Connect
← Return to Anyone else have severe constipation?
Discussion
Anyone else have severe constipation?
Digestive Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (489)Comment receiving replies
Hi @bug3 - what you jumped in with here was very helpful. It sounds as though for you, too, moving around helps you to "go" more.
Setting expectations seems to be a very important part of doctoring. I've heard plenty of physicians talk about this when I've interviewed them for articles on topics for medical professional enewsletters, but I'm afraid this behavior may not be present across the whole field of medicine.
From what I've read in this support group and my own experiences with chronic diarrhea and then constipation with taking semaglutide shots, I've only gotten a taste of the emotional toll of these types of things going on with your bowels. However, I sense that an emotional toll is also a significant part of the suffering, in addition to pain, discomfort, mess, etc.
You said that the following have been helpful for you in getting a cancer diagnosis out of nowhere and then having bowels that will not cooperate. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to elaborate on these, particularly in relation to having bowels that will not cooperate, and how you've come to these places/helped yourself get there in order to help other members dealing with these conditions.
- Accepting the situation
- Relieving some of the stress
- Adapting
Any practical tips for how to put these in practice, bug3, would be great if you are up for it. Thoughts?
Replies to "Hi @bug3 - what you jumped in with here was very helpful. It sounds as though..."
Connect
@lisalucier
After chasing different doctors and trying different treatments, I realized I might be in for the long haul and it may be a sink or swim scenario.
1. Although not a religious zealot, I reached out more with my God with nightly chats. Yes, perhaps I was talking with myself, but I felt better and remain hopeful for better days.
Like most of most of us, I also continued to search for cures and more doctors to try. Somewhere, it dawned on me that there may be nothing I can really do except accept my new limitations and adapt.
2. In the military the saying of "that which does not kill us, makes us strong," that became my new anthem.
So I adapted to my new normal. My diet over time evolved. Out went the chocolate bars (with exceptions) and plenty of protein as examples. Of course the food changes helped me to reduce the constant stress that starts each day. Will it be a good day with less pain and no accidents?
3. After a while, I did feel less stressed over my health and started a couple of hobbies that I had neglected. I started a new crochet or knitting project (counting stitches is much better than worrying about an upcoming appointment. Simply talking more with my close friends helps too. I have no extended family but blessed with several close friends. I realized though that I had become a whiner; going on and on about my health issues. I started listening more to friends and their own health status.
I also plan out my days based on my now known cycle (well mostly). When it is safer to go to lunch or run an errand.
I don't follow a schedule any longer since I'm old now. So if I wake up an hour later than expected I don't complain about it; rather rolling with the flow of what my body and mind say.
Also, I can no longer walk but a few steps at a time since a hip replacement gone bad. For examples, I schedule haircuts or playing bingo accordingly. These days I'm more about managing my days and not about trying to manage conditions I cannot manage nor cure.