You're listening to LifeKit from NPR.

Hey, everybody, it's MaryL.

Question, have you ever been really, really constipated?

Like you haven't pooped for a few days or a week

and your abdomen is getting fuller and you sit on the toilet

but nothing comes out.

Are you sitting on the toilet right now?

All right, just in case we're going to start with a little pep talk.

Okay, here we go. You got this.

Imagine that the poop is traveling and it's just waiting.

You're going to open those gates and allow for that poop to naturally flow out

because it's ready and you're ready and you no longer want it in there.

That's Dr. Kuhmkuhm Patel.

She's a gastroenterologist at Providence St. Joseph

and St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in California.

Anyway, where were we?

So gently imagine it leaving your body now gently push

over a deep breath in and push all the way out.

Relax your bottom and let it come out.

Now, I hope that worked for you and you know, it might have

because relaxation is one of the things that can help you poop

but sometimes it takes more than that, especially if you've got chronic constipation

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