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Problem with Chronic constipation

Posted by bb03 @bb03, Feb 1, 2021

I have a history of hypothyroidism, severe endometriosis/treatment was a hysterectomy 17 years ago.I also have a hx of IBS. My thyroid hormone levels are stable. I eat like a rabbit(I poop like one too, LOL!!!!!!). I eat a large amount of fiber and drink almost every hour(nonalcholic).ONly prescription drugs I take are armour thyroid and my estrogen/prosterone troche. I make a coconut bread and I add psyllium husks,flax seed and chia seed to it. I eat it practically every am. I also eat a spinach salad for lunch daily with nuts and yogurt and eat a lean meat and veggie and more coconut bread at night. I do one cheat meal with a cheat dessert once per week. I am relatively active for my age of 60. I've been to a gastroenterologist and we have tried Linzess which didn't help at all. I take miralax, and a Super Cleanse tab one per day which has herbs to soften the stool and to stimulate the bowel and It barely works. I am at a loss. I have not tried Montegrity yet. I don't know if it will be helpful and the side effects scare me. I had a CT of my abdomen and it was ok, no obstructions. The gastroenterologist that I go to practically accused me of abusing laxatives. I would be impacted if I didnt use the miralax and the Super Cleanse. Diet/water and activity do not help. I had diarrhea from my late teens to the age of 36 when my intestines out of the blue just shut down completely. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I was put on Synthroid but the constipation didn't go away. So if there is any gastroenterologist out there that can help me, please let me know.I feel defeated and worry about my health.

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Profile picture for jp9
jp9 | @jp9 | Apr 20, 2024
In reply to @anna17xox "I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December..." + (show)
Profile picture for anna17X0X @anna17xox

I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December so it's been 4 months. I am always gassy and the smell has been very foul so I've been scared and embarrassed to be around people lately because of how bad it smells, when I've tried to poop only gas comes out most of the time, sometimes my stomach feels stiff and I start to feel lethargic. And I've tried almost everything digestive drinks like meta Mucil, eating more fiber i live an active lifestyle and I drink plenty of fluids and water. I recently had an appointment with my pediatrician about this she made me do colon cleansing for a day . And take Miralax for a minimum of 3 weeks. My stools were watery during the cleansing but after a couple days it feels like my stool is going back to being hard and stubborn. I still don't poop completely sometimes and I'm still gassy but it's not smelly like it was before. She said I can stop taking Miralax when i feel like my stools are going back to normal after a few days or weeks and it's been a week or two and a few days. I know I still need to wait one more week but my follow-up appointment is next Wednesday. The Miralax seems like a temporary fix, I feel like it'' never go away the worst part is I cant figure out what the cause is. I don't think it's IBS because I heard IBS involves bloody stools and stomach cramps I don't have bloody stools and I don't think I get stomach cramps . It just feels like have some other serious digestive problem or something I don't really know. I don't want to be constipated for the rest of my life I feel miserable, my pediatrician said if the Miralax doesn't work as intended I may have to see a gastroenterologists.Has anyone or is anyone dealing with chronic constipation ?,does it or did it ever go away ? and has anyone been experiencing the same symptoms as me ?.Do you have any recommendations on how they treat their constipation ?

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You mentioned pediatrician but perhaps was mistyped?
Please see a gastroenterologist. I had two tests and was diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction with a rectocele.

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2 replies
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jp9 | @jp9 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @anna17xox "Hello,do you know if peanut butter is a constipation trigger ?" + (show)
Profile picture for anna17X0X @anna17xox

Hello,do you know if peanut butter is a constipation trigger ?

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Peanut butter that is high in fiber is more likely to help constipation. I have read it is better to have creamy peanut butter and not the nutty peanut butter.

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jp9 | @jp9 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @h8bigbiz "I tested positive for SIBO (they said I was "off the charts" I have such a..." + (show)
Profile picture for h8bigbiz @h8bigbiz

I tested positive for SIBO (they said I was "off the charts" I have such a severe case). So I paid $1,900.00 for a prescription that didn't do a thing, even though I took it all as directed. Very discouraging.

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Did this happen to be a herbalist or microdosing advertising?
If so, I'm very sorry as these are scams advertising with promises of curing everything. Then very expensive "cures" with micrososing and once into it, you end up spending a lot of $$$$ for nothing helpful.

I belong to a very large FB online group that is free. I was surprised the large number of people with chronic constipation especially.

REPLY
2 replies
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jp9 | @jp9 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @jp9 "Did this happen to be a herbalist or microdosing advertising? If so, I'm very sorry as..." + (show)
Profile picture for jp9 @jp9

Did this happen to be a herbalist or microdosing advertising?
If so, I'm very sorry as these are scams advertising with promises of curing everything. Then very expensive "cures" with micrososing and once into it, you end up spending a lot of $$$$ for nothing helpful.

I belong to a very large FB online group that is free. I was surprised the large number of people with chronic constipation especially.

Jump to this post

There are also members with SIBO, IBS, etc.
It's called Reversing Chronic Cinstipation

REPLY
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jp9 | @jp9 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @bb03 and welcome to Mayo Connect. Your post is a very familiar one to many..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @bb03 and welcome to Mayo Connect. Your post is a very familiar one to many of us who deal with chronic constipation on a regular basis. It sounds as if you are doing a lot of good things to deal with this problem. I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract and understand some of what you are experiencing.

Are you familiar with Pelvic Floor Therapy? This is a specific type of physical therapist who specializes in treating problems of incontinence, constipation and other elimination issues. A good pelvic floor therapist can offer suggestions on breathing techniques, the specific way of doing abdominal massage, and consumption of food, liquids, and other techniques.

