You're listening to life kit from NPR.
Hey, everybody, it's Marielle.
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 gonna 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 gonna 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 doctor Kumkum 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.