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Constipated on low residue diet

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/26/2007 2:02 AM (GMT -8)
I'm newly diagnosed and still eating low-residue. I realize that eating fiber is the solution, but am not supposed to eat whole grains or fresh veggies right now. Any suggestions? Doctor suggested Colace, but not working. Many thanks for any advice.
Posted 9/26/2007 5:09 AM (GMT -8)
Lots and lots of water. Seriously, as many fluids as you can take, and if it still isn't "going" you should probably stick to all liquids until it does.  If low residue isn't going through, you may have a problem with narrowing/strictures.  It's something you should talk to your doctor about. 
Posted 9/26/2007 5:15 AM (GMT -8)
Hi, I know what you're going through. I have the same problem. Been on a low residue diet for 3 months and I'm lucky if I can get myself to go twice a week. Haven't found anything to help yet, but I'm being sent for a second opinion at the University of Chicago. I'll let you know if I find anything out.
Posted 9/26/2007 9:00 AM (GMT -8)
Hi I up my intake of soft cooked carrots ,apple sauce,banana bread or banana.I find the carrots help me alot .Of course my Remicade also gets things moving. lol gail
Posted 9/26/2007 9:53 AM (GMT -8)
I have found well cooked large flaked oatmeal every morning helps when I've been in this situation, but only if you are still going to the bathroom. Obviously if there is a blockage, then no, don't try it. It is a soluable fibre so it absorbs water from the intestines and produces a softer stool. This has helped even when I have had strictures.
Posted 9/26/2007 5:19 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you for the suggestions. This forum is wonderful. I'll keep up the fluids, but not too optimistic...am pretty much eating liquid diet already and nothing happening, so maybe need to explore with doctor again.....
Posted 9/26/2007 7:44 PM (GMT -8)
Try cooking and pureeing some veggies. Add a little honey or butter for flavour. Also, anything you eat, you should chew until it's complete mush.

Best wishes.

Posted 9/26/2007 9:55 PM (GMT -8)

First find out if they think you have a stricture.  

I did not have a stricture but I do want to say that I have that problem too especially my first month when I was on the low residue diet.  (I was just diagnosed 08/03/07)

What finally worked for me was to take colace/docusate for 2-3 days in a row and then something started happening.  I also agree that water is very important even if you are on a liquid diet.  (i drank 8-10 glasses of water on top of soup, jello etc and STILL nothing was happening but atleast I could say that i was well hydrated. Unfortunately, the longer that the poop stays in your intestines, the drier and harder they get and the more bloated and icky you will feel. I actually got to the point where I was nauseus and felt like vomiting.

what else did I do.  I also took and still take metamucil supplements and once I was able to, started eating soluable fiber like oatmeal.  If worse comes to worst, I take milk of magnesia but I have only had to do that once since I was diagnosed.

I am slowly intergrating more fiber into my diet but I personally still swing between constipation and diarreah all the time.  At first it used to freak me out because I never had a problem with this before but now, I'm getting used to listening to my body and making adjustments as necessary.  You might want to ask your doctor how many days you should wait before getting worried before having a bowel movement.  I believe my doctor told me to go to dr if I went 5 days without having a bowel movement UNLESS I was having increased and severe abdominal pain. 

Good luck!

Posted 9/27/2007 3:50 AM (GMT -8)
Malakai: Do you take the Colace daily??? I was told that is ONLY softens stools and is OK to take daily. It is NOT a stimulant.
Posted 9/27/2007 6:13 AM (GMT -8)
When I used to suffer from C before my first resection, I used to take stool softners (not laxatives) every single night. If I didn't I was sure to get bound up.
Posted 9/27/2007 6:21 AM (GMT -8)
I take glycolax daily.
Posted 9/27/2007 9:03 AM (GMT -8)
yogaprof:
How did your tests go???? Is Glycolax like Miralax? prof
Posted 9/27/2007 10:30 AM (GMT -8)
Prof.. I don't take colace daily (because I'm scared--but listening to nanners' story I might want to) but I can give you an example of how I have to take it. the one I take does not have the laxative added.

week 1 don't take at all and then can tell things are slowing down
week 2 have to take one for 2-3 days
week 3 don't take at all or have to take 1 one day to keep things moving
week 4 may or may not have to take depending on if I have C or D at the time.

I was told that you can take colace daily but since I fluctuate between the two, I just take it until I stools become soft enough to pass and then stop and resume again once things get plugged. it's actually very irritating. pun intended. =0)

why do you ask? do you have C too?
Posted 9/27/2007 11:23 AM (GMT -8)
Not so much C.. but lately stools are harder to pass. I still go about 8 times a day. I also have a rectal prolapse so i have to be careful that I don't have to push. I have taken colace daily... and sometimes 2- morning aand night. I base it on the condition of my butt. I have now been Dx'd with hypothyroid... slows the WHOLE body down.. even the bowels.
In the past.. I Always had the big D. Once before a few years ago I had this.. and lots of pain. Had a CT scan and they found alot of thickening of the colon and ileum. Prof
Posted 9/27/2007 2:03 PM (GMT -8)
Wow -- so much good advice, here. Thanks again. Am sticking to pretty much liquid and "mushy" foods even though technically i was told i can eat as desired (as long as low-residue). Am starting to feel "yucky" as someone so accurately put it -- that bloated, sore feeling. So, I know things aren't going well.

I've been taking the colace daily for almost a week...
Not sure if I have a stricture -- am going to ask about this Monday when I see MD. I did have narrowing/blockage in TI on cat scan -- but not necessarily a stricture, right?
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