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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dustycat52 | @dustycat52 | May 13 11:23am

In reply to @boxertc "For as long as Ican remember I have always had a constipation problem. Anyone out there..." + (show)

I’ve had issues my entire life,

brotherchuckles80 | @brotherchuckles80 | May 13 3:05pm

In reply to @heyjoe415 "I'm late to this thread and so my apologies if I'm writing something that's been submitted...." + (show)

Me too Joe. I am 80. Unfortunately, I also have neuropathy with balance issues. Therefore I am unable to walk much in the way of distance. I am trying 295mg of Lizness every other day which seems to be working. However, it is in the $400-550 range for 90 day supply. Medicare will pay 80%, however, I am applying for the Manufacturer's PAP. BTW, I have gone though your same regiment with Ducolax and Miralax. They work, however it is always a diahrhea type event. Bummer. God bless you in your journey Joe. Charles aka brotherchuckles80

shelleyW | @shelleyw | May 13 6:33pm

In reply to @boxertc "For as long as Ican remember I have always had a constipation problem. Anyone out there..." + (show)

Hi there, welcome to HELL of CIC. It's especially aggravating when even your GI doesn't know, for example, that ANS-autonomic nervous system has a HUGE impact on CIC. I'm keeping my comments on the short side. Tried every script, OTC, food, etc...all failed. 17 years of failure. In last 3 years it's gotten worse. 3 partial small bowel obstructions, 2 cleared by eating almost zero solid foods, used meal replacement shakes, and tons of all fluids (I have always been a huge water drinker), 1 SBO 3 days in hospital via ER, ng tube, OMG, it hurt. Three blocks in my anus that required digital removal, by my fingers, OMG these hurt too. I hope you have never had to dig 💩enough holes to release an avalanche of 💩💩. I use miralax 3-6 caps per day to keep my bowels in a liquid/sediment state. My GI simply ghosted me. My Hyperparathyroidism was found accidentally. My main reason for replying is, consider having your PTH, calcium and vitamin D tested. Do NOT start any supplements, if you choose to pursue Hyperparathyroidism. That will skew your results. Look it up online, see if you have a lot of the symptoms (which are also common in many other diseases). Elevated calcium can wreak havoc on your body and you don't even know it. Good luck. I know this is not the answer for all CIC, but it WILL NOT be brought up by any dr., it's up to you to get enlightened. Shelley

h8bigbiz | @h8bigbiz | May 13 7:29pm

I'm almost positive that I read the following here on the Mayo site; one of the more recent theories of why some people have CIC is that their bodies don't process water correctly, too much goes directly into their bladders and not enough into the intestinal tract. I think that applies to me (along with an intestinal tract that they told me is 2 feet longer than normal).

boxertc | @boxertc | May 13 10:35pm

In reply to @boxertc "For as long as Ican remember I have always had a constipation problem. Anyone out there..." + (show)

Well,
I am waiting for the probiotics I ordered from Dr Berg---Pehaps a miricle will occur and would'nt that be nice

researchmaven | @researchmaven | May 13 11:09pm

In reply to @anna17xox "So your saying I should include more electrolytes in my diet as well as prunes, squash,..." + (show)

At least amp up the higher fiber veggies, anna17XOX. The modern, processed food diet should be minimized. I am sure you exercise and take in a good amount of healthy liquids and try to get your sleep and stay relaxed.

Most blogs says just about the same things you can eat and do for regularity. Do what they say, which includes foods like rhubard, prunes, sweet potatoes, etc.

It is a big win if eating from the veggie and fruit section of the store for carbs helps your digestion. It will keep the rest of your healthier too.

researchmaven | @researchmaven | May 13 11:11pm

In reply to @heyjoe415 "I'm late to this thread and so my apologies if I'm writing something that's been submitted...." + (show)

I find root veggies and other solid veggies (not lettuces) helpful. Make sure to focus on them too.

boxertc | @boxertc | May 14 1:58am

In reply to @shelleyw "Hi there, welcome to HELL of CIC. It's especially aggravating when even your GI doesn't know,..." + (show)

Thank you for taking the time to help a fellow traveler
Tom

celia16 | @celia16 | May 14 4:58am

I had to return to taking 1 cap of Miralax a day in order to go at all. I had improved for a couple of weeks. And, that’s on top of my healthy diet of veggies, whole grains, beets, sweet potatoes, healthy fats, beans, fiber packed, plenty of water, daily cardio exercise, magnesium supplement, etc. My day is centered around promoting digestion,

Anyway, I also tried the Linzess I was prescribed. I took it 3 days with no effects. i went the same as I normally do with Miralax. How long to see a change? I had to stop, because I wasn’t sure when it would kick in and I had appointments in my office with clients and was on the road,…couldn’t risk potential BM incident during that time. I can’t just stay by a toilet for weeks waiting for results. I thought I’d get results the same day, but nothing. Some people report major diarrhea. Huh? Lol.

I’m doing ok with BM taking the one cap of Miralax. Maybe, I should just be content with that and stop searching for a way to be normal again. Hmmm…..I’m so tired of dealing with this.

rashida | @rashida | May 14 7:07am

In reply to @glory1007 "I can tell you I have constipation, smelly gas for the last 4 years. So bad..." + (show)

@glory1007 my husband suffered from terrible smelly flatulence for years. Then he stopped eating all beans, and started taking two Beano tablets with every meal and snack. That has helped him a lot.