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Problem with Chronic constipation
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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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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2 ReactionsI'm 55 years old and I finally fixed my lifetime constipation. I needing a gluten free corn-free legume free vegan Plus manuka honey diet.
Have you all explored food intolerances? I have that issue with peanuts, and even a little bit of sugar makes me gassy.
If you want to try natural:
Disclaimer: This is only my experience. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the 1980's.
Helpful research of biological processes that take place in our gut:
- Migrating Motor complex which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting
- Osmotic gradient. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. Balance of minerals is important. Magnesium, potassium and sodium brings water into the colon. I have found that these help prevent constipated. I have to watch my calcium intake because it tends to cause constipation. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced.
I found out the end of last year I had redundant colon which explained chronic constipation. It certainly would have been handy to find out earlier. I now am able to control my regularity naturally, with prunes, rhubarb, squash and sweet potatoes along with balancing my minerals. OptiMag, K2+Potassium, Real salt, even take some minerals in the middle of the night so osmotic gradient maintained in colon until morning. First thing in morning I drink a quart of hot water (boy scouts.) Soak ground chia and flax seed in prune juice - half for the next morning and half for that evening. Back up's Smooth Move and coffee – don’t like it (had to only use these about four times each this month).
Good luck and keep your osmotic gradient balanced and migrating motor complex charged!
@farmersmith
I feel your frustration and pain. 17 years of CIC, with the same GI specialist (who admitted that he has no idea how the ANS, motility and CIC are related). I am 65, I literally have tried every single thing, scripts, powders, Magnesium, all types. I buy Miralax by the case. I have had x-rays every few months for years, my fecal load is always moderate to severe. Now I just found out I have a redundant splenic flexure, these are 99.9% congenital, so my GI has known about it since the beginning and never told me. When an enema can't work, because the poop blocks the holes in it, that should have been a gigantic red flag to me. Out of sheer desperation, fear, I keep my body in a constant state of loose stools and also buy Depends by the case, to wear if I leave my house. Getting old is 💩💩💩💩
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3 ReactionsI've tried every food-intolerance diet there is with no results. (Well, the first couple of days I was on the gluten-free diet, I felt better but then got bad again. I even tried the totally-grain-free diet with no results.)
I don't know what you ate on your grain-free diet, but have you tried eating a lot of cooked produce (including root vegetables and leafy greens) and very little processed foods? It is difficult to eat the amount of produce I am thinking of without home food prep. Have you tried cutting out meat and chicken?
And I am sure you have looked at your meds and supps to see if there is anything there that is constipating.
You likely have tried a low FODMAP diet/IBS angle.
And there are lifestyle issues, like anxiety and stress that can interfere with motility.
If you haven't tried a kiwi at night, give it a try. It makes the muscles work.
Hi.. I,ve had gi problems my entire life. A GI specialist needs to diagnose seriously. Sometimes it’s hard to tell it there is blood in the stool as well. I’ve had the chronic constipation since I was around 11 and can’t even start on all the different medications. There are milder forms of gastroparesis that can cause those type issues though… what finally made any difference for me is a little known trick an Italian dr friend of mine told me about that’s normally used for pancreatitis but can be used as a laxative. It’s a liquid prescription and you can start out with very small amounts and adjust easily and I found that it’s the only thing that will help and not give me diarrhea.. I know in higher doses it can cause that but as I said it’s so adjustable. See if doctor heard of that trick.
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3 ReactionsNot sure if this was to me or not, but I'm supposed stay away from leafy greens since I have diverticulosis, it does help: eating greens of any kind feels like I've swallowed a bunch of splintery wood chips. I do eat root vegetables, though. And I do eat very little processed foods or meat.
The kiwis are also a problem since I can't even go near any food with any amount of acid in it.
I believe that stress can make things worse but I really think there is something else to this problem: I can be happily doing my most favorite thing (reading), in a neutral mood, not stressed at all, not thinking about my body at all, and then I smell the sh*t odor and then quickly feel the gas pains. So there is more to it than anxiety.
When I had my first colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist told me that my intestinal tract is 2 feet longer than normal ("You've got 2 extra feet of intestine stuffed up inside you.") which I guess is called "Long Colon" or "Redundant Colon"? I've also been told by a doctor that I get dehydrated faster than normal and might have the condition where no matter how much water you drink, your body doesn't process it correctly and dumps too much of it into your bladder and not enough into the intestinal tract (or anywhere else it should be going). I've found that chugging (drinking as fast as possible) the water helps a little tiny bit, gets a little bit more into my digestive tract.
It's kind of depressing, getting issued this terrible a body from day one.
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1 ReactionLove the terrible body issued from day one. It’s horrible but relatable. Thanks.
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