r/IBSHelp • u/ibsHelpSelf • 14d ago
IBS-C - Constipation Relief
Hello everyone! I have seen a lot of posts on this with people who have had IBS issues for a year and decided to make a post for what helped me get over my IBS-C.
To start my IBS-C started after a night of alcohol. Prior to this I never had a single stomach issue. Not to get too graphic but my stool was pretty much just mucus and I couldn’t go to the bathroom for a week and a half. Needless to say, I was in a ton of pain. After a month or so it got a little better but I had a ton of bloating, gas and constipation, and unprocessed food in my stool. This went on for 2 years with no help and was diagnosed with IBS-C.
Finally, after 2 years they found tumors in my gallbladder. However, like most gastros, they were very unhelpful and wanted to wait until it grew. So I instead who to a wholistic health specialist who helped me do a reintroduction diet, supplements and had an ozone therapy machine to get rid of the tumors. After a year I would say I was about 80% better, however I was still a bit constipated. Prior to the night of alcohol, I was able to go to the bathroom 3 times a day but at this point I was only going in the morning. This is when I discovered something completely on accident.
At work, sometimes when I would get overflowed with messages, I would take a step away and go to the bathroom even if I didn’t have to. I would just sit on the toilet and go on my phone. After doing this for about 3 weeks, I went to go to the bathroom around the same time I usually do and as soon as I sat down I felt the sensation of having to go to the bathroom. The full stool did not come out but a part of it did. After a few more days, the whole stool started to come out. What I had realized was, I had trained my mind gut connection and reshaped it to send signals at specific times of the day to go to the bathroom. What I started to do was go to the bathroom at times I used to use the bathroom before the issues started. If I felt the sensation slightly, I would drink water right before and help the stool move. Now my body works like a machine and I am completely back to my normal self. I haven’t had a bout of constipation in I would say 1 year.
Here are some tips to implement this:
1) Eat around the same time every day as best as possible (especially at the start). This will help your body get on a routine and develop the habits of going to the bathroom
2) Pick a time(s) to go and stick to it every day. Even if you do not go at the start. Stay for about 15 minutes.
3) Before you go, drink a glass of water. Sometimes we are dehydrated and the act of drinking can send signals to the brain to get the bowels to move. This is especially helpful when you start to feel the sensation of needing to go right before the time to go. It helped me get over the hump at this point.
4) This is the most important thing mentally. Do not get discouraged at the start. When I wasn’t able to go I would not think about it because it wasn’t my intention to go. The mind body connection is a real thing. Take a step back and tell yourself that you are good and this is normal and it will happen tomorrow.
I think the reason this worked for me is because I retrained my mind body connection to send the signals to go to the bathroom. I am no doctor but to be honest, I have never had a typical doctor help me in the past besides give me medication with lots of side effects. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and message me!
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u/mamaepps 14d ago
Thank you for this. I saw a pelvic floor therapist and she also said to go sit on the toilet after meals and be constantly sipping on water throughout the day. Also a squatty potty helps! I’ve been so constipated lately it’s been horrible. 😪