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Stimulant laxatives no longer work for my severe chronic constipation
Hello, I’m new to this group. I’m a 66 yr old woman who had IBS in my 20s, 30’s & 40s with occasional constipation that got more frequent in my late 40s. It got to the point where I no longer had any bouts of IBS, but instead, I became chronically constipated. I went to the Dr. & was told to take MiraLax & Metamucil daily which did not help at all! I tried drinking more water every day & I tried eating more veggies, & more nuts/seeds but NOTHING helped. Eventually I started going to a gastroenterologist who prescribed me Linzess but it didn’t work. Other than having had several colonoscopies & a few endoscopies throughout my late 40s, 50s & 60s (which have always come back normal), My gastroenterologists have never done any other kinds of tests to look for what exactly is causing my severe, chronic constipation. In my late 40s, the only way I could have a bowel movement was by taking a stimulant laxative. I would hold off & only take one once every week, meaning that I was only having a bowel movement once a week. This is what I’ve been doing since then except along the way, I had to up the dose to 2 laxatives once a week & then eventually 3 laxatives once a week. I have just reached the point where 3 stimulant laxatives don’t work well anymore & I don’t know what to do! What can be done for someone like me that has such severe, chronic constipation. Is there a stool evacuation machine/system that I can purchase? I certainly don’t want to have to resort to having surgery that leaves me with a colostomy bag to deal with for the rest of my life!!!
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I take Linzess and it rarely works now BUT I also take miralax one dose and Mag Citrate every PM. I take a higher than normal dose so ck with your Dr first and my labs are monitored. I also started on the Vibrant Capsule about two months ago. Prior to that my stool hardly moved in my colon due to adhesions( endometriosis HX) and I had only passed hard rock stool for over 40 years. After starting linzess 5 yrs ago and drinking seven cups of warm water with it and doing my miralax and mg citrate it worked mostly but when I pooped I passed very soft liquid. Tells me I had some adhesions. I had an exploratory Lap with LOA but the adhesions were to many and they fears cutting something then I’d would up with a colostomy or other. I’ve also had MRIs and I always have a distended cecum area full of poop! Way backed up! Well after a few yrs Linzess rarely is working for me either. I have to get up at 5 am take it with 7 cups warm water and move around and eat at 5:30 on the dot. I also have to supplement with electrolytes but expensive so I make my own. I have excellent kidney functions but of course my sodium was right below low. Well I still do the miralax, mag combo and the mag about 6:30 pm and take my Linzess every am but with only 3.5 cups of warm Water now because I started taking the VIBRANT CAPSULE. Out of pocket of course! 89 dollars a month. I just started getting my Linzess for free through Abvie. Vibrant is a battery powered METAL capsule with after initiated in a pod you swallow. It is turned on and is time sensitive since it comes on in your colon and it Vibrates. This vibration stimulates peristalsis the Normal movement which I lack. It doesn’t stimulate like regular BUT it sure helps. I actually now pass a somewhat normal looking stool most days. It helps stimulate to push my poop from my small intestine in my colin and then in the colon also is vibrating and helps with normal colon activity. It doesn’t help when I eat white bread and cheese which I love so maybe 1-2 days I need a laxative and I take an Alolatex or a triphala capsule. Just one. Now between all three this gets me by. I could have all of my colon removed but my mom did and she doesn’t have a colostomy but she cannot control her bowels. She is 88 and has a lot of accidents and she hates it. I will do what I have to do until I can’t manage without surgery. I also have my labs monitored frequently so you need to stay on top of your blood work called a CMP, and I get Magnesium levels. I see a gastrointestinal Dr frequently. It’s a pain in the A.. and controls my life but what can I do but be proactive. If I don’t no one else will. I feel your pain and understand what your going through. Also, insurance will cover a man’s ED meds but not a med or meds for La k if peristalsis in your colon. Such a shame. Linzess without insurance is 700 bucks a month plus 89 for the Vibrant and don’t forget the cost of the mag and MiraLAX and the other extra supplements I have to take and the trips to the Dr.
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2 Reactions@bb03
Dulcolax liquid and suppositories are good.
I have IBS and love nuts but always have a tough time digesting them.
Eat more fruits, exercise and try fleet enema. Have you seen a nutritionist??
Good luck!
Marie
M
Unfortunately, I've been using generic enemas for too many years - otherwise I'm not able to poop. Only a very small amount works. My doctor is okay with that, but since it's started giving me lots of gas, painful at time, he has me trying MiraLAX, which has only been for 2 days, so no definitive report yet. Metamucil doesn't help me.
And, I'm having a colonoscopy in 2 weeks to rule out any physical causes. But, i do think it's psychological for me
at this point; probably I should see a counselor, but good luck finding one these days.
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1 ReactionHi, @puglover - Note that on a page describing IBS, Mayo Clinic says the following:
Type of IBS. For the purpose of treatment, IBS can be divided into four types, based on symptoms: constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, mixed or unclassified.
- Irritable bowel syndrome https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360064
Are you now considered to have IBS-C?
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1 ReactionTry taking 1 to 1.5 teaspoon of olive oil daily. This works for me for SBO maybe it can help. Sometimes I put it in my malt o meal or my coffee but usually I just take it on a spoon and drink something after like apple juice.
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2 Reactions@jlharsh shared this helpful information on laxatives from Mayo Clinic in another discussion - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/in-depth/laxatives/art-20045906
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2 ReactionsHi, I am new to this group and 74 yrs old male.Diagnosed IBS C five yrs back, has upper endoscopy,four sigmidoscopy. Been treated with antispasmodics, and different type of laxative. Gradually I had to resort to stimulant laxative everyday. Consulted 12 gastroenterologist in all. Ultimately consulted specialised hospital for gastro only. Had anorectal manometry, colonic transit study, ultra sound,breath test,kft,rft. All test came clear except colonic transit study showed slow transit in ascending and traverse colony. Prescribed linzness, which is not working,and rescue medication is again stimulant laxative which I was taking, now it is also not giving proper relief. This all leads to gas buildup, abdomen pain making everyday difficult. Has anyone some suggestions
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2 Reactions@kaypee - I like Amatiza. Lubiprostone (Amitiza). Your doctor may suggest this drug if you have chronic constipation or constipation brought on by opioids. It's also used to treat IBS-C (which means that constipation is the main symptom) in women. The drug softens the stool by putting more water into it, so the stool can pass easily. You take this medicine twice a day with food. Some possible side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
For me, it works better than Linzess, though insurance may not cover it. But get the doctor to push for it/ you have nothing to lose. I also like magnesium citrate, and Citrucel powder. Best wishes - hope you find something that works better for you.
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3 Reactions@pals307 - will you briefly explain what the magnesium citrate does for you?
I'm 75, have gastroparesis. I do not like taking any kind of drug, altho' I've had to take levothyroxine and metformin for the past decade. If you haven't tried these two things before, consider: Take 1 tablespoon of EVOO daily (I take after my small breakfast). Or eat magnesium citrate gummies (gummies are better absorbed than pills, allow to dissolve in the mouth) in the evening before bedtime - 400 mg works for me.