Yes, I drink LOTS of water, the foods listed should help (I eat boringly healthy), I try to walk when I can ... and it's a situation I had under perfectly good regulation, thank you, in a country where I had better water, fresher fruit and veg straight off the (less chemically castigated) land, as well as decent weather so I could get out and was able to walk more regularly and, needed less painkillers.
It's been nowhere near as severe this week as while I was taking the amitriptyline that the GP prescribed last year, when more than once, after 10 or more days of being solidly blocked up, I'd get to the point where I could hardly lift myself off the bed, I was so bloated and sick. Since I stopped taking the amitriptyline, I've really had to battle to get back into a decent rhythm and I really don't ever want to get into that uncomfortable situation again, so on Monday or Tuesday, I took one of what are now packaged as "Constipation Relief Tablets".
Now, is that the "politically correct" alternate wording to "laxative" - you know, why use one perfectly good direct word, when three slightly euphemistic ones will do? Or is it dumbing down, because no-one knows what a laxative does any more? If the latter, will the ignorant masses know, or even care, what constipation is? Or, heaven forbid, could it be "prohibited" to use the word laxative these days, just in case someone with an eating disorder is tempted to abuse them?
... anyway, it took until Sunday to see any effects at all.
Yes, really. Next time I'll try dynamite.
(NO, I won't and don't try that at home either!)
But, of course, when one suffers IBS (diagnosed in 1980), there are no moderate effects, no middle-ground nor happy mediums. The eventual result ... was so significant, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that I had used dynamite! And it also left me with a terrible bloating, an awful stomach ache and, I'll certainly qualify for the British Olympic Farting Team! Next time, I'll just drink more water and try to go for more walks, weather, pain and fatigue permitting.
I've also been conducting a one-woman trial (which is probably more impartial than some other studies carried out) over the last few weeks to see if I could discern any positive benefits from a daily dose of Yakult. We can safely say that in the area of "regulation of bowel habits and constipation" or of gut flora maintenance, I cannot report any benefits at all. Also a pilot study claims that, "Supplements of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota may ease symptoms of anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to new research funded by Yakult." Big fat nope to that too. Overall, I think I'll save my money and avoid the massive sugar hit - which is never good for anyone's gut, surely?
... anyway, it took until Sunday to see any effects at all.
Yes, really. Next time I'll try dynamite.
(NO, I won't and don't try that at home either!)
But, of course, when one suffers IBS (diagnosed in 1980), there are no moderate effects, no middle-ground nor happy mediums. The eventual result ... was so significant, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that I had used dynamite! And it also left me with a terrible bloating, an awful stomach ache and, I'll certainly qualify for the British Olympic Farting Team! Next time, I'll just drink more water and try to go for more walks, weather, pain and fatigue permitting.
I've also been conducting a one-woman trial (which is probably more impartial than some other studies carried out) over the last few weeks to see if I could discern any positive benefits from a daily dose of Yakult. We can safely say that in the area of "regulation of bowel habits and constipation" or of gut flora maintenance, I cannot report any benefits at all. Also a pilot study claims that, "Supplements of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota may ease symptoms of anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to new research funded by Yakult." Big fat nope to that too. Overall, I think I'll save my money and avoid the massive sugar hit - which is never good for anyone's gut, surely?
