Someone asked this question over on the Europe board, and the responses were interesting (with remarkably few stupid or lame-humor responses):

How do you prevent constipation when traveling?

I usually have the exact opposite problem.

ka-ka you may be a troll, but I have the problem. Best solution is 2 tsp of Perdiem daily followed by 8 oz water. This is a psyllium product and is granular and minty flavored- you just swallow them.Much better than having to drink Metamucil or eat those horrible wafers. No calories either.

Nope, not a troll. This subject is as real as it gets.

Does anyone have a natural remedy that doesn't involve taking something that's bought in a drug store?

For instance, someone told me that a tall glass of ice water with breakfast does wonders.

Usually a couple of cups of strong coffee, a cigarette and a bran muffin will do it for me.

To SSSS,
I thought that would do the trick for me (many coffees, cigs, bran) but when I travel abroad absolutely nothing works.
I was in Greece and Italy and swear to God, I didn't go for 2 weeks. I went to the pharmacy and got some grainy stuff to mix with water.
In Spain, I drank so much coffee to no avail. Please let me know for next time what's the best solution???

Psyllium, though bought in a store, is a natural substance.It's good for you, too- fiber lowers cholesterol and may help prevent colon cancer. OTH, ex-lax and those related to it are bowel stimulants and may contain senna, phenolphthalein ,castor, etc. You can become dependent on all laxatives except the bulk-forming type. They also can cause many side effects.

Alexia: be glad you couldn't go while in Greece and Italy. 2000 year old plumbing made for quite the experince, and let me tell you it wasn't pleasant.

Take it from this traveling nurse, a major factor in your clogging is lack of adequate hydration. The suggested fiber can help, but may make things worse if you don't be sure to take in adequate fluids. There can be significant insensible water loss (e.g., sweating, exhaled water vapor) during vacation activities that actually increase your need for fluids to lubricate the innards. The AM caffiene/nicotine blast can help, as these are both bowel stimulants, but, again, you still need lots of water. And if you re throwing down lots of coffee or tea, remember they are actually diuretics that can further increase your need for additional fluids. "Drink your H20 to not be FOS."
You're welcome - and don't forget to flush and wash your hands.

Depending on how much help you need (I assume you've tried to eat lots of salads and fruits and drink lots of water) you can use aloe vera - very mild laxative or cascara sagrada, a stronger one, both sold in health food stores. Maybe even in drug stores herbal departments now. Senna works, and is sold in Walgreens too.

I don't mean to sit on this issue to long (couldn't help saying that)but trust me - I've tried everything. I drink a ton of water, eat fiber and walk quite a bit.
I think that the time change definitely contributes to the problem.
For Grecian, luckily I was staying at a beautiful hotel on Mykonos when I finally needed to use the facilities (sorry Kouros Hotel if I clogged any plumbing).

Have you tried going easy on the cheese and chocolate?

1/2 pkg of jello granules to a coffee cup of warm water-Works every time!!! And, you can pick any flavor!!

Add me to the list of those with the problem -- getting off "routine" is one problem, sitting for long periods in a car or on a plane is another, eating too much dairy (forget cheese, my friend) and heavy meats is another.

Here's what works for me, "literally":
1. two travel-packets of Metamucil a day, plus
2. one or two "stool softener" capsules a day (it's over the counter in your drug store -- very expensive but worth it, and not nearly as "explosive" as laxatives. Warning: two may give you a little of that unpleasantly termed "leakage" so start with one a day and give it a couple of days to work.
3. LOTS of water, lots of fruits and veges, and at least one salad with oily dressing.
4. Plenty of exercise, esp. just walking.

FOR THOSE with the opposite problem: Metamucil will help you, too, because it'll "bulk up" what you are passing. Also eat yogurt made locally with local live cultures -- will add the proper intestinal "flora" to help deal with the local bacteria that may be harassing you. Avoid fruits and non-starchy veges. but also be careful of dairy because you might have some sort of temporary intolerance. Be wary of using "cork" medications like Kaopectate and PeptoBismol too much or too soon -- if you have some sort of bad food poisoning, you want to make sure you've gotten all the bad stuff before you dam things up again.

Sorry, gross, but true.

Drink (atleast) half of your body's weight in ounces of water. So -- an 180lb person would drink at least 90 oz of water per day to keep everything.....er....MOVING properly.
Drink more H20 if you drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol.

Grecian,
Maybe it's too many souvlaki pita sandwiches that did me in. If any of you travel to Greece and want a quick bite - try one. They are mini gyro sandwiches but much better. I'm salivating right now.

SMALL FOUR OZ CANS OF PRUNE JUICE WORK WONDERS, AND TRAVEL ESILY FROM PLACE TO PLACE, TRY ONE OF THESE WARM OR ROOM TEMP AT BEDTIME. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK TRY A POO-POO COCKTAIL, 4-6 OZ OF WARM PRUNE JUICE MIXED WITH 1-2 OZ OF MILK OF MAG, CHASED WITH 8 OZ WARM H2O, GET THE PAPER READY THE PLUMBING WILL BE CLEAN IN THE MORNING. THIS IS A RECIPE WE USE IN THE NURSING HOME WHERE I AM THE ADMINISTRATOR.

STOP YELLING NURSING ADMINISTRATOR WE"RE NOT ALL HARD OF HEARING LOL !

My eardrums are ringing. Thanks for your suggestion though.

Before I go overseas I like to go in for a soothing hydrocolonotherapy treatment just to "clean the pipes." Seems to do the trick!