Constipation in Recovery

People in recovery from alcoholism and addiction face a host of potential causes of constipation, including:

Past or present use of medications
Decreased eating or physical activity as a result of depression or another psychiatric disorder
Anxiety
Bad habits learned throughout their drinking or drugging career
Medical conditions gained through their addiction that decrease bowel movement.
This condition also can make people stop taking medications.

Constipation carries a tremendous cost in terms of resources and quality of life.

People can avoid the discomfort and quality-of-life consequences by promptly dealing with constipation and following a process that has shown value to others.

Symptoms of constipation

Straining to move bowels
Lumpy or hard stools
Sensation of incomplete evacuation
Sensation of bowel blockage or obstruction
Manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation
Fewer than 3 bowel movements per week
Loose stools are rarely present unless the patient takes a laxative

What to look for

First one must understand what is meant by “constipation.” Frequency of bowel movements is not the only criterion for diagnosis.

people who move their bowels daily may meet criteria for chronic constipation if they experience straining, incomplete evacuation, or other symptoms, and,
many people who complain of constipation have daily, regular bowel movements that produce hard, difficult-to-pass stools or require straining or manual maneuvers.
In women childbirth and obstetric or gynecologic surgery may also contribute to constipation.
Also any new prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements may cause the problem.

‘Alarm’ symptoms.

age 50 years or more
family history of colon cancer or polyps
family history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
rectal bleeding, anemia
weight loss of 10 pounds or more
new onset of chronic constipation without apparent cause in an elderly patient
severe, persistent constipation stubborn to normal every day management.

If you have any of the above symptoms you may need to see your doctor and then a specialist for endoscopic or clinical evaluation.

Determining the cause. Leave that up to your doctor, but the following may have a part in it;

many mood changing drugs, legal and illicit, may cause constipation.
one of the most common causes for people in recovery from addiction or alcoholism is the habit of not going to the toilet after the morning meal. Something that may have occurred during drinking and drugging years. Its called the ‘gastrocolic reflex’—the urge to defecate after eating—causes some patients difficulty moving their bowels. Try sitting on the toilet for several minutes after the morning meal to relearn this behavior.
Older people with constipation may be taking medications for medical conditions—particularly hypertension drugs—that may have interactive effects on slowing bowel movements.
People with depression may experience decreased stool output because of a lack of food intake or physical activity. These causes may be effectively addressed by treating the depression either through the recovery program or by seeing your doctor.

Treatment

Increase activity or daily walking
Increase fluid intake, but exclude diuretics such as cola drinks or coffee and tea.
Increase dietary fibre intake
Use fibre supplements such as bran
Over-the-counter laxative pills
Over-the-counter laxative solutions
Prescription laxatives; see your doctor.

Probiotics and prebiotics

Emerging therapies for constipation include probiotics and prebiotics, which attempt to alter the gut flora and milieu.

People who prefer not to take medication may wish to try probiotics and prebiotics. Because these agents are active cells, purchase a supplement with “live and active” cultures. Supplements that are shipped, stored, or sold at room temperature likely contain very few (if any) live cultures.

If the problem persists or is getting worse – see a doctor.

See also;