1. < Digestive Health

Does anyone have chronic constipation?

Posted by anna17X0X @anna17xox, Apr 11 5:30pm

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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brotherchuckles80 | @brotherchuckles80 | Apr 24 9:16pm

I don't know the answer that. But if I were back to normal, I would hold off until the problem raises its head again. Then you would know that you have the problem that caused you to be introduced to Lizness. You cannot hurt yourself l by abstaining it for a day or two. That is what I \would do.
Because I have not had a BM today, I decided to take an additional 145mg tonight before dinner.
God bless you in your decision making Celia.
Charles aka brotherchuckles80

REPLY
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Apr 25 9:00am
In reply to @samcal9977zz "very very sorry about the difficulties. I have very similar issues. I have to do tons..." + (show)
@samcal9977zz

very very sorry about the difficulties.

I have very similar issues.

I have to do tons and tons of things to "get things moving."

First off - optimal hydration is super key. If you are not getting those 8 glasses of water and every single day...that alone can cause all kinds of havoc, maybe even every symptom you are experiencing.

The only way I can go is well, maybe a bit extreme. Its 12 ounces of prune juice daily, with a full dose of Miralax.

I also take senna, but not every day. I also take MetaMucil. And, on top of that, I try to generally eat a soft food diet.

My breakfast is usually some raisin bran cereal or a raisin bran muffin.

I also take probiotics.

I take ginger often, turmeric sometimes.

And, here's a weirder one....cola. When I was a kid, they used to sell cola syrup in the drug stores. Definitely settles my stomach and like little else. I actually do the diet version, because I don't want the sugar.

Some abdominal exercise definitely helps...but if the constipation is really bad, I don't do the exercises, I just massage the area.

Heating pad also seems to help.

And then into stress. If my stress levels are higher, constipation is definitely worse.

and, of course, the Squatty Potty. Device to raise your legs into the "squat" position. Has definitely helped my movements. They are not Beethoven movements, just movements.

There are different versions of those stools.

This is the one we use:

https://www.squattypotty.com/

Well, that is what I have for now.

again, very sorry about the difficulties.

I deeply and truly HATE my digestive problems, so I can sympathize...

take care

Jump to this post

Well put Sam. Of all the indignities associated with aging, constipation is the worst. And it makes it even harder when the medical experts can't day what's causing it, so they came up with a fancy word, idiopathic - meaning - "We have no idea."

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1 reply
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Apr 25 11:16am
In reply to @anna17xox "I'm sorry im a bit confused isn't after dinner and before bed the same thing, or..." + (show)
@anna17xox

I'm sorry im a bit confused isn't after dinner and before bed the same thing, or do you just eat dinner really early and eat the kiwi right before you go to sleep at night ?.

Jump to this post

Good question. I think evening is the key.

I always eat two "small" dinners and I usually eat the kiwi after my second dinner of something light like hot cereal.

However, if I stay up later than planned, I get hungry and have a third, unplanned meal of something light.

I guess this means, for a more normal eater, eat the kiwi sometime after your dinner, but it is okay to eat something after you eat it.

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researchmaven | @researchmaven | Apr 25 11:30am
In reply to @anna17xox "Hi just to keep everyone updated, Like I said in my response to one of the..." + (show)
@anna17xox

Hi just to keep everyone updated, Like I said in my response to one of the comments a couple days ago I had my doctors appointment Wednesday 4/17/24 with my pediatrician and talked to her about seeing a GI. But for now I'm taking Colace(Docusate Capsules) .prescribed by her to see if it works. So far I have taken it for 2 days starting from Sunday twice a day and now it's 4/23/24 Tuesday. I still don't feel relief when I need to poop I can only push out gas I know some people say It takes between 12 and 72 hours or so .But. I idk maybe I'm just being impatient I mean it's only been two days since I have taken it, so I'm still hoping for a bowel movement .But I wanted to ask for anyone who has taken Colace how long did it take for it to kick in ?

Jump to this post

Colace is a stool softener, not a stimulant.

If it doesn't work, try Colace 2 in 1. It contains a stimulant that my sensitive gut finds to be gentle compared to other stimulant laxatives. I took 4 when I was in your situation.

Or try something harsher, like a senna product or Ducolax. Anything to get the plug out is "good."

Then you can go on Colace or something else that softens stool or helps you poop. Best I know, Colace can be taken long term if: it works for you, doesn't upset your gut and has your doctor's okay.

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1 reply
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Apr 25 11:34am
In reply to @celia16 "I haven’t tried my Linzess yet. Yesterday and today I went normal …..so should I take..." + (show)
@celia16

I haven’t tried my Linzess yet. Yesterday and today I went normal …..so should I take the pill or hold off. I’ve stopped the products.

Jump to this post

Hold off, of course.

