If you have been constipated that long it may take a while to get "clean" and feel normal again. I started with colonix as well, doing the full three months... while it did help considerably, I found after the initial happiness of being able to go somewhat normally, that I felt bloated and I did not feel as if I had eliminated completely when I went.

Once finished with the program, I did not feel as if I was entirely clean, so I ordered Oxypowder and did a week of that about a month later. The Oxypowder was a miracle to me; I must have what some call a dry body and do much better with these products. But alas, even after one week of Oxypowder I did not feel quite done. I went several weeks on the maintenance program and felt relatively normal and researched more affordable products. I settled on Colosan and did a cleanse with it. After the colosan cleans and a month or so of maintenance, I have now, not used any product for about two months, not even for maintenance, and generally have 3 - 4 BMs a day. Sometimes I will have only 2, but both evacuations feel and are complete. Number of evacuations seems to vary on how much, how frequently and the type of food I eat (I try to eat a really clean healthy diet, read my older posts).

I have been doing Liver Flushes since the end of my last Bowel Cleanse and feel that the liver flushes, as much as the Bowel Cleanses have helped me have normal BMs. This was apparently my missing link for what I felt were normal eliminations WITHOUT using a cleansing product. I will most likely do 2 or 3 Bowel Cleanses a year from now on just to be on the safe side.

We are all different; one product may work for some, but not all people. In addition, it is our responsibility to pay attention to our bodies and assess further need or not. After my experience, I would say that it may take some people more than one bowel cleanse, and Liver Flushing may also be of great benefit to the process of elimination of waste. I feel that without normal liver and gall bladder function (production of enzymes, bile etc.), it is difficult for anyone to digest, absorb and eliminate foods and nutrients properly. One word of caution; if you decide to pursue the liver flushes, be sure you have completed bowel cleansing FIRST to the point that you are having regular BMs.

grz

I encourage you to give colon hydrotherapy a try. colonics can work wonders in situations like yours.

But before going in I always recommend that you visit the therapist and examine the facilities. You want to make sure the studio is spotless and that you are comfortable with the person who will be administering the colonic.

Ask how long you will be on the table and if she will be with you the entire time. If the answer is about 30 minutes, and she'll help get you started but then leave you on your own, then I suggest that you seek out someone else. This is often the common signature of an ill trained therapist using a "Libbe" gravity flow system. You can achieve the same results at home by taking several enemas.

Here are a couple of links where you can find more information about colonics:

http://valerie_cct.tripod.com/colonics.html

http://valerie_cct.tripod.com/Kappel-colon.html

Hope you find this information helpful, Valerie

Considering fibers, flushes, Bowel Cleanses and what have you…

In my experience constipation must really be treated, not as a cause in it self, but as a symptom of an underlying problem. Having dealt with my own chronic constipation for over 10 years I know that no quick-fix in the world - which generally only treat the acute symptom - will solve the problem in the long run. The Colonix program, Oxypowder s, fiber supplements as well as other regimens to promote a better digestion and elimination are in themselves good, but should always be combined with an over-all consideration of ones health and lifestyle if one is to gain long-lasting effects. If your lifestyle does not promote a working digestive system and a happy colon, well, then treating the symptom is definitely not the key to long term success.

Here are some thoughts addressing the most common causes of constipation in relation to our western lifestyle; diet; exercise (or the lack thereof); and improper elimination technique (yes, more than a billion people do not know how to make a proper poo!!!). I have personally gained great benefits by looking into these things:

DIET: Do you eat enough (i.e. not too little and not too much)? Eating too much puts strain on the system and eating too little (which actually is common when feeding on fat junk food and skipping meals) means the volume and fiber content is not sufficient to keep it working properly.

Eat regularly, several small meals throughout the day rater than a few large meals. Include fruits and vegetables with every meal. This will not only keep your bowels working but also maintain a balanced blood Sugar and energy level.

Do you drink hot or cold drinks? Food and drink are most effectively digested if ingested at about body temperature. Especially cold water and cold drinks will slow metabolism because the liquid must first be brought to body temperature in the stomach before it can be passed along through the digestive tract.
What about red meat and foods high in salt and sugar? Cut down on it like TODAY!
Foodstuffs containing wheat (pasta, white bread etc are real gut-killers clogging the system like glue!)? Quit!
Smoking, coffee and alcohol? Quit! An occational brew is ok. though!
Do you get enough dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables? (Its better to increase on the vegetables and fruits before adding commercial fiber products).

EXERCISE: Do you get enough exercise to promote a healthy digestion? The digestive system, and particularly the colon, is actually dependent on the massaging action by physical exercises to work properly (that’s why almost all convalescents who are confined to bed develop constipation – they do not move sufficiently to keep their colons working!).

To get an idea of what a normal and very basic exercise regimen for the average healthy person which keeps the colon working, consider the following:

The “shaking” action of a simple 3-5 km (2-3 miles) jog or brisk walk 2-4 times a week will go a long way in promoting circulation and a healthy functioning colon.

Exercises that alternately increase and alternately decrease intra-abdominal pressure and thus increase blood circulation in the internal organs are particularly effective. Such exercises include for example gymnastics, weight training, climbing and swimming. These types of exercises can preferably be practiced for about an hour to and hour and a half 2-4 times a week. For those otherwise healthy but who feel somewhat less atheletic yoga exercises is a splendid alternative. Actually, there are Hatha yoga exercises which are so powerful in stimulating the digestive organs that even the most stubborn constipation can be alleviated. There are plenty of free Hatha yoga guides available on the internet.

ELIMINATION: Do you use the western style of toilet which one sits upon? Well, then it is time for a change because that is not the proper way to go to the potty at all. In fact, apart from a poor diet and insufficient exercise the “chair toilet” may be one of the most common causes of constipation in the western world. The natural - and may I add “proper” or “right” - way to go is to squat like people still do in Asia and Africa. The squatting position increases abdominal pressure and effectively sqeezes the fecal matter out without causing any strain.

I hope these thoughts and suggestions will get you started. Good luck.