Problem with Chronic constipation

Not 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.

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 ?

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 ?

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 ?

H8bigbiz,

I seem to have diverticulitis or just an extremely delicate gut. And I have a severe redundant (long) colon.

I too focus on root vegetables (but only parsnip, kabocha squash, potato and radish), no raw veggies and very little meat and fish. Eggs whites and pea protein powder isolate are decent protein sources for me, as well as Lactaid milk.

You have likely tried dropping wheat and highly refined/processed foods. You should try dropping all grains if you haven't yet tried that. I can't even eat rice or oats (even a little bit is a problem), so if I can't maybe you can't either.

I am sure you have tried all the regular laxative-type foods like prune juice, apple juice (I can't go this route) as well as mineral oil (laxative) and slippery elm (inner bark) tea. As well as chewing your food for a long time before swallowing.

I had hard stool all the time, no matter how much I drank. And also had IBS-C like responses to food and switched to a very limited diet. However, then this limited diet started causing IBS-C symptoms.

My gut and food scene got better once I added in the Intoleran brand dietary enzymes for starch, sugar and fiber intolerances. They have a nice "all in one" product that also adds in lactase (I seem to benefit from more lactase than the Lactaid milk provides).

Since I got so much gain from that, I added in a pancreas supplement for assistance with fat and protein, and I can eat more meat and fish (two bites instead of one).

These supps give me a little more breathing room, food-wise, and make my stool rather normal, at least for now. What a gift. but gut health seems to be a moving target for me.

Do you have any other health issues. They could be related. Parkinsons is one of them

You mention your pediatrician. Do you have a Gastrointestinal doctor? This is the specialist that deals with the kind of issue you are having.

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🫤

Have you all explored food intolerances? I have that issue with peanuts, and even a little bit of sugar makes me gassy.

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.