Lifestyle Changes

Things to Avoid!

2. Constipation

How to Prevent Constipation

Constipation should always try to be avoided. There are some PN'ers that have gotten PN from straining to have a bowel movement from excessive constipation. The concept about constipation is relatively the same as bending. If you are constipated and you strain to have a bowel movement, it can actually stretch the pudendal nerve. Avoiding this complication can be difficult for many with pudendal neuralgia, as the medications that we take can also add to constipation issues. Here are some tips on how to avoid and how to treat constipation.

Eat fiber regularly. Choose lots of high-fiber foods, including fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain cereals and breads. Experiment to see if particular fruits or vegetables have a laxative effect for you. Adding fiber to your diet gradually may help reduce gas and bloating.

Limit problem foods. Foods that are high in fat and sugar and those that tend to be low in fiber content, such as ice cream, cheese and processed foods, may cause or aggravate constipation.

Drink plenty of liquids. The exact amount of water and other fluids you should drink each day varies and depends on your age, sex, health, activity level and other factors.

Increase your physical activity. Engage in regular exercise, such as walking, or swimming, on most days.

Heed nature's call. The longer you delay going to the toilet once you feel the urge, the more water that's absorbed from stool and the harder it becomes.

Try fiber supplements. Over-the-counter products such as Metamucil and Citrucel can help keep stools soft and regular. Check with your doctor about using stool softeners. If you use fiber supplements, be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, fiber supplements may cause constipation or make constipation worse. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

Don't rely on stimulant laxatives. These include products such as Correctol and Dulcolax, which cause muscle contractions in the intestines. Habitual use can damage your bowels and make constipation worse. For occasional relief try saline laxatives, such as milk of magnesia. Saline laxatives draw water into the colon to allow stool to pass easier. Keep in mind that long-term use of laxatives can cause dependency. For constipated children, give them plenty of fluids to drink, but avoid giving them laxatives unless your doctor says it's OK.

Ways to Treat Constipation

Changes in your lifestyle may be the safest way to manage constipation. To help ease symptoms, try using a fiber supplement, such as oat bran, Metamucil, Konsyl or Citrucel. These natural supplements help make stools softer and are safe to use every day. Be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, fiber supplements can actually make your constipation worse. And add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

Your doctor may recommend a stool softener, such as mineral oil or docusate (Colace, Surfak), to soften fecal matter so that it passes through your intestines more easily. But don't rely on stool softeners on a regular basis because they can cause other problems.

Your doctor may also suggest that you take milk of magnesia, which acts as a mild laxative. Mineral oil may interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and can cause a serious form of pneumonia if it's accidentally inhaled (aspirated) into your lungs, so don't take mineral oil just before you lie down.

Other things that have seemed to help with constipation is Magnesium, Omega 3 fatty Acids, and flax oil.

The last thing I will write about is Colonics. It is recommended that you speak to your doctor first before trying colonic therapy.

Here are some ideas from other PN'ers that they use to help with constipation.

One PN'er writes her routine and shares her thoughts on what has been most effective in treating constipation.

*Mirilax (Rx)
*2-3 colace

*1-2 tablespoons flax oil mixed with a small amt. of 100% grape juice. You can swallow anything if you mix it with grape juice!

I think the flax oil is most effective.

And another Pn'er writes her thoughts on what has helped her with constipation.

**Prune juice (100% prune juice...not the watered down stuff!)

**Organic Whole Grain High Fiber Hot Cereal with Flaxseed (it has 10 grams of fiber per serving). This works great. I just add honey and its tasty.

**eating black eyed peas. Drinking lots of water with it helps.

**Psyllium husk. You just add it to a drink. I got the powder kind. Its pretty nasty so I don't do this one often. I'd recommend getting it in pill form.

**Super Cleanse for your colon (its a natural laxative..it doesnt give you cramps). I got it from Whole Foods. This worked wonders for weeks but now it just helps. I take it a few times a week.

Colonics

There are kits that you can now buy, so that you can do colonics at home and you can also go through session with a specialist whom performs colonic therapy.

What is a Colonic?

Alternate Names: colonic hydrotherapy, colonic irrigation, colon irrigation. A colonic is the infusion of water into the rectum by a colon therapist to cleanse and flush out the colon

What is a Typical Colonic Like?

After completing a health history form and consulting with the colon hydrotherapist, the client is asked to change into a gown and lie face up on a treatment table. The colon therapist inserts a disposable speculum into the anus. The speculum is connected to a long disposable plastic hose connected to the colon hydrotherapy unit. Warm, filtered water is slowly released into the colon. The water causes the muscles of the colon to contract, called peristalsis. Peristalsis "pushes" feces out through the hose to be disposed in a closed waste system. The client and the colon therapist do not smell the feces. The therapist usually looks at the feces through the clear hose, and may comment on the color. The client typically feels some discomfort in the abdomen during the therapy. The colon therapist may apply light massage to the client's abdominal area to facilitate the process. After the session, the therapist leaves the room, and the client may sit on a toilet to pass any residual water and stools. A typical session lasts 45 minutes to one hour.

What's the Difference Between a Colonic and an Enema?

Colonics and enemas are similar, but there are some key differences:

Colonics cleanse the entire length of the colon. Enemas cleanse the lower part of the colon, the sigmoid and part of the descending colon.
Colonics involve mutiple infusions of water into the colon. Enemas involve a single infusion of water into the colon.

Why Do People Get Colonics?

People get colonics for the following reasons:

To remove accumulated waste from the colon
To help prevent constipation
To improve overall health

Health professionals are divided over the use of colonics. The majority of conventional health practitioners do not feel colonics can improve overall health. They believe colonics should only be used before certain medical procedures, such as a colonoscopy, or occasionally for constipation.

Proponents of colon hydrotherapy believe that fecal matter can accumulate and harden in the colon. They believe this buildup of fecal matter may:

Prevent the absorption of water and nutrients
Lead to constipation
Allow harmful colon bacteria and yeast to grow
Cause stagnant toxins to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the colon wall (called autointoxication)

Lack of fiber, excess sugar, and a diet high in red meat are believed to contribute to the problem.

History of Colonics

One of the earliest proponents of colonics and the autointoxication theory was John Harvey Kellogg, M.D., founder of the Kellogg cereal company.

Many credit Kellogg for the popularity of colonics from the early 1900s to the 1940s among conventional physicians. Kellogg frequently lectured on colon therapy and recommended colonics for many conditions, such as depression and arthritis.

As laxatives grew in popularity, colonics became less popular. Also, the lack of published evidence on the benefits of colonics contributed to its decline.

Today, some alternative practitioners continue to recommend colonics. It has become popular again, and many people seek colon therapy for detox and colon cleansing and to improve health and wellbeing.

Side Effects and Safety of Colonics

Consult your primary care provider before having a colonic. People with certain conditions, such as diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe hemorrhoids, blood vessel disease, congestive heart failure, heart disease, severe anemia, abdominal hernia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery, and intestinal tumors should not have a colonic. Pregnant women should not have a colonic as it may stimulate uterine contractions. Side effects of colonics may include nausea and fatigue after the session, which can last for several hours.

Although infrequent, complications may include perforation of the abdominal wall, electrolyte imbalance, and heart failure caused by excessive absorption of water.

Additional Tips

After a colonic, the client is usually encouraged to take supplements containing friendly colon bacteria, called probiotics.

Refrain from eating prior to a session.

Where to Find a Colon Hydrotherapist

Look for a colon hydrotherapist certified by the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy

HOME KITS

Here is how to use a home kit:

Use an old fashioned syringe fountain douche bag, hang it high, use the small nozzle, use warm water, lubricate the nozzle before inserting, lie back with hips higher than the trunk of the body and allow gravity flow of the warm water to fill the colon, empty the colon and repeat the procedure as many times as necessary to feel comfortable.