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My Gut Health
Hi everyone,
For a few years now I have had on and off constipation. Recently it has started to impact my physical health more causing stomach pain, general discomfort, loss of appetite and nausea.
Most of the time when I tell my parents, they say things like "eat more fiber", "drink more water "or "take this laxative" all of which does help, but because of the reoccurring nature of my constipation and the fact that it has become more severe in recent months, I starting to fear that I might have some underlying condition like IBS or Crohn's disease.
It just really frustrating getting so sick all the time
Does anyone have advice or ways to move forward.
Thanks
Comments
Hi @Lavender_Shrew 
Thanks for reaching out! Being sick is never a good feeling and it’s understandable that you’re getting frustrated as you notice that your condition is starting to impact your physical health. As @Appel_banappel has suggested, if you're unable to seek a GP/doctor by yourself, it could be worth discussing your fears with your parents along with how your condition is impacting your health to let them know that you’re genuinely worried that something is going on.
I hope you get a check-up soon. I understand it may be difficult to do so but try not to think about what it could be until you get proper medical advice.
Wish you all the best!
Hey Lavender_Shrew,
First and foremost, definitely check with a GP and follow their recommendations in getting your gut checked - possibly even worth checking out a naturopath as they have some alternative recommendations too!
From my own experiences with constipation and general discomfort with my digestive system, I found that these helped:
- your parents recommendations for sure... especially staying hydrated
- probiotics - e.g. fermented foods (like sauerkraut) and drinks (Yakult, kombucha)
- eating clean foods, minimising any oils and things that have sugar replacements
- doing light to moderate exercise, like going to the gym or for a walk
- coffeeeeeeeeeee
But of course, please seek actual medical advice first.
Hope you feel better soon!
Hi @Lavender_Shrew 
It sounds really hard having these recurring health issues and getting sick. Is it possible for you to see a GP/doctor about this to see if anything is going on? If your parents are a barrier to seeing someone about this, it could be valuable to have a discussion with them about your fears and how long it's been going on for.
I commend you for taking this step to seek help and I hope you can get some medical advice. In the meantime it could be best to try to focus on keeping a healthy lifestyle and not assuming the worst - at least in my experience I know the time before seeing a doctor can lead to lots of 'what ifs' and anxiety.
I wish you well and hope you find the support you need
Hi @Lavender_Shrew,
Welcome back to the ReachOut Youth Community. It sounds incredibly challenging and frustrating to have to manage frequent constipation and cope with general discomfort. Seeing as you've noticed that it has been more severe recently, it's understandable that you feel worried it may be another underlying condition.
I'm wondering if you've had a chance to talk to your GP about how you've been feeling?
I also wanted to share Health Direct as they can provide information on a range of health-related topics and have a symptom checker that may be helpful to you.
I want to let you know that the community is unable to provide direct medical advice but I hope you're able to find the support and connection you seek!