Why aren't the fiber supplements working?
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Fiber supplements make stool soft, which can ease constipation. If you take fiber supplements, be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise fiber supplements can actually make your constipation worse. Also, add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.
If you have intestinal problems, consult your doctor before adding a fiber supplement to your diet. Also, ask your doctor or a pharmacist whether a fiber supplement may interact with any medications you take. Fiber supplements can decrease the absorption of certain medications, such as aspirin, warfarin and carbamazepine. Fiber supplements can also reduce blood sugar levels, which may require an adjustment in your insulin dosage if you have diabetes.
Try Miralax (link below). Also, be sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day (not in one sitting).
Oh wow,stop taking that many supplements. the reason they have stopped working is because you've built up a tolerance to them. You have too understand that they are only supplements and will not do the job. Change your diet to include more fatty foods,also cereal that contains alot of fiber for example fiber plus.Also metamucial can help.Go to your phamacist and ask if they have anything for digestion and constipation,they will most likely give you an enima. Yet the best thing you can do is change you diet.
Im having the same problem, i was told it is compacted bowels as i have alot of abdominal pain and when i do go its very painful. . . fiber and laxitives make that worse, so go to the doctor before you take more, they can clean you out and you feel light as a feather for a few weeks :) If exlax doesnt make you go, you have a problem.
The fiber is good because it lessens your risk of colon cancer. You can add flavored milk of magnesia. Don't use the regular because its nasty. Taking this will not make you laxative dependent.
You can also take a stool softener biscodyl.
Gbono is right, you can't build up a tolerance for fiber. However, fiber isn't always the answer for constipation. In Chinese medicine, we look for what type of constipation it may be.
~Do you have a dry BM? If so, oily-type herbs like black sesame seed and Yin/Blood building herbs are what we prescribe.
~Do you have a sticky BM? If so, you may have dampness obstructing the flow of Large Intestine Qi and you would want drying herbs.
~If your Large Intestine is sluggish, then you want herbs that tonify the Large Intestine energy to have more productive peristaltic activity.
I would warn you that you can develop a dependency to laxatives very quickly, so take care!
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