elm-- welcome home. i get constipated by my pain pills, so i totally understand. take a stool softener when you get up , with a glass of water. eat fruit and high fiber vegetables, like celery, bananas, oranges, and apples and believe it or not, potatoes. just don't use butter on the spud! i now eat mine with a little salt and pepper or mrs dash. i'm lactose intolerant so all i, personally, need to do is eat ice cream.lol it all goes through and has no time to leave calories. black licorice if you like it, and i'm talking the real stuff, also works well. molasses is a good natural relief, too.