18 Comments
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Susan Campbell's avatar

Best headline! I read it quickly and didn't connect the dots until I was halfway through the article. 😂 Your wit and humor keep me deeply entertained, thank you for that! I also love how you talk about the things my doctors don't so I have a better idea on how to manage all these symptoms and understand what is "normal" and what is not!

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Glad you like that one! Except now I'm going to have to come up with a new title for when I actually do write about tracking perimenopause symptoms. Maybe I'll flip it and call it Poop on the Trail: Tracking your Perimenopause Symptoms.

Thanks, Susan! I appreciate you stopping by. It's always great to hear from you.

Jenn Kashiwa's avatar

This bit, “I started believing that the power of suggestion may also cause constipation.” So Funny!!!! And thank you for including the runs…my gyno just glazed over it! 🙄

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Hi Jenn! Thank you!! Thankfully, it was short lived and I was back to normal on Saturday. I think the runs (which I call "chocolate truffle explosion") is so much difficult to manage than constipation due to its unpredictability. But diarrhea accident stories (about 6 months later) make for entertaining Substack articles.

I'm sorry to hear your GYN dismissed your concerns. Diarrhea has a huge impact on quality of life and there's medication for it. If you think/know you have IBS, DM me because I have a non-medicine suggestion for you that may be helpful.

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Your headline wins the internet today, but I don't think it would've been as effective without the image you chose 😁😁 Brilliant.

Aside from the funny title, I can't believe how many things in this post accurately represent my life right now.

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Kristi, if you've been dealing with constipation the only treatment I would personally recommend to you is reading laxative reviews on Amazon. That will really getting you going.

I wonder if anyone's waiting for the symptom tracker article I was supposed to write.

And, I hope Canva doesn't have an algorithm because it's gonna start showing me only "Midlife women with constipation" images.

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

😂😂 I suppose I should have clarified, I do not have that particular issue. But each time I read one of your posts, so much of it resonates lol

Lior | Growing Health's avatar

Add pelvic floor PT and gut bacteria to the mix.

I don't suggest medication because once the body rely on meds to evacoate it lose it capacity to do it independently of meds.

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

I sure will! I'll take care of that this evening to add to the article. Gonna add the power of suggestion too cause guess who woke up constipated lol.

Lior | Growing Health's avatar

You inspired me to write four posts about constipation i think in August (my calendar is full🤷‍♀️)

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

That's incredible! I'd be very interested in reading them. 4 posts … You must have a lot to say from your clinic work and background. I look forward to it.

Alexis Mera Damen's avatar

I cannot do anything before I’ve had my coffee and morning poop. Interesting/helpful article. Thanks!

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

LOOOOL I love that we're all here talking about our poop! Ditto on the coffee and not starting the day until these important tasks have been completed.

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Coffee is amazing to stimulate your mitigating motor complex. I started drinking coffee again after several years of it being too rough during perimenopause. I missed itt.

Jess Mujica's avatar

Travel gets me every time. Not as bad as it used to. My "go-to" is magnesium citrate during travel.

The nervous system has a lot to say about travel.

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

My issue with travel is getting dehydrated because I don't drink as much. Trying to change that and balance bathroom breaks. Less guzzling more sips.

Jillian Cohen's avatar

Clever article with the puns! As someone who has been constipated their entire life, I appreciate it!

Shelby Tutty, MHA's avatar

Thanks! I had fun with this one even though I changed the topic last minute. Was surprised that 90% of my resource menopause literature had very little information about constipation. "You may have to poop alone, but you don't have to face it alone." I got ya!