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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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Hi @johnbishop
Best of luck. May patience, allowing stress to dissolve and natural methods bring relief and better health to you. It took me a number of months to consider myself regular. What a relief after so many years. Like my Naturopath says it is likely something you have to continue for best results.
@farmersmith
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1 ReactionHi @creondave I was diagnosed with EPI Nov.2023 because I had horrible diarrhea and it looked greasy. The tests were done & I was put on Creon. I also gastroparesis ( stomach empties way too slowly - special diet needed )I was also diagnosed with atonic bowel back in my early thirties. Many people who have it end up having repeat surgery on the blocked segment of the bowel. No way!, I have been in the hospital a few times for, it but still have all of my intestines.
After Iwas on =Creon for less than a week I became quite constpated and it took a lot to have a good poop. Dr. stopped the med. People who have history of bowel obstruction, thickening of the colon or with kidney disease shouldn’t take it but.he was monitoring me well. Then in Jan. the wicked diarrhea started again and I lost a lot of weight. Back on Creon but lower dose. No more greasy poop,gained wgt. I didn’t want and I need to keep my Miralax somewhat more than I was taking. If I feel sluggish I’m to take 2 Dulcolax ( which I hate because it makes me very crampy).
I didn’t mention - I have never drank anything stronger than a coffee and I have never smoked. My parents died from cancer and and I come from a long line of, alcoholics.
I was just to try more foods that I couldn’t eat because of my gastroparesis a nd then I get EPI. I was told that my pancreas was damaged over my life ( 78 ). If you google causes you will see that herpes infections ( cold sores ), mono, elevated Epstein Barr and many childhood diseases can cause EPI. I grew up having cold sores and then warts.
I hope I helped you.
Shaylyn4
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1 ReactionWow, I didn't know that other diseases from so long ago could be attributed to EPI. I have had dengue fever, malaria, and typhoid, as well as a plethora of other things living / working in places with poor sanitation. That is food for thought, thank you for that.
Wow! You’ve had some serious diseases! I have some thoughts on why but can you tell me where & how you had all those very interesting diseases and can still talk about it! If you’d rather not I can understand.
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1 Reaction@shellyw from Shaylyn4
I sent Creon Dave a long message and he sent one back to me. He and I have EPI and on Creon to help. Problem for people with other GI issues being on that med. can give you other GI concerns. I went from atonic colon to gastroparesis to EPI. I’m hearing from of this group is that trying to get a good GI doc or even a caring ER doc can sometimes be difficult. Our symptoms resemble so other GI disorders. I was told that I probably had had IBS and who knows I might have that also. There is no actual test to diagnose it like EPI and Gastroparesis or even my atonic bowel.
Hope I made all this less confusing for you.
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2 ReactionsHi, latest drug on the market I believe is ibsrela. It’s manufactured in Waltham Ma. I tried everything for chronic constipation without success. This was the last drug and I had no success but it is the latest drug out there. I’m now waiting for the next new constipation drug to enter the market.
The company will call you after your Gastro sets it up and they actually gave me 4 months for free. I wish it had worked but I did follow many who said it did.
Best of luck
Have you tried Motegrity?
I have tried every drug on the market for severe chronic constipation. Ibsrela is brand new. My Gastro in Atlanta has me on the list to try next new drug availability. I’m waiting. It hasn’t been made yet I guess.
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2 ReactionsI have had chronic constipation for several years and I also have what is called a redundant colon. The redundant colon can be the culprit for the chronic constipation but I firmly believe that my constipation was also triggered by high dosages of PPI's for acid reflux. I was on Miralax for a while but absolutely hate that stuff (for reasons I won't go into here) and I told my gastroenterologist that I won't take it. So he put me on Linzess but that wasn't doing the trick so he told me to take a Senna laxative, 3-4 tablets every other day. He said the Senna is a vegtable laxative and it is safe to take. I wasn't happy that expensive Linzess wasn't enough without the Senna, so I stopped taking Linzess. Then I heard about a magnesium supplement called Cleanse More and my doctor said it was safe to take every other day. So now I take Cleanse More and Senna and alternate it every other day. It has been over a month and is working! I go every day and feel so much better!
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1 ReactionHas anyone use Prebiotics before, such as Benefiber? It seems to work for me but I just started about 2 weeks ago so who kows the future...