20F with long-term slow transit constipation + hemorrhoids , looking for advice

[u/Different_Bug2374]

​

I just turned 20, and I’ve been dealing with constipation since I was around 14-15. I had a CT scan of my abdomen a 3 years ago because of the constipation /hemorrhoids, and my doctor said I have slow-transit constipation. He also told me the hemorrhoids probably won’t fully improve until the constipation is under control.

The constipation started after I had some pelvic/lower abdominal discomfort that eventually went away. Since then, I’ve had hemorrhoids for around 4 years. They’re not nearly as painful as they were when my constipation was severe, but they never seem to completely go away. Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories didn’t help.

My bowel movements are usually every ~3 days, sometimes more often. They can be dry and painful, or relatively soft but still feel incomplete. Sometimes I’ll feel like I urgently need to poop, but when I sit down, nothing happens. I also get rectal burning afterward, and occasionally there’s blood, which makes me wonder if I’ve developed fissures as well.

I’ve tried increasing fiber (oatmeal, vegetables, etc.), drinking more water, and exercising. Weirdly, when I was eating a very high-fiber diet, I sometimes felt like my constipation got worse. I’ve also tried laxatives, but I stopped because they seemed to make me have bowel movements too frequently and the aftermath was painful. They’re also pretty expensive for me.

At this point, I mostly just try to ignore it and go when I naturally feel the urge, but I’m getting really tired of dealing with this. Even walking for a long time can make my hemorrhoid area feel like it’s burning and irritated.

I know I probably need to address the underlying constipation rather than just the hemorrhoids, but I honestly have no idea what’s causing it or what I should be doing differently. So, if anyone has advice or has dealt with the same thing, I'd appreciate your input.

[u/Artistic_Form_9579]

I'm so sorryy! This might be a lil be unsolicited advice. But try adding more oil or fats to ur meals! Anything with oil always helped me with constipation episodes. Don't go overboard with fibre, a very high fibre diet with motility might constipate you.

[u/Different_Bug2374 → u/Artistic_Form_9579]

Don't be! I asked for input, though I'm not really food-savvy, so I want to ask if you have any ways I could add that to my diet. I've noticed I have more frequent bowel movements when I eat fish or drink coffee, so I'm sure some part of my constipation is food-related. But jeez most of constipation is really just a guessing game🥹

[u/Artistic_Form_9579 → u/Different_Bug2374]

You could cook ur vegetables in oil? Any recipie that has oil in it might give ur BMs a push!! Oil isn't healthy, but something is better 😭

[u/Different_Bug2374 → u/Artistic_Form_9579]

Oh you meant it straight up 😭 I've eaten lots of fried food , and most of my greens are covered in olive oil. As for fats , butter is in about half my foods. Unfortunately for me they don't really work 😞 especially too much oil!! Ugh, it makes me feel sick.

[u/Artistic_Form_9579 → u/Different_Bug2374]

Butter might cause bloating and constipation (especially for me 😭, can't eat butter, if i eat, I'll be constipated for min 3 days🚶🏻‍♀️).

There must be some food allergy you are missing out. Few people mentioned it being dairy, few people have succeeded with low residue foods. Any meat, or Non vegetarian foods can also be the cause.

In my case, it's Refined wheat flour, eggs, spicy, high fibre, low residue foods, excess dairy will constipate me for days!!! Any one of them, even if it is a small portion, I'll be constipated for days