Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

How Can Chronic Constipation Be Treated?

I am looking for some help for my husband. He has extremely hard stools. when he has a bowel movement, it is hard and is not able to pass through the toilet. He has been taking a fiber supplement each night and a stool softener every day. I think part of the problem may be not enough water. He is obese and pretty sedentary since a stroke 4 years ago. Do you have any suggestion for him to try. He doesn t eat a lot of fruits, drinks orange juice every morning. The only vegetables he will eat are green beans, corn and peas.
Tue, 20 Feb 2018
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and thank your for using HCM for your answers!

I will go straight to the point: your husband should change the diet! From your prescription we know that he is taking a fiber supplement and stool softeners, which of course help to ease the situation.
However, your husband should definitively drink more water and include liquid foods in his menu. With liquid foods I mean SOUP and other meals. All kinds of soups and other dishes (meals) will do, obviously containing low amounts of salt. Important is that the food consumed by your husband should contain liquid. If your husband consumes only dry or semi-dry food, then where will the digestive system find the liquids necessary for a smooth stool transition? Liquids and water are necessary not only because they help the food become less consistent but they are also essential for the production of gastric acid and other enzymes that help food to digest.
Also, please avoid consuming too much sugar, as it boosts constipation.
In addition, apart from orange juice, your husband should consume fresh fruits, avoiding bananas. Kiwi is great to combat constipation and it tastes good (preferably well-done kiwis, soft ones, not the hard ones). Two-three kiwis each day will do the work.
I think that by these measures, combined with some kind of physical activity (just walking or moving around at home) the stool transition of your husband will improve a lot and the constipation will be very much reduced.
I hope that you will solve your husband's issue and I wish you good luck!
I find this answer helpful

 1 user finds this helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
How Can Chronic Constipation Be Treated?

Hello and thank your for using HCM for your answers! I will go straight to the point: your husband should change the diet! From your prescription we know that he is taking a fiber supplement and stool softeners, which of course help to ease the situation. However, your husband should definitively drink more water and include liquid foods in his menu. With liquid foods I mean SOUP and other meals. All kinds of soups and other dishes (meals) will do, obviously containing low amounts of salt. Important is that the food consumed by your husband should contain liquid. If your husband consumes only dry or semi-dry food, then where will the digestive system find the liquids necessary for a smooth stool transition? Liquids and water are necessary not only because they help the food become less consistent but they are also essential for the production of gastric acid and other enzymes that help food to digest. Also, please avoid consuming too much sugar, as it boosts constipation. In addition, apart from orange juice, your husband should consume fresh fruits, avoiding bananas. Kiwi is great to combat constipation and it tastes good (preferably well-done kiwis, soft ones, not the hard ones). Two-three kiwis each day will do the work. I think that by these measures, combined with some kind of physical activity (just walking or moving around at home) the stool transition of your husband will improve a lot and the constipation will be very much reduced. I hope that you will solve your husband s issue and I wish you good luck!