of PCOs, Journey to Fertility and Miracle...

1. Processed foods – refined white flour, white rice, sugars, pastries and all of the processed prepackaged foods where the fiber has been removed.

2. Foods high in hydrogenated and animal fats – cheese, ice cream, fatty meats, whole milk and snacks like chips and pizza.

3. High sugar, caffeine and non-nutritional drinks – alcohol, coffee, colas and fruit juice (since the fiber has been removed).

Bowel problems can also be a symptom of diseases, such as metabolism and nervous system conditions or irritable bowel syndrome. Here are all the main causes of constipation problems.

* Lack of exercise

* Stress and tension

* Drugs and Medications

* Too little fiber in the diet

* Not drinking enough water

* Disrupted routine (as when traveling

* Intentionally holding back (common in children)

Last week has been quite a hell for my “ass”. LOL. I have frequent constipation. I’m experiencing hard, compacted stools that are difficult and painful to pass. This is so unusual of me. I talked to my doc about it and she said it’s not a problem that would complicate with my fertility treatment as long as I’m not bleeding due to it. She prescribed me Ultraproct, a suppository. I used one after defecating this morning.

Aside from lack of water intake, what are other factors that lead to constipation? Hmmnn…

Again, I turned to the net to look for answers. Here’s what I got.

The common causes of constipation are:

• Not enough fiber in the diet - The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Examples of fiber-rich foods are unprocessed wheat bran, unrefined breakfast cereals, fresh fruits (except bananas), dried fruits, vegetables (except potatoes), grainy breads and legumes.

• Not enough liquid - Liquids like water and juice add fluid to the colon and bulk to stools, making movements softer and easier to pass. Recommended daily consumption of liquid is eight, eight-ounce glasses (totaling 64 ounces) per day.

• Lack of exercise

• Medications - Some medications that can cause constipation are: analgesics (Codeine, Demerol, Perocdan), antacids (Maalox, Mylanta), anticholingerics (Donnatal), anticonvulsants (Dilantin), anti-depressants (Tricyclics), Beta-blockers (Inderal, Tenormin) iron and calcium supplements, pain medications, antispasmodics and diuretics.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - IBS is a common condition marked by chronic or occasional diarrhea, alternating with constipation and accompanied by straining and abdominal cramps. (see Health Profile: IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME)

• Lifestyle changes, such as pregnancy, aging and traveling
• Laxative abuse - A laxative is a food or chemical substance that acts to loosen the bowels by softening and increasing the bulk of bowel contents, increasing the amount of water in the colon and lubricating the intestinal walls. Over time, laxatives can damage nerve cells in the colon and interfere with the colon's natural ability to contract.

• Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement

• Diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, stroke, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, under-active and over-active thyroid gland, uremia (excess urine waste product), amyloidosis (accumulation in the tissues/organs of amyloid), lupus, scleroderma (an autoimmune disorder that affects the tissues/organs), colorectal cancer, depression, colon tumors, diverticulosis and Hirschsprung's disease.

Treatment of Constipation

Most cases of constipation respond to conservative treatment such as dietary and lifestyle changes or mild laxatives.

Dietary changes include getting enough of the recommended daily amount of fiber (20 to 35 grams), drinking 64 ounces of water or juice a day, and limiting foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, cheese, meat and processed foods.

Lifestyle changes consist of exercising, reserving enough time to have a bowel movement and having a bowel movement when needed.

Laxatives may be recommended if the above changes did not help the constipation.

There are four types of laxatives - bulk-forming, stimulant, lubricant and saline. Bulk-forming laxatives, such as Metamucil, Citrucel and Serutan increase the volume of feces, making them softer and easier to pass. Stimulant laxatives, such as Correctol, Ex-Lax, Dulcolax, Purge, Feen-A-Mint and Senokot stimulate the intestinal wall to contract. Lubricant laxatives, such as mineral oil, soften the stool so it is easier to pass. Saline laxatives, such as Milk of Magnesia, Citrate of Magnesia and Haley's M-O, increase the concentration of salts within the feces.

Source:

http://www.healthscout.com/

While I was in shower this morning, I realized I have to note all the medicines and food supplements that I am taking and will be taking. Granting I’ll get pregnant this time, I will be sharing this information to other women who, like me, have difficulty conceiving.

As I was surfing the net I came across articles stating that folic acid is good for women who are already pregnant and who are planning to get pregnant. I also remember my former OB instructing me to take folic acid. Also a nurse client who is currently based in London, emailed me to take ferrous sulfate daily. For my UTI ,I’ve read in an article that CranUTI, a herbal dietary supplement is good for maintaining healthy urinary tract. And so far, I haven’t noticed my infection recurred. So I’ve been taking those medicines and food supplement and see if it will aide me in my quest for fertility. I’ll be posting the medicines and food supplements I will be taking so I will be able to .

This is not an advertisement. I am simply blogging what i am doing in quest of fertility. I am still surfing the net for other ideas on how to get pregnant fast. i have to, because i'll be 35 years old come October. The more older I am, the lower my chances of conceiving and the higher the risk entailed in pregnancy.