I believe your doctor is using the term rippling to refer to the peristaltic waves of colon muscle contractions that move stool down to the rectum. The only way you would know for sure if you have this problem is to have had a bowel transit time xray in which you swallow some dye capsules and they are followed through the bowel by xray. Most chronic constipation can be treated with dietary and activity change. Sometimes current medical therapy needs to be altered or temporary laxative therapy started. These suspected cases need further diagnostic work up including colonoscopy and bowel transit studies.
Many different medicines can decrease bowel motility and lead to constipation.
If your doctor is unable to substitute a non constipating medication for the above medications you are taking, you will need to make an extra effort with dietary and lifestyle changes. We have discussed why adequate, but not excessive water intake is necessary to avoid constipation. The other major dietary component is undigestible fiber which forms the bulk of the stool. If a woman is dieting, or in the case of elderly women who just have a decreased appetite or require dental soft foods, the lack of a usual volume of food will lead to constipation. This may also occur at the time of surgery or hospitalization for illness when the amount of food is restricted.