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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 don’t think fiber is your friend. While reading your question, I felt l could relate with every problem. I have had chronic constipation for over 5 years now. Try one tablespoon of mineral oil a day. Too much? Then every other day. Space out the days.. find out what works best for you. Don’t take the mineral oil within 3 hours of meds or food, it will effect how much gets absorbed.
Mineral oil? Does it really work? My CIC is so flipping idiotic, I have no faith in any treatment anymore. What is the best time of day to take it? Does it taste awful? How fast does it kick in? Thanx, Shelley
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1 ReactionIt's just cruel to have CIC💩 I get x-rays every few months, for past 6+ yrs, only one time I was actually not on overload, every other time, the X-rays showed moderate to severe fecal load. I also have elevated calcium and Hyperparathyroidism (surgery is next month), it has really reduced my smooth muscle function in my intestines, small and large. So, I have to keep myself almost complete diarrhea, since I have no muscle contractions to push out the poop. I take miralax every day, 1-2x , 3 capfuls. I am terrified of getting a blockage in anus, where digital removal is required, by me, to dig out a hole big enough for the rest of the poop to come out. I also don't like having a small bowel partial obstruction, that nasal gastric tube is awful!!!!! At this point I consider diarrhea my best friend. Guess I am very lucky to be retired and not need to leave the house much.
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4 ReactionsA sibling’s friend had chronic constipation & their doctor told them to take “greens” everyday. They bite the bullet & just take green vegetables every morning to get it over with. They found this works. I am sorry I don’t know what green vegetables they use, just experiment.
Based on what I have read over the last couple of years about chronic constipation, I’ve come to believe that there are many causes and multiple remedies. The effectiveness of the remedy, depends on the cause. For a long while, I suspected that my sudden constipation was not a matter of inadequate water, fiber or exercise. It was more complex than that. Eventually, the most likely culprit would be discovered. Pending the discovery, I was able to get relief with a daily dose of Miralax, though to me that isn’t an ideal regimen. But, treating the symptoms is sometimes the best we can do.
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3 ReactionsI agree! Find a GOOD Gastroenterologist!
I am working with Mayo GI in Jax.
MRI showed a large stool load in the ascending and transverse colon.
Colinoscopy showed patchy active colitis, my GI wants another look with a Sigmoidoscopy to confirm the colitis.
Also schedule for a manometry to see if pelvic floor dysfunction is part of the problem.
When I cant stimulate a BM with all if the concoctions: Mira lax, Metamucil, colace with senna I go to a half bottle if mag citrate… magic!
Also very helpful is the squatty potty which gets your body into the correct anatomical position to evacuate the bowel.😅
Definitely a GI will get to the bottom.
I have adrenal insufficiency ( liw cortisol) and that has a huge impact on bowel function!
A work in progress…
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4 ReactionsDisclaimer: This is only my experience going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. There is science in alternatives too. Because I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient and he bet that I would find what worked for me.
I have tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. And all say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon (like me) person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work.
Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He could get through my colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.
OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I often take them when I go to bed and once if I get up to pee. Be sure to include prunes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in your diet. I like to grind 2T chia, T of sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. Take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out, processed and refined foods and drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boy scouts. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups. I don't like coffee and never have drunk it much but it usually works for me in a pinch. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month.
Good luck, I so much appreciate my regularity even though my output is way bigger now. I feel much better and am able to relax and not worry about regularity. Like my ND said however, it is a condition I need to attend to.
@farmersmith
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2 ReactionsNo taste really. Just oily. I take it mid afternoon. And depending on how full my body is with waste, will depend on how long it will take to work. For me, it takes a day or two to work. Often I even need to take a second dose the next day or two. This is the only remedy that works for me. But please be careful with it.
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1 ReactionAnother helpful tip: Mayo Clinic has a book out called Digestive Health. It’s a great book that talks about healthy ways to eat, and good tips to keep your digestive tract functioning. It’s worth a read!
I am the same way. GI doctor finally put me on Linnea’s. It has and is working wonders so far.