you figured it out. either don't eat foods that cause constipation or take the appropriate precautions if you do. your plan of using stool softeners is just fine.
pumpkin pie constipates me. i basically eat pumpkin pie during thanksgiving and christmas holidays and i really like it but every year it constipates me so during those times i have to take extra combination stool softener/stimulant(docusate sodium/sennosides). i am 76 year old male and take prilosec for gerd. so i don't have gerd episodes otherwise my stomach feels good every day.