Poo, constipation, and all that crap.

[Boijoy]

a cig & PBR first thing in the morning should do the trick.
If you don't smoke, just have a PBR, still should do the trick.

[C.f.M.]

Dairy is known to be constipating.

Gluten does it for me.

Massage the bowels can help, too.

[Parasitoid]

huh, my experience was that I had some of the most satisfying poops of the year out on the playa.

[swampdog]

one year I grabbed a big bottle of sugary juice (costco brand cran-raz as I remember) when I really should have grabbed a water bottle. I must have been a little dehydrated 'cause I think I polished off a quart of the stuff.

That sure moved the mail. I can't say I recommend that approach.

[Stitch]

I went 5 days without a bm at bm after consuming nothing but ham sandwiches, whiskey, and PBR. Where was gentle laxative camp when I needed it!? This year I'm stocking up on some senna tea.

[Fire_Moose]

Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa





..............I thought girls didn't poop.....

[VeganChoirGirl]

I didn't shit once at bm last year...honestly, I didn't notice until I got home. Woops. I find that a whole bottle of Martineli's Sparkling Apple Cider consumed as quickly as possible is an interesting way to wake up the old bowels. Good luck, and many happy shits this year, ladies and gents.

[Ugly Dougly]

Dairy is known to be constipating.

Gluten does it for me.

Massage the bowels can help, too.

From the outside, I presume?

[darcitananda]

Monday is movement day!

I have shy bowels. What works for me is eating lots of spicy mostly vegetarian food, and unfortunately, staying away from breads and dry stuff. Granola bars don't help me. Greasy stuff though, followed by a cup of coffee seems to lube things up. And of course drinking water. A lot of constipation is caused by dehydration. And if you're eating things like dried fruits you have to drink a ton of water, other they just sit there. Furthermore, the Western method of sitting on the toilet isn't super conducive to easing things out. If you're consti, try squatting in your tend to get things moving, and then finish the job in the portapotty. Also, while sitting on the pot, if you put your hands above your head (kind of like wooo hooo!); it massages your insides. I swear this helps.

[Bling]

Really?! Cool!

[FaeTora]

I have never been consipated. I had the other isssue for a long time, but never that one. Don't know what i'd do if I was.

At my age, firsts are rare.

[geekster]

Yeah, if you can tolerate it, anything with even moderate amounts of capsaicin will loosen the bowels. The bowel sees it as an irritant and sheds water into the bowel to move things along.

So use that pepper shaker.

[mudpuppy000]

Something on the playa seemed to speed up my digestion. Maybe it was eating all that playa dust, lol.

[ej]

Dried mango, the occasional prune, and staying hydrated are my go-to solutions.

[ygmir]

[Ugly Dougly]

I usually do fine after my first cup of coffee.

[swampdog]

FT, I'm with you on this one. I don't think I've EVER gone a day without a poo, usually more than one.

[unjonharley]

In extreme times,,

Yogi tea called "Get Regular".. It has Senna leaf in it..

Nelly bar the door when it works through..

Some cramping while it tears old stuff lose..

Senna leaf is an old indian cure..

[trystanthegypsy]

It's really common for people and other animals to become constipated when they can't shit in their accustomed hole. Never ignore the psychological component. Love them or not, porta-potties are not a place where you can feel at home.

This is defitely my problem.

maybe bring some candles, incense, maybe an ipod (fastened securely), portable bidet... hahahaha.

Nah, I did like six weeks of festivals already this summer, aside from my problems with not eating I'm getting over my problems with not shitting at festivals. It's a necessity really.

I find drinking copious amounts of vodka helps. I wonder why?

[dewnorth]

The thread "One Item for BM a Day" should be very helpful with this topic.

[Sail Man]

For some reason "Pop goes the Weasel" is playing in my head

[illy dilly]

Last year a few of us around camp, had some trouble with the runs. Lots of runs to the porta.
We figured it must have been our poor dish washing tactics. One person uses bucket A to soak and B to rinse, then another person comes along and does it the exact opposite....
If you get clogged up, just let some dirty dish water sit out for a while, then wash a plate..... eat what ever you want!
This year a family friend is writing us scripts for all sorts of mild intestinal medications.
And were gonna use a spray bottle for dishes!

[Bling]

Food poisoning DOES tend to move things along. Just not the way anyone wants.

[Ugly Dougly]

It's really common for people and other animals to become constipated when they can't shit in their accustomed hole. Never ignore the psychological component. Love them or not, porta-potties are not a place where you can feel at home.

This is defitely my problem.

maybe bring some candles, incense, maybe an ipod (fastened securely), portable bidet... hahahaha.

Nah, I did like six weeks of festivals already this summer, aside from my problems with not eating I'm getting over my problems with not shitting at festivals. It's a necessity really.

I find drinking copious amounts of vodka helps. I wonder why?

If you bring a portable toilet, such as:
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/travelwit ... oilets.htm
You can set it up in a corner of your camp any way you want, and take your sweet time crappin'. Whether you can dump it in the portapotty is another question.

[Boijoy]

For some reason "Pop goes the Weasel" is playing in my head

really? I'm hearing the Hokey Pokey.

[Fire_Moose]

Nothing like the sweet glow of a red head lamp illuminating the inside of a port-o while tripping dick.

[unjonharley]

Wash dishes without soap.. Them scald them.. Damn kids.. Never been camping before..

[ygmir]

For some reason "Pop goes the Weasel" is playing in my head

really? I'm hearing the Hokey Pokey.

[youtube][/youtube]

[C.f.M.]

A lot of constipation is caused by dehydration

Excellent point.

Senna and other "natural" laxatives can make one jump up and run for the nearest loo (or have zero effect, a la me).

"Smooth Move" is one tea known to work - and it comes in a chocolate flavor. However, as with anything, one cup might work for A, three cups for B, takes no time in C, takes four hours in E (you drink some laxative, wait and wait, nothing happens, "Oh well, guess that didn't work..." five hours later...).

Just once or twice won't be too bad, but laxatives can mess with your bowels.

A bottle of the lemon-flavored magnesium stuff, available at any drugstore/WalMart/Target is similar to what they give you before a colonic and is guaranteed to work...

Another problem is a stimulant's effect might last longer than the just initial time. You could have the shits for a good day or two, as in.

Unless you take Immodium (et al). Then you're just on a nice cycle...

Lots of water
bulk-forming foods or supplements like psyllium husk
coffee and a cigarette

[C.f.M.]

Yes, external massage, clockwise if you're looking down at your belly.

I forgot to mention many find success at regularity with a daily dose of apple cider vinegar.

I suggest test-running things, first. Get some Smooth Move tea, see how it does ya.

Another idea to help is to empty shit out (no pun intended) before you go. I would recommend the epsom salt route, as it is cheap, quick, guaranteed and there's no long-term side effects (as there can be with senna, cascara segrada (sp?).