Is constipation common as you age?

It's been with me, since I was 10. So that's about 35 years now. It's not age related....Warm Pears, 10 Dried Apricots, or a mug of Hot Prune Juice works wonders.

Seeing as you DID NOT mention any boating or excess wind, I think you may have a blockage and the 'once a week showdown' is actually "overflow".

The blockage could be hard faeces stuck in the 's bend of your sigmoid colon'*.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmoid_colon

Or you could have diverticulosis - outpouchings of your descending colon, where pellets of faeces gather. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulosis

Or you could have a rectocele. A rectocele is an outpouching of the rectum bulges anteriorly into the vagina. It usually develops after the vaginal wall is damaged DURING a vaginal delivery. The bulge may occur AFTER a vaginal delivery, but symptoms may not develop UNTIL LATER in life. Rectoceles are more commonly seen in older women who have entered menopause.

Some conditions can increase the risk of developing rectocele, including CHRONIC constipation, chronic cough, repetitive heavy lifting, or any activity that puts pressure on the pelvic floor over time. Simply placing your index finger into the vagina and pushing posteriorly towards the rectum allows the contents of the rectum to empty. http://www.drugs.com/health-guide/rectocele.html

As others have said - increase your fibre intake IF necessary. About 30mg daily of fibre is required for women. http://www.mydr.com.au/tools/daily-fibre-calculato...

Also drink 2 litres a day of water.

On the days that your have your "showdown" once your feeling COMPLETELY empty in your rectum, practise pelvic floor exercises to eliminate the rectocele. And any other -celes which may be present. http://www.thewomens.org.au/pelvicfloorexercises

Have no problems like that at all. The only time I get constipated is after a long haul flight. But things are back to normal in a couple of days.

Beulah

Well, dried figs are good, but it sounds like you may have irritable bowel syndrome. If you are having pain, maybe even diverticulitis. I recommend you speak to the doctor as this does not seem normal for you. Maybe even the probiotics and the hydrochloric acid may be upsetting your normal flora.

Homeopathy is worthless and cannot possibly help. Lots of water, fruit, and vegetables should help. The prune juice recommendation is good too. If the problem continues you should see a pediatrician. I strongly recommend against trying an enema of any size on your own. If one is needed your pediatrician will perform it. When done by an amateur enemas can lead to serious complications, such as a perforated large intestine.

If you have taken a lot of painkillers such as Advil or Motrin, they can thin the intestines and cause ballooning, it may take several days meals to fill up the ballooned area where your intestines can empty out. You really need to see a doctor about this. It happened to my young niece who ended up with surgery, she is fine now.

It could be your age, but it also might be the medication you are taking. I know my husband has that problem. he also has a problem with being hungry and starts to eat and loses his appetite after 3 or 4 bites! Eat some raisin, prunes or dried cranberries.

Occasionally, but generally the first morning dump is a 3 flusher.

People who worry about constipation tend to have worried about it long before they reached the final quarter of their journey. I do not believe in such a thing. When you go you go, whether it is daily or weekly or monthly. Annually, I would worry about! I do not talk about my bowels, think about my bowels or stare at them in a mirror. They are independent and i have too much better to think about than sphincters.

Drink more water. I know it's hard at times if you have a cup of tea or coffee down a glass of water before hand.