The "cocktail" of what you had been taking and now stopped may not have worked for you and your gut may be able to handle your diet/lifestyle/gut configuration on its own now.

The Linzess is always there to try if you need it.

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samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | Apr 25 11:36am
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Well put Sam. Of all the indignities associated with aging, constipation is the worst. And it..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Well put Sam. Of all the indignities associated with aging, constipation is the worst. And it makes it even harder when the medical experts can't day what's causing it, so they came up with a fancy word, idiopathic - meaning - "We have no idea."

Jump to this post

Yup. I don't know why doctors won't admit to wrongs and unknowns. The rest of us have to do that in our daily lives and work lives. Why should they be immune?

By the way, re odor...I have found that taking chlorophyll capsules, definitely reduces all that.

Sorry for your difficulties. I hope that today is a good day for you.

Take care now

(by the way, like the Jimi Hendrix reference...)

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe (1967)

+++

You Tube has a bunch of clips of Jimi Hendrix being interviewed by Dick Cavett

+++

One of the Jimi Hendrix anecdotes I remember, is that shortly before his death, he was talking with Miles Davis, about doing a collaboration. And maybe a year later or something, Miles did an album that was a kind of jazz-fusion album with some rock elements. I think the combo of Hendrix and Miles would have been amazing...

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anna17X0X | @anna17xox | Apr 26 7:46pm
In reply to @researchmaven "Colace is a stool softener, not a stimulant. If it doesn't work, try Colace 2 in..." + (show)
@researchmaven

Colace is a stool softener, not a stimulant.

If it doesn't work, try Colace 2 in 1. It contains a stimulant that my sensitive gut finds to be gentle compared to other stimulant laxatives. I took 4 when I was in your situation.

Or try something harsher, like a senna product or Ducolax. Anything to get the plug out is "good."

Then you can go on Colace or something else that softens stool or helps you poop. Best I know, Colace can be taken long term if: it works for you, doesn't upset your gut and has your doctor's okay.

Jump to this post

Thanks, I took Dulcolax along with Miralax but for some reason the relief didn't last long weeks after.

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1 reply
researchmaven | @researchmaven | Apr 27 10:08am
In reply to @anna17xox "Thanks, I took Dulcolax along with Miralax but for some reason the relief didn't last long..." + (show)
@anna17xox

Thanks, I took Dulcolax along with Miralax but for some reason the relief didn't last long weeks after.

Jump to this post

Have you considered a food intolerance, anna17XOX? If you have a food intolerance, your gut can be like a car engine that backfires and doesn't work well. I even think an intolerance can stymie laxatives (I think my intolerances did so for me). And an intolerance can come on quickly, as in one day you are fine and the next you are intolerant.

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1 reply
glory1007 | @glory1007 | Apr 27 11:45am

I can tell you I have constipation, smelly gas for the last 4 years. So bad I stay away from events it smells so bad. I’ve been to gastroenterologists several times with no avail. I was taking Metamucil also.
Now I’m taking a fiber called Frontier Fiber by Nutritional Frontiers. It’s a little pricey but I finally have some relief. I eat a lot of rice cakes for my sandwiches but not totally gluten free. I started getting the gas in college but it wasn’t until last four years were smelly. I’m in my 60’s. I’m convinced the gas and smelly farts are triggered by stress (I have anxiety). Do you? Best of luck. It’s horrible. I didn’t dare eat anything on the day of my daughter’s wedding🫤

REPLY
3 replies
h8bigbiz | @h8bigbiz | Apr 27 6:46pm
In reply to @glory1007 "I can tell you I have constipation, smelly gas for the last 4 years. So bad..." + (show)
@glory1007

I can tell you I have constipation, smelly gas for the last 4 years. So bad I stay away from events it smells so bad. I’ve been to gastroenterologists several times with no avail. I was taking Metamucil also.
Now I’m taking a fiber called Frontier Fiber by Nutritional Frontiers. It’s a little pricey but I finally have some relief. I eat a lot of rice cakes for my sandwiches but not totally gluten free. I started getting the gas in college but it wasn’t until last four years were smelly. I’m in my 60’s. I’m convinced the gas and smelly farts are triggered by stress (I have anxiety). Do you? Best of luck. It’s horrible. I didn’t dare eat anything on the day of my daughter’s wedding🫤

Jump to this post

I've had the same problem since the day I was born. It used to be that I only had to go 12 hours without eating anything if I had a social engagement; in the last few years--I'm in my 70s--it's become 24 hours that I have to go without eating and I just can't go that long without eating so no more social life. And the gastroenterologists have no answers other than "Some unfortunate people are just born with bad digestive tracts."

I looked on the Nutritional Frontiers website but didn't see a "fiber" product; is it maybe one of their "G.I." products? Thanks for any info.

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