Constipation (ick) during travel
 

I always get constipated during travel - despite that I drink gallons of water and really try to eat right.

I do take sleeping pills on the flight and the first few days and think that does not help.

Last trip I took flax seed with me and mixed with the breakfast everymorning. Can't say it helped. I've tried in the past Menamuslic capsiles(spelling is not my strong point) and another brand I think was Phillips.

I hate it and after being bloated and miserable for 4 days I take a laxative and explode and then the cylce just repeats!
When I get home I have to wean myself off sleeping pills and laxatives.

BTW, I'm excited about leaving for India in 2 days!!!

Opps, I forgot to ask my question (although, it might be obvious) What do you do to avoid this problem?

Many Thanks

I don't have that problem, luckily. Were the flax seeds ground? How different is your diet when you travel? If you eat a lot of roughage at home and not when traveling you should start cutting back gradually before you leave.

Forget the sleeping pills for a start. They will interfere with your body re-establishing it's natural rhythm for wherever you are. Where are you travelling to that you feel you need sleeping pills for a few days?
If after two days you haven't managed to go, then take a small dose of laxative. Once. Keep up the fluids, buy some fruit to eat, and get into a routine for wherever you are staying. The faster you do it the better.

Thanks for your time. The flax seeds were roasted and I eat them at home on a regular basis with success. Cutting back on the fiber now might be a good idea.

I'm leaving Los Angeles to India tomorrow. It's such a long flight (and as much as I hate drugs) I really need the sleeping pills. I thought I'd take some prunes with me.

I've read that unless you grind the flax seeds they just pass right through. I don't roast them, but I do grind them myself at home - and then keep them in the fridge, apparently they go bad easily.

Hope you enjoy India.

Why not just pack some fiber bars (like Fiber One)?

I also thought flax seeds needed to be ground to be effective for this situation.

Hi again, I was told roasted have the same effect as ground and it does work fine at home. But, I have now packed prunes and fiber bars and a GREAT attitude. I'm so excited!!

Thanks, for you input!

Whatever you try, test it out at home first. I have a friend who thinks Fiber One bars are evil, lol. You just don't want to be miserable, the other way;)

It seems that spicy food helps against constipation, for some people. In india, you will have so many varieties of spicy food, so maybe it will work for you!!!!!

TravelSarah - LOL! So true.

A few hints:
While it's true that a dehydrated person may also become constipated, once you are normally hydrated, any extra water that you drink just gets absorbed from your intestine and makes you urinate more. Nothing wrong with it, but it won't help constipation.
Often constipation is caused by either purposeful or subconscious "holding it" due to bathroom concerns, from the airplane to the public restrooms. It would be nice if you could "go" only in your nice Western hotel room, but it doesn't always work out that way and it is best to deal with it wherever you are when the "urge" hits. People are different, but for me, hot coffee in the morning works, so I make sure to have a couple cups (and it can be pretty foul in India) well before it is time to leave the hotel.
If all that fails, I find the safest and most effective laxative is Miralax.
FB, M.D.

And if it is available, don't forget olive oil. Not everywhere I know but it seems a lot of restaurants have olive oil to go with the bread or to put on a salad. Of course it depends on where you travelling.

Believe me constipation will not be a problem in India, rather the other way if you get my meaning. I was glued to the loo for three days when I went.

I always thought it had something to do with the altitude or lack of moisture in airplanes? I *never* have a problem in this deparment, either direction, accept after a long plane flight.

coldplay, LOL!! I was going to tell her the same about Egypt and she might have that same problem in India as well, but you beat me to it.

In any case I hope the OP will stay healthy and enjoy the trip.

The problem, if you're fairly "regular" at home, when in another time zone, is that you're asleep or it's not so convenient to "go" when you would normally. And, that's why you get "bound up". So, it's best, the first day or two, to know your best time at home and try for that.

It's not the sleeping pills, which are very useful the first night or two to get a good nights sleep in the time zone where you are.

Better than laxatives are foods or a meal that you know from experience leaves you quickly.

I agree about the sleeping pill not being a problem. A pain killer with a narcotic like coedine, yes, but not a sleeping pill.

I also agree food is the better way to approach it than laxatives, which can get into a bad pattern, or so I hear.

djkbooks, Thanks for the interesting comment about time change. Of course that makes sense, but I'd not thought of it before.

Try Miralax. It comes in individual dose packets, which are perfect for travel. Can be mixed in any liquid; no taste. This is not a laxative but a stool softener.

There's no difference, really, between a laxative or stool softener...

Best is to go when you need to, whether or not it's practical or convenient, the first day or two, anyway. Seriously, it's not doing that which "binds you up" for the rest of your trip. If you don't, one dose of whatever generally will put you on course.