1. < Digestive Health
Profile picture for bb03

Problem with Chronic constipation

Posted by bb03 @bb03, Feb 1, 2021

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for davecrow
davecrow | @davecrow | Mar 13 10:43am
In reply to @ess77 "@davecrow and all... No fun! I had chronic IBSd for decades. Then, due to meds taking..." + (show)
Profile picture for ess77 - Elizabeth @ess77

@davecrow and all... No fun! I had chronic IBSd for decades. Then, due to meds taking and other issues, autonomic and such, I dealt with serious constipation for about 2 years trying everything recommended by doctors and all. Miralax only works on the 2nd or 3rd day for me after a couple of gaseous, bloated, uncomfortable days and then causes a few day of loose stool. Then back to constipation. Nope. Milk of Magnesia is quite helpful, but my remedy is different and works wonderfully well.

I eat 2 cups of Greek yogurt, I use Chobani, but anything I suppose is good. It's the processing that's the key. A doctor recommended Probulin Colon Support Probiotic daily. I was taking a probiotic supplement off the shelf, but saw no difference.

Wow! Probulin is fantastic! I take one at bedtime and eat my yogurt for breakfast with fresh blueberries or fruit, cup a coffee and sometimes granola, and my body is thankful for the suppport. This supplement is the real thing. It truly works. Hard river rocks are gone. No diarrhea. No constipation.

Also, get a 'Squaty Potty' for about $25 and place your feet on top while sitting in the bathroom. It is very helpful.

I have intestinal distress with antibiotics and I have multiple, frequent infections so this became a serious issue. I found my own solution here, also, with Probulin. When on an antibiotic, I begin taking 2 Probulin daily, 1 a.m., 1 p.m. Eat your yogurt and it stops the intestinal reaction unless there is a true allergic reaction. There are a couple of antibiotics I can not take, but now no issues with most. What a gift!

I shared this method with my doctors and now they are recommending it to other patients. It's a gift to be able to have a normal day with my intestines working pretty doggone well! No hard lumps in my belly, no pain or cramping, and all the other problems with constipation and diarrhea.

I now also take a formulation of Probulin for UTI and women's health and since have not had a UTI, for 4 months in a row! I had 5 last year, with 3 bouts of sepsis and quite the tough time. Probulin is the real thing. No, I get no kick-backs. I don't represent the company, although I am so impressed and thankful, I could!

I wish you well on your journey. I found a natural way to help my body work more as it is designed. Lots of searching, researching, tears and years of no help. Then, what a blessing.
elizabeth

Jump to this post

@ess77

How long does it take for Probulin to work?
Thanks,
Dave Crow

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for ess77 - Elizabeth
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Mar 13 1:04pm
In reply to @davecrow "@ess77 How long does it take for Probulin to work? Thanks, