't go cycling with one inside me...yea, sure. Chugging up the hill. Wouldn't want an oops!

I'm like badger and other au naturel folks on BM ...I eat certain natural foods for good piping function instead of pharmacy laxatives. (I realize certain illnesses cause constipation when hospitalized, so that does require laxative.) Last time I had a pharmacy laxative, was when I was a child. I actually seldom have problems with constipation..but thx BikingNurse for the bran tip.

Daily fruits, veggies, certain grains, fluids, enough sleep, eating meals at reasonable times and daily exercise helps me.

But the exception is when I eat beans of any sort, it is abit constipation. So East Indian bean dishes or that yummy authentic Mexican restaurant meal with refried beans...takes 1-2 days for me to be normal again. Has anyone had this minor problem with beans of any sort?

[OakLeaf]

Wow, that's weird, beans are so high in fiber both soluble and insoluble, you'd think they'd have the opposite effect.

I wouldn't know, I probably have some kind of legumes at least four days a week.

[indysteel]

Glad you found true love, indy via these 'tests' of his care for you Are you going to do any cycling on your vows-exchange-honeymoon?

Suppository isn't bad for curing problem. Worse things in life. I just make sure I don't go cycling with one inside me...yea, sure. Chugging up the hill. Wouldn't want an oops!

But the exception is when I eat beans of any sort, it is abit constipation. So East Indian bean dishes or that yummy authentic Mexican restaurant meal with refried beans...takes 1-2 days for me to be normal again. Has anyone had this minor problem with beans of any sort?

Thankfully, I knew I'd found true love well before those "test." They're just icing on the cake. We may rent some bikes, but I doubt that we do any actual touring. He's not as big of a fan as I am of multi-day tours, although I'm trying to work on that. He's a cyclist at least, so that's good.

I'm not sure what food really help or hurt me. Until now, it's never been a huge issue as I've been regular no matter what. Over the last two days, I've had fiber cereal, beans, lentils, lettuce and other assorted veggies and apples. It did dawn on me yesterdeay that my diet has changed to some degree in that I'm eating a bit more meat, so I'm going to scale that back, too. That's probably best anyway.

As much as I hate the constipation and hemorroids, it has been a bit of a wake up call to clean up my diet a bit. It's not that I've been eating poorly, really, but it could stand some improvement. When I'm riding a lot, I tend to look at foods almost strictly from an energy standpoint, so I end up eating a lot of fresh and whole foods. Lately, I've gotten away from that to some degree.

[Andrea]

Hmm.. no coffee drinkers here apparently. LOL .. Usually 1/2 way through my first cup the colon bomb goes off and off to the loo I must go. Same thing for my BF. There is only 1 bathroom in the house and sometimes it's a race to get there first

Hahahahaaaaaaaaa... that's what I was thinking when I read the OP- halfway through my morning cup of coffee, every day...