Endometriosis and constipation

Endometriosis & Constipation

Constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and nausea are all common digestive complaints that can occur with endometriosis. But how does endometriosis lead to constipation?

The topic of dealing with constipation combined with endometriosis is very close to the heart of many sufferers with endometriosis.

There is nothing worse than that bloated feeling, and feeling toxic when not being able to clear your bowels. Trying to deal with this problem on top of the pain of endometriosis adds insult to injury. Not to mention the pain that can be caused for some with endo when they do try to move their bowels.

Additionally there is the pain from inflammation in the general pelvic cavity area, and pain caused by gastro-intestinal symptoms. When combined with constipation this can lead to a lot of stress as well as discomfort.

Possible causes of constipation

Cyclical flares: Bowel symptoms often peak during menstruation due to hormonal shifts affecting gut motility.

Physical pressure: Lesions, nodules or scar tissue can grow on the outer walls of the colon or rectum which can slow down digestion.

Medication side effects: Strong pain relievers, particularly opiate-based drugs used for pelvic pain can frequently cause or worsen constipation.

SIBO – Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth can cause constipation especially when the overgrowth produces methane gas. Methane gas slows down the normal movement and muscle contractions of the digestive tract, leading to infrequent or hard stools.

Leaky Gut: Increased intestinal permeability—commonly referred to as leaky gut—can contribute to constipation.

Gut Bacteria Imbalances

Constipation can be made worse due to imbalances of the gut bacteria

When you have a laparoscopy for endometriosis you will be given a bowel prep medication to take before the operation. This usually consists of a powder that cleans the out the gut … thoroughly!!! This will also strip out the good bacteria.
The friendly bacteria can also be killed off by anti-biotics, stress and bad diet
Many women with endometriosis have been prescribed anti-biotics for the early mis-diagnosis of IBS, therefore the intake of these drugs will have undermined the health of the immune system even further
Taking good bacteria supplements will repair the balance and over time will eradicate the bad bacteria.
Most of these bacteria are found in the colon. It is estimated that together, all the bacteria in your gut weigh between three and five pounds. Each bowel movement contains a large amount of these critters, with one to two-thirds the dry weight of stool being solely bacteria. (1)
The gut flora actually works in concert with the immune system in order to help it grow and develop, and to help fight bacterial and other infections.
A whole host of health conditions can be traced back to poor gut ecology. Gut problems, including gas, bloating, constipation, Crohn’s, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis can all be improved through a better gut ecosystem.(2)

Tips to help with constipation?

Drink enough water - water helps to lubricate the whole body

Magnesium - Taking magnesium at night can help improve gut motility. Magnesium citrate is the best for of magnesium for constipation. But start slow and build up.

Eat enough fibre - if you digestive system can handle it then increasing your intake of fruit and veggies can help you system.

Probiotics - Taking a daily multi-strain probiotic can help improve your digestive system and help to improve constipation

Psyllium husk powder - this is a powder form of bulking agent which is mixed with water that can help increase your fibre intake and stimulates digestion

Slippery Elm - This comes as a powder or capsule form and it does what is says on the tin - it makes everything slippery which helps improve the transit of food through your system.

Exercise

Exercise positively impacts peristalsis, the natural contractions that move food through your GI tract. Moving around can help increase motility and improve your gut biome, leading to less inflammation and bloating. If you don't move around enough, your gut is going to be sluggish and that's just going to make you feel worse.

Try the Squatty Potty

One simple but effective habit you could adopt is to use something called the Squatty Potty, or else you could make a simple little foot-rest you can put your feet up on.

The principle behind raising your feet on the toilet is simple and is based on the fact that our ancestors squatted for centuries before the modern toilet was invented. This is the natural way to open our bowels. When you think about it, most of the worlds population still squats today and it is only in the West that we use the modern toilet we are so familiar with.

When we squat this enables a particular muscle to relax in the pelvis which removes the kink in the lower colon. This makes it much easier for faeces to pass through. The diagram below shows how the puborectalis muscle relaxes when squatting.

To sum up

To help with constipation and have the added benefit of a healthy gut and immune system:

Take a magnesium supplement – experiment on the strength of dosage
A good quality probiotic – every day
Top up with extra vitamin C if you are feeling really clogged up!
Balance your intake of fibre between soluble and non-soluble fibre foods - the soluble fibre will help to keep your gut hydrated with fluid, while non-soluble fibre will absorb fluid and slow the transit of waste through your system
Use a squatty potty to help relax the muscle that holds the colon
Try to get some exercise to help your system moving - sitting for hours on end is no good for the body

If you are suffering the problem of constipation with endometriosis try the measures above, and try getting some relaxation/you time. Also taking some light exercise will help your digestion. Even just walking around the house will work, as gravity will help get things moving as opposed to being in the sitting position for many hours.

I am sure you aware - the longer you leave it, the worse things will get, especially if you have been laid up after surgery.

Endometriosis & Constipation

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