The following things help my constipation:

Exercise
Microwave heated Grape Nuts
Cutting back on carbohydrates
Stop eating cheese

Works for me.

If symptoms continue, see your doctor.

Get on a high fiber diet with lots of roughage; try to consume your veggies raw rather than cooked. And start taking a fiber supplement. Increase your fluid intake. Vomiting can cause dehydration which can cause constipation. For more immediate relief you may want to use a stool softener. But only use it a short while until the fiber and diet begin to work- you don't want to become dependent on laxatives or stool softeners.

thanks for the replies.I have been on several different diets cut out dairy products,high fibre diets you name it ive been on it.my doctor has had me on movicols,fybogels,ducolax e.t.c and it only works while in my system.once im off the medication im rock solid and my stomach doesnt work for up to 3 weeks.this is making me sick.I now need to see a specialist who considers taking my colon out as the symptoms i have all point to colon diverticulosis or cancer.What should i believe?

I am 44 and have had chronic constipation with treated thyroid disease EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER (4 or 5 years old). After so many years, tried every remedy, laxative, diet, ready to get my colon removed, I started taking Cortisol for "adrenal exhaustion". Don't ask me to try another bran, prune, suppository, water, fiber drink. The constipation went away! Then I lowered the cortisol (becuase I was gaining weight), and it came back, viola. Of course, anyone who has had this for so long, you want to be sure that's what was really the cure. So I tried other things and lowered my cortisol again, and it came back. It is amazing! I NEVER had a normal bm until the cortisol! Is that what it is suppose to be like?! I believe what it does is enables the cells in my body to receive the thyroid, and so then the thyroid can regulate the bowels. So, I'm closely trying to balance all of these things, I'm still in the process. Now I am going to have my md do the ACTH stim test, since I have had this since childhood, I may have Addison's and need to know in case of severe stress. No One (md or anything I read on the internet) ever told me that this would help my constipation, they were just trying to alleviate my fatigue.

Also, some doctors said my cortisol was fine. You need the 4 times a day test. Mine was fine in the am, but dropped the rest of the day.

to mmsce:
my son has chronic constipation he's 5. I've been working w/ an MD who started him on low dose cortisol for his breathing problems - since then, the constipation which seemed much better has gotten worse! what gives? I thought the cortisol would improve his bowel function - it's been almost a month?!?! any opinions would be greatly appeciated