Constipation Specialist

Serving The Woodlands and Conroe, TX, and the surrounding areas

Constipation services offered in The Woodlands, Willis, Conroe, TX, and the surrounding areas

Having hard, difficult-to-pass stools is a common problem. But if your constipation is an ongoing condition, board-certified gastroenterologist Ilyas Memon, MD, at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants can help. Dr. Memon takes a holistic approach to care, utilizing diet and medical treatments to relieve constipation and improve bowel habits. For help with constipation, call the office in The Woodlands, Magnolia, Conroe, or Willis, Texas, or schedule an appointment online today.

What is constipation?

Constipation describes having fewer bowel movements than normal, and the hardened stools are difficult to pass. In general, constipation is defined by having three or fewer bowel movements a week.

Your large intestine absorbs water and nutrients from the waste left over after digestion. The longer it takes for stool to move through your large intestine, the more water is removed, creating dry, hard stool.

However, bowel habits differ from person to person. Some people have several bowel movements a day, while others have only a few per week.

Any change in your bowel habits that creates hard, dry, or lumpy stools that are difficult to pass means you have constipation

What causes constipation?

Many factors cause constipation, including lifestyle, medications, and medical conditions. Common causes of constipation include:

Eating a low-fiber diet
Not drinking enough fluids
Change in routine
Traveling
Eating large amounts of cheese
Taking certain medications (codeine, ibuprofen, antidepressants)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Colon cancer
Neurological disorder (Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis)
Intestinal obstruction
Lazy bowel syndrome

Constipation is a symptom. However, constipation can cause other gastrointestinal problems like hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

When should I seek professional care for constipation?

You should seek professional care if your constipation is an ongoing problem, you have abdominal pain, or it’s been several days since your last bowel movement.

At Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dr. Memon takes a holistic approach to health. When you come in with concerns about constipation, he asks detailed questions to fully understand the underlying cause of your changes in bowel habits. He learns about your diet, lifestyle, medications, and medical history.

In most cases, Dr. Memon can determine the cause of your constipation after taking a history and administering a physical exam. However, he may perform stool or blood tests or request a colonoscopy to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis.

What types of treatments can help my constipation?

Dr. Memon customizes your constipation treatment plan based on the underlying cause. However, he focuses on diet and lifestyle habits, such as:

Adding more fiber to your diet
Drinking more fluids
Getting regular exercise
Creating a bowel routine

Dr. Memon may also recommend stool softeners or other treatments to alleviate your acute constipation and lifestyle changes to prevent future occurrences.

For help with your constipation from an experienced patient-centered gastroenterologist, call Texas Digestive Disease Consultants or schedule an appointment online today.