Back in 2013, when I began taking Tecfidera, the one and only “side-effect” that I experienced was constipation. Back then- mere months after it had come to market – “constipation” had not yet been listed as a possible side-effect, which meant I was told by both my doctor and the nurse on the helpline for the pharmaceutical company, that my constipation could NOT be from the new foreign substance I was putting into my body daily. I was told it must be something I changed in my diet, my exercise routine, or perhaps as they suggested I wasn’t drinking enough water.

But let me assure you, I was drinking PLENTY of water. Seriously, like excessive amounts of H20 because I just KNEW that drinking water and staying hydrated is the very first rule in NOT being constipated. So as the days ticked by and my body failed to make a bowel movement, I drank water. I drank and drank and drank until I was constantly and chronically at risk of peeing my pants (which in this case would have had NOTHING to do with my disease).

But whether or not it was listed as a possible side-effect is irrelevant, because I know my body best and I knew that it was the start of my issues with chronic constipation. Those issues were then compounded by the opioids and pain pills I took when my chronic pain became severe–especially after I returned to work and spent 40+ hrs a week sitting in front of a computer and stopped hitting the gym and swimming daily.

It wasn’t until I had been off of all the pharmaceutical drugs for almost a year that I began to return to a much more “normal” and healthy bowel movement schedule. However, I was still only taking a dump every 2-3 days. But, in comparison to the 2-3 week stretches that have made up a majority of my last 5 years, it seemed like bowel movement bliss!

So things in the crapping department were going well! Until I realized mid-Turkey Day festivities – that I hadn’t taken a dump in over two weeks!  

Now, you may be wondering just how it got to two weeks without me noticing? In my defense – I’ve been busy. I don’t know if you’ve heard – but I finally published the book that I have been rambling on about for years! So I have been busy pimping it out. Plus – it was the holidays and the kids came home, there was food to be made, and a house to clean. Truthfully, I kinda stopped being so diligent on watching what I ate and monitoring my poop cycles. SO, that’s where it all began.  

About a month ago, I came across this neat little Ninja blender that one of the kids had left behind in the garage. So I brought it up to the kitchen and began making smoothies every morning. Healthy smoothies – with fruits, veggies, and leaves from Doug (our cannabis plant). I even started adding things like flax seeds, hemp protein, and black chia seeds. It was another step in my quest for healthy living and trying to heal naturally. I was doing the right thing…. but there were two things that would eventually lead to what I now refer to as “SHIT-NADO 2018.”

The first was that I added a banana to my smoothie. Not just every once in a while or on occasion. Literally, every single smoothie I drank had a banana in it. Because honestly I LOVE bananas in my smoothies and since in my pre-MS life -back when I was running 6-8 miles a day- smoothies with bananas were my jam! Plus, bananas are healthy. So how can a banana a day be a bad thing?

Because bananas and my chronically constipated body are NOT friends. My first mistake was that I SHOULD have remembered this. – but I was in book and holiday heaven and I really just wasn’t paying attention. So, unfortunately, it crept up on me – until I realized, while reaching in to pull the turkey out of the oven that I felt about as stuffed as the bird I was holding.

The second mistake I made was that I stopped having my cup of tea in the morning. Because- according to Dr. Aaron Boster, MD (check out his YouTube) having a warm drink in the morning triggers your colon. It makes your body want to take a poop. So even though it wasn’t coffee- my tea was more than likely playing a roll in my better/healthier poop schedule. However, when I started drinking smoothies every morning, I found day after day I was eventually dumping the tea out, untouched. So I stopped making it at all, which means I was neglecting to give my body the morning poop wake up call I had been giving it.

Constipation is not new to my life, so I can assure you that I have many things I do daily to try and keep it at bay. I am constantly monitoring my fiber intake and eating foods that don’t promote fecal impaction. As I mentioned – I drink lots of water. I am always scanning for articles and information about countering chronic constipation. I spend a whole lot of time thinking about pooping. I have to – because if I don’t and I slip – it will lead to what I have just been through and honest to god, I really would prefer not to go through it again. Plus, I’m pretty damn sure Shawn feels the same way. 🙂

Products above: Phillips Milk of Magnesium, SeneKot-S, Fortify daily probiotic, Digestify CBD/THC tincture, GTS Kombucha (multi green), Kevita apple cider tonic with turmeric and ginger, magnesium citrate, popcorn, prunes, radishes, and dark chocolate.

Sending good vibes,

Meg