Constipation: What helps you?

I also heard about some medicines and a ton of other strategies, like diaphragmatic breathing or drinking herbal tea, that people use to help with regurgitation: https://www.verywellhealth.com/regurgitation-7485353. Don't know what you've tried at this point, have you done antacids, H2 blockers, and PPIs? Also I read that quitting smoking might help.

If worse comes to worst, maybe you can get nutrition through an IV temporarily; definitely NOT a good option because I think I heard there is a risk of not being able to wean off it and there are other possible serious/life-threatening complications like sepsis and liver damage, but it's there if you need it. I was considering it a few years ago when I was so backed up I could barely eat. Thankfully I found a breakthrough and never had to resort to that, but at least I knew the option existed in case of an emergency and I wasn't going to starve. Other options are subcutaneous fluids (which are safer than the IV route), G-tubes, J-tubes, nasal tubes. I just cringe at suggesting this stuff because I'm all about waiting it out as much as possible and not damaging my body by hammering it with artificial stuff to get it to function before I'm able to find out what the problem is and address it. I was prescribed Linzess a while ago for my severe constipation but I'd heard that it can permanently mess some people up, so I decided to hold on and look for better solutions and lo and behold I'm noticing signs that my gut hasn't forgotten how to work.

If you manage to start drinking again but can't eat, maybe you can do Pedialyte or Ensure to get nutrition. God Bless and I hope you find some answers!

There are two basic types of SIBO: hydrogen dominant (diarrhea) and methane dominant (constipation). I was diagnosed with SIBO in 2018 without definitive type but based on my constipation and slow gut motility, I've assumed and use treatments for methane dominant.

Oh sorry, actually I just found out that SIBO can be caused by either bad bacteria or too much good bacteria, so depending on which kind someone has, probiotics might either help or hurt. Yep, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, vitamin deficiencies, those are the main symptoms of SIBO, but if it gets bad enough it can also cause more bizarre stuff like brain fog, joint pain, or acne. Acne happens when the bacteria damage the gut lining (leaky gut) and get absorbed into the bloodstream and then cause skin breakouts.

How were you tested and who ordered it?

I don’t think I’ve had any of those symptoms, except Bit b12 deficiency. . I feel pretty good and look really healthy, I’m told. I do have post covid syndrome and I’m working hard to combat that. Smell/taste disorder is relentless.

You must clear out what is stuck at some point?
Have you tried a soft diet, like pureed soups and soupy hot cereals to see what happens? It would be interesting to know if that either got stuck or didn't, once you get clear again.

I suppose you have had an endoscopy?

I have a long history of digestive problems due to radiation treatments 25 years ago and my symptoms were different in 2018 so I went to Mayo Clinic. The GI doctor there ordered an endoscopy where they drew fluid from my small intestine and sent it to the lab for culture and it came back positive for SIBO. I had to leave to go back home the next day so I didn't get much more info. TBH I don't think they knew as much in 2018 about SIBO as they now know.

That's good! Don't rule out SIBO just yet though if you have really bad constipation and still no answers. Not everyone who has SIBO gets all of these symptoms - I don't generally have diarrhea (that's more specific to the hydrogen kind of SIBO) or brain fog, and I don't have joint pain super often either - although my ankles complained the last time I put on platform shoes to try and be as tall as my brother LOL! Ooh I hope your post-covid syndrome gets better; one of my family members had covid and it affected her taste and smell, too.

I had a urine test called the Organic Acids Test, and my functional medicine doctor ordered it. I'm thinking a stool test might be able to give me more info, though.

@raju@rushenthen Are you taking any medications that can be constipating? Are you drinking enough water? Where in your system do problems begin?

I take a fairly small amount of Lactose/Generlac at bedtime that loosens my stool. My trouble begins with the ability to open the upper sphincter of my esophagus. Next, the cartilage rings in my esophagus fire at random instead of in order. Then the lower sphincter doesn't open when it should. Then it finally makes it to the stomach.

A few months ago I had my esophagus dilated and things progress better for the most part.

I had a small bowel resection when 4 feet stopped working. Then I had a toxic mega colon, which resulted in losing my ascending colon. Twelve years ago I had surgery to clear up adhesions in my abdomen, and a second surgery for the same thing two years ago. I've been in the hospital several times for bowel obstructions and transverse colon infection.

Any one of these things can exacerbate constipation, to say nothing about having multiple things going on.

You may have explored the possibility of all of these things. Having several medical issues going on simultaneously makes diagnoses a challenge for doctors. Some doctors don't look at the whole picture so they get focused on only one thing at a time, and not necessarily how something they don't see is affecting the presenting problem. There are doctors who will consider the body as a whole, as opposed to a specialist who only sees her specialty. I think they are called physiatrists.

Take care. Don't believe everything you hear, but don't discount anything out of hand.

Jim