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Daughter has huge dry stools and severe constipation

Posted By Sky (Usa) on 01/14/2015

My 15 yr old daughter has suffered from chronic constipation since she potty trained--which she started at about 2 1/2 yrs old, and didn't finish til after she was 3 (I didn't want to push it). She wet the bed until she was almost 12 (as I did as a child, too). The real problem, however is the enormity of her BMs. Even at 3, I was shocked at the size. And even then, they were large enough to clog the toilet! And they only got bigger. AND they're very dry. At times I've had to get a plastic knife to cut them up in the toilet, because wouldn't soften, even if I left it over night. OR, I'd get a plastic bag and scoop it out and dispose of it.

I'd bring her to the DR, who would recommend castor oil, or eat more veggies, eat more fiber (we're vegetarians), more water, etc. With some herbal/natural remedy knowledge, I've tried senna, products containing senna. Fiber products only add more bulk, leading only to bigger stools. Sometimes, when she's crying from the pain of trying to eliminate, I've had to put on a glove and help pry it out of her anus. Of course, she obviously has hemmorhoids as well, and bright red blood is often in the toilet. It got so bad she was only eliminating, at best, once a week. Her health was suffering, and she started gaining a lot of weight. She suffers terrible migraines, and now she's been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel disorder, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. We discovered that Magnesium supplements helped after a neurosurgeon recommended Migrelief for her migraines when nothing else helped (that stuff is a miracle! Cut the migraines down from 3-5 per week, to a few per month, and those are mild in comparison). Her gastro-intestinal doc confirmed that magnesium helps the intestines bring in more water, which softens the stool more, and her rheumatologist said it will help her joints, too.

We've also tried every other thing that can be used--Miralax, green drinks, Gluten Free (sometimes helpful, and then not; so she goes back to eating bread...then back on, til it doesn't seem to be working any longer. any benefit is short term, and not enough), prescription X-lax, softeners, etc. She even had an overnight in the hospital with a tube up her nose to drip, what was basically Miralax , until she had over 2 gal of fluid intake, and one helluva explosive night...just to return to the same problem.

But it's not enough. Obviously the bowel is now super stretched out, so that she can no longer feel the urge to go... so she has to just try every time she pees. By the time she does feel the urge to eliminate, it's too late. It's bigger than a strong man's forearm. Yes. Seriously.

Is surgery the only option here? To cut the overstretched portion of bowel out? Or is there anything else that we can reasonable do, on a budget that is far below the poverty line?

Replied by Ed2010 (Canada) on 01/15/2015

Hi Sky,

A long round stool is a healthy sign of a colon, IMO. The issue is it is not loose enough to easily to pass out of the colon.

Please, don't opt for surgery. Within your budget and easy remedies are:

Take 2 tbsp of noni juice 2 times a day. Noni juice strengthens the colon and relieves constipation and hard stools.
Also, boil a cup of milk (pref. organic milk) add sugar to taste and drink it when it is drinking hot. Milk works as a laxative and stool softener. Cold milk does not have this effect.

Let us the know the progress.

Good Health

Replied by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn) on 01/15/2015

HI U SKY, , , , , , , I can help very little with your dilemma except that when we were reared our dad required us to go sit on the commode immediately after waking. " But Dad, I don't need to go". "DO WHAT I SAID... BOY." Well a lifetime later, I am conditioned and I hit the John upon waking because my bowels require it.

You are aware that our colon is designed to be relieved from a squat and no commode is designed that way. The natural folks have a step stool to put their feet on. I just get on my toes, and bend forward numerous times to assist in the stool elimination. It works for me.

In the old French Shit houses you had large enclosed area where water ran and step stones for your feet. Then you had to squat and relieve naturally. I am just glad to have experienced that history. I'm sure folks are gagging. Also, when I traveled , all countries called them Toilets. Then came the PC 'Mericans and would not allow that.

You are doing all the things that I know. A bowel movement is the basic way to you rid yourself of toxins and either they go PDQ or they stay for a lifetime and then you get into serious health problems.

Others will be able to help more than I.

====ORH===

Replied by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn.) on 01/15/2015

HI U SKY, , , , , , , , , , , as all on this site know I's SJS. My wife went to some thing similar. She did Dr Grey's colon cleanse about 3 years ago and it solved her problem. This cleanse took about 6 months but it solved her bowel movement problem. We both fight for the commode at daylight.

You can find his book , products on Holistic Horizons. I now think this may solve your problem.

======ORH============

Replied by Jess (Michigan, US) on 01/15/2015

I had the same problem when I was a girl. Weekly BMs, large and difficult to pass and hemorrhoids. When I was in my 20s I became a vegetarian and later gave up all dairy. All of a sudden, the constipation ended. For me it was dairy products. Even a little bit of cheese and it would return.

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 01/15/2015

Dear Sky,

I am so sorry your daughter is having so much trouble!

I see you are already getting some great ideas from others. I will add a bit more to your list of things you can try.

Dr. Christopher's "Lower Bowel" formula is very helpful for constipation. It is a combination of herbs. These herbs are also healing to the digestive system. You have to figure out the dose that helps. For some it will be one or two a day. Others may need 2 per meal. Start will less and build up as needed.

Some kind of daily probiotic may be helpful also.

Is magnesium still helpful to her?

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Marcin (Ontario) on 01/15/2015

Sky, could you give us a description of your daugther's diet so we can think of dietary changes to address the problem? How often does she drink water?

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