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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 have had it off and on my whole life. I am now 73 and it is worse and the stools have really been very dry. I blame some of it on caffein since I love coffee and drink two cups per day and one tea. Can't give it up but I think it dries the stools out and hard to drink enough water to compensate. One thing I do now is eat one apple a day with the skin since that is great fiber and drink a lot of water. What helps is having a regular time as the brain seems to like routines and often will go on schedule at the same time every day if you are relaxed that is and I sort of pace a bit around the room and get in the mood. I love mint tea or hot water even will coax me into a routine. Some of mine is in my head and I tend to want to not wait around to go and am rather rushed and busy. Yes, I am anal retentive. When I was eating a lot of fruits with high water and pulp like watermellon it was a dream and the dryness went away of my stools. Fruits can be excellent. Also, as you know see your doctor right away. There are many stool tests...some easier than others. Good luck!
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1 ReactionNot milk but just about all other liquidy foods, especially soups.
That's great. If you're really interested in this avenue, your vit D and PTH will need to be tested. Over 17 years, first I was diagnosed with secondary HPTH(Hyperparathyroidism) completely by accident. Low vitamin D was the only thing my PCP was concerned about..led to my PTH getting too high..led to GI endoscopy and an accidental diagnosis of celiac disease, stayed on high vitamin D supplements, stopped eating gluten. Drs washed their hands of me, declaring that my celiac was the whole problem...idiots. Several other medical problems began. Along with the CIC just getting worse and worse. Another accidental finding dealing with my pancreas and that I have redundant splenic flexure( both are very often never noticed), ....now I find out that I have had primary HPTH for 10+ years, 3 opinions later, I have tertiary HPTH, my glands are so worn out and overstretched that I have to have 3 1/2 of the 4 glands removed...which for me is a GREAT accidental finding, cuz this affects the whole body. Look up the symptoms, severe fatigue and CIC are at the top. If you're 16, like your name suggests, in my humble opinion as a 65 yr mom/nana I'd follow thru with this. But it will probably be like swimming against a rip current....no one will believe you could possibly have this problem. I have twin 45 yr old daughters. One started with kidney stones at age 16 and has had many more since, no dr ever mentioned any of this and I didn't know until now. The other daughter has CIC, has just been tested for celiac and HPTH issues, answers are eagerly awaited. You deserve a chance at a healthy life.
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1 ReactionFor me, the Big C seems to be related to food. Please look at the food you eat. Things that don't constipate most people may constipate you. For example, fish may be okay, but chicken breast may not. Rice may not work, even brown rice.
Of course, food may not be the trigger for everyone, and even if it is food, it may be hard to discern which are problematic or it could be too sacrificial or inconvenient to avoid the offending item.
Whatever works is what you should do.
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3 ReactionsWow this study and the results are a bit stunning. I've always heard that fiber was a necessary part of the diet. I'm a little concerned about trying this, but I've tried the high fiber route with very little success - meaning I still need miralax and occasionally a stimulant laxative.
Thanks to researchmaven for sharing. And along with Mayo, the Cleveland Clinic has an international reputation for medical excellence.
Hi @gamaryanne et. al. Good luck. It took me over three months to make a system that works for me, after a lifetime of issues with constipation. I wish I had known about the redundant colon sooner than December of last year. I feel so so much better being a participant in my own health and that I found a solution that works for me. Again best of luck, I kept records to watch my progress as I made little changes at a time. Admittedly there is a stress "oh my goodness will I be constipated forever!" but that has mostly gone away with successful regularity. Like my Naturopath said, for most people with slow motility or redundant colons we need a plan for regularity we can't just cross our fingers it will go away. @farmersmith
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4 Reactionsthank you
Thank you---What did you do to change your situation?
I’ve had chronic constipation due to being on a GLP1 medication. It was horrible. I started taking Mag07 and it seems to help a lot. It’s a brand I bought off Amazon but I believe CVS and Walgreens sell it. Hopefully you can see a specialist to find out what the source of your constipation is because you don’t want to develop a fissure or haemorrhoids. Straining like that can’t be good for you. Hope you feel better soon. I know that struggle and it’s absolutely miserable.
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1 ReactionI now am able to control my regularity naturally, with prunes, rhubarb, squash and sweet potatoes. Soak ground chia and flax seed overnight in prune juice or goat kefir - half for the morning and half for the evening. My supplements help balance my minerals to aid my osmotic gradient - OptiMag, K2+Potassium, Real salt (I have low BP and low sodium so check for what your body balance is). I 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.) Back up's Smooth Move and coffee – don’t like coffee (use these about four times a month). I appreciate being able to go naturally instead of being dependent on medicinal drugs.
Good luck and look up osmotic gradient balanced and migrating motor complex. If your food goes through your colon to quickly = diarrhea. If motility is too slow = constipation. Gotta, work at balance and of course relax because stress can fowl our regularity too. It really helped me to understand the process our bodies go through instead of just throwing things like anti-freeze at it! lol It helps to throw out less than optimal food like processed food, sugar, etc. too. Again good luck, you can meet the challenge by working with your body. A gulp of hot water to you this morning!
@farmersmith
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