Some Not-so-Obvious Causes of Fibro Flares (Part 3 of a Series)

Part 3 of this ongoing series is about a very non-pleasant but all-too-real issue for many people, not just those of us with FMS:

CONSTIPATION



This is actually a topic that is discussed a lot.

• Sometimes we are actually quite clever about it or even entertaining. For example, there are the commercials where when the lady does actually say the word, everyone cringes but finally most admit to having the problem. The goal of course is to sell one of the many products on the market which are supposed to decrease or even eliminate—pun intended—the problem.
• There are endless commercials, articles, social media posts and ads, etc. about the need for fiber, to stay hydrated, exercise, etc. in order to avoid it.
• Of course, it seems that “anyone who is anyone” has done at least one colon cleanse, and since it is so trendy, they have probably eagerly discussed it with their friends!

Now that we have established that everyone is talking about it in one way or another, why have I chosen constipation as a topic in this series?

Toxins
Whether or not the body is retaining and reabsorbing toxins when we are constipated is a highly debated topic in the world of All-Things-Medical. As with most things, I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Certainly, the colon is designed to hold fecal material, therefore it is unlikely to fail at this unless it ruptures. On the other hand, if the colon has too hold hardened stool too long, in large amounts, or both, it seems reasonable to believe it can become overloaded—pun really not intended that time—and possibly fail at keeping bacteria or toxins from being reabsorbed back into the body. For this reason, I do think we cannot dismiss that such reabsorption of harmful substances back into the body could certainly cause a fibro flare.

Strain and Discomfort
No need to see what the experts have to say on this one! We all know what it is like to have to strain to have a bowl movement. It can cause healthy people to be sore or feel exhausted, not to mention that this particular type of strain can lead to issues with heart! (I will not get into the physiology of this here, but the term if you are interested is Vagal Nerve Stimulation and it causes the heart to slow down, leads to heart attacks while on the toilet….)

The Actual Causes of the Constipation Themselves
Ironically—or perhaps just tellingly—some of the causes of constipation are things that can cause fibro flares in and of themselves!

•           Not drinking enough/Dehydration
•           Not being active enough
•           Unhealthy diet (omitting fiber, fruits, vegetables, etc.)
  

We all know that many of our medications causes constipation as well. When we are in a flare, we tend to take more of some meds, therefore being in a flare can increase the likelihood of becoming constipated, thus forming a vicious cycle…

Avoiding Constipation
Many of the keys to this are actually covered above already, but some have not.

•           Stay hydrated
•           Increase fluids when you are taking more meds, unable to be as active, have    not been eating as you know you should, etc.
•           Daily activity/exercise
•           Diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Take as few of the meds that causes you to be constipated as possible.
• Discuss stool softeners with your physicians and use whatever is prescribed or suggested to you as instructed.

Was this “Not-so-Obvious-Cause…” a surprise to you or had you already identified it for yourself?
What suggestions or tips do you have to help avoid constipation?
I look forward to hearing from each of you! Everyone else is talking about it, so we might as well too! Do not be shy! ;-)

​Meshea Crysup, fibroLIFE

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