You might feel that you've tried it all before, but I encourage you to ask for a referral and just see if it helps. Do you think it is worth a try?

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I have chronic constipation with pelvic floor dysfunction and currently seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. I have also learned what you have described.

REPLY
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celia16 | @celia16 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @jp9 "You mentioned pediatrician but perhaps was mistyped? Please see a gastroenterologist. I had two tests and..." + (show)
Profile picture for jp9 @jp9

You mentioned pediatrician but perhaps was mistyped?
Please see a gastroenterologist. I had two tests and was diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction with a rectocele.

Jump to this post

Which 2 tests did you have? And, how did they figure out it was pekvic floor dysfunction?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for anna17X0X
anna17X0X | @anna17xox | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @jp9 "You mentioned pediatrician but perhaps was mistyped? Please see a gastroenterologist. I had two tests and..." + (show)
Profile picture for jp9 @jp9

You mentioned pediatrician but perhaps was mistyped?
Please see a gastroenterologist. I had two tests and was diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction with a rectocele.

Jump to this post

Oh im sorry , do you also experience flatulence,when you attempt to pass stools does gas end up coming out sometimes instead of the stools. ?

REPLY
Profile picture for celia16
celia16 | @celia16 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @anna17xox "I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December..." + (show)
Profile picture for anna17X0X @anna17xox

I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December so it's been 4 months. I am always gassy and the smell has been very foul so I've been scared and embarrassed to be around people lately because of how bad it smells, when I've tried to poop only gas comes out most of the time, sometimes my stomach feels stiff and I start to feel lethargic. And I've tried almost everything digestive drinks like meta Mucil, eating more fiber i live an active lifestyle and I drink plenty of fluids and water. I recently had an appointment with my pediatrician about this she made me do colon cleansing for a day . And take Miralax for a minimum of 3 weeks. My stools were watery during the cleansing but after a couple days it feels like my stool is going back to being hard and stubborn. I still don't poop completely sometimes and I'm still gassy but it's not smelly like it was before. She said I can stop taking Miralax when i feel like my stools are going back to normal after a few days or weeks and it's been a week or two and a few days. I know I still need to wait one more week but my follow-up appointment is next Wednesday. The Miralax seems like a temporary fix, I feel like it'' never go away the worst part is I cant figure out what the cause is. I don't think it's IBS because I heard IBS involves bloody stools and stomach cramps I don't have bloody stools and I don't think I get stomach cramps . It just feels like have some other serious digestive problem or something I don't really know. I don't want to be constipated for the rest of my life I feel miserable, my pediatrician said if the Miralax doesn't work as intended I may have to see a gastroenterologists.Has anyone or is anyone dealing with chronic constipation ?,does it or did it ever go away ? and has anyone been experiencing the same symptoms as me ?.Do you have any recommendations on how they treat their constipation ?

Jump to this post

I’m hesitant to start celebrating, because it’s so early, but I’m still having BMs despite not taking any Miralax in a week! It’s not normal though. It’s mushy. I’m grateful though. I have consciously included cooked beets
, mixed veggies, beans and whole grains in my diet. But, I did that before and it made no difference. So, what’s causing this shift? Meds are the same. Water intake the same. Idk.

REPLY
Profile picture for susanjane77
susanjane77 | @susanjane77 | Apr 21, 2024
In reply to @anna17xox "I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December..." + (show)
Profile picture for anna17X0X @anna17xox

I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December so it's been 4 months. I am always gassy and the smell has been very foul so I've been scared and embarrassed to be around people lately because of how bad it smells, when I've tried to poop only gas comes out most of the time, sometimes my stomach feels stiff and I start to feel lethargic. And I've tried almost everything digestive drinks like meta Mucil, eating more fiber i live an active lifestyle and I drink plenty of fluids and water. I recently had an appointment with my pediatrician about this she made me do colon cleansing for a day . And take Miralax for a minimum of 3 weeks. My stools were watery during the cleansing but after a couple days it feels like my stool is going back to being hard and stubborn. I still don't poop completely sometimes and I'm still gassy but it's not smelly like it was before. She said I can stop taking Miralax when i feel like my stools are going back to normal after a few days or weeks and it's been a week or two and a few days. I know I still need to wait one more week but my follow-up appointment is next Wednesday. The Miralax seems like a temporary fix, I feel like it'' never go away the worst part is I cant figure out what the cause is. I don't think it's IBS because I heard IBS involves bloody stools and stomach cramps I don't have bloody stools and I don't think I get stomach cramps . It just feels like have some other serious digestive problem or something I don't really know. I don't want to be constipated for the rest of my life I feel miserable, my pediatrician said if the Miralax doesn't work as intended I may have to see a gastroenterologists.Has anyone or is anyone dealing with chronic constipation ?,does it or did it ever go away ? and has anyone been experiencing the same symptoms as me ?.Do you have any recommendations on how they treat their constipation ?

Jump to this post

Regarding peanut butter…I saw a nutritionist because I have IBS. Tried the FODMAP diet ( very hard) and learned the trigger foods which I avoid now. She told me that peanut butter was a good protein. I put it on rice cakes. But, there are days when I do feel constituted and wonder if the peanut butter is the cause. Someone mentioned that they weren’t diagnosed with IBS because they did not have bloody stools. Get another opinion because I never had bloody stools. My gastro has given me several Rx to try and all have given me terrible cramps, bloating and major diarrhea (can’t leave the house). I have been constipated for 3 days now and I do not want to take a laxative. Anyone else with this problem and found a solution? Thanks in advance.

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