“What could have triggered my extreme constipation and gas problem?”
I am 27 years old and I have been suffering from excessive constipation and gas problems. This has been happening from the last 2 months. What could be the reason for this considering I have had no big change in my food or lifestyle?
4 Answers
Not easy to answer this because, first, I would want to confirm what you describe as constipation. It could mean fewer stools or difficult to pass stools. I like to ask patients how many days they go without any stool. Even up to three days with no bowel movement can be considered normal for certain people but it would not be normal if it represents a change from a person's baseline.
Assuming constiaption means that you are having fewer stools per day or per week as you usually do, then this can occur for various reasons, often secondary to changes in mood, e.g., stress, anxiety, depression, which affect the colonic function via the Brain-Gut Axis. Initial remedies might include using over-the-counter Miralax and increasing fiber, e.g., use Benefiber 1 TBSP three times per day with food or liquid. Drinking more water does not necessarily help colonic function - it is a commonly believed myth that drinking water helps you move your bowels. There is actually no proof of this and in fact if you drink more water then you will simply excrete all the excess water through the kideys and it will not help your colon motility as a rule.
Gas is a separate issue, almost always the result of carbohydrates ingested. If you reduce carbs in the diet, then gas gets better, but it never goes away completely. It is normal to produce gas even several times per day.
Hope this helps.
Assuming constiaption means that you are having fewer stools per day or per week as you usually do, then this can occur for various reasons, often secondary to changes in mood, e.g., stress, anxiety, depression, which affect the colonic function via the Brain-Gut Axis. Initial remedies might include using over-the-counter Miralax and increasing fiber, e.g., use Benefiber 1 TBSP three times per day with food or liquid. Drinking more water does not necessarily help colonic function - it is a commonly believed myth that drinking water helps you move your bowels. There is actually no proof of this and in fact if you drink more water then you will simply excrete all the excess water through the kideys and it will not help your colon motility as a rule.
Gas is a separate issue, almost always the result of carbohydrates ingested. If you reduce carbs in the diet, then gas gets better, but it never goes away completely. It is normal to produce gas even several times per day.
Hope this helps.
The change in bowel habit can be triggered by taking medication such as pain killer, muscle relaxant, antidepressants and many others that need to be taken into consideration. Akse emotional stress is another important factor which can contribute to constipation. If all the above factors are not present in your situation, you need to be seen by your primary care doctor and to be referred for colon investigation, such as blood in the stool, X-ray, and colonoscopy to make sure you do not have any obstructive lesion given the fact we see increased incidence of colorectal cancer at a young age.
The presence of constipation increases fermentation of colonic content by bacteria, which contributed to gas formation and bloatness and will improve by treatment for constipation.
The presence of constipation increases fermentation of colonic content by bacteria, which contributed to gas formation and bloatness and will improve by treatment for constipation.
Are you taking supplements? Liquid intake or exercise different? If no to all of this, you need blood work to r/o metabolic causes (thyroid, etc.).
Need to know more about your other medical conditions if any, medications, and family history. Suggest you consult a Gastroenterologist please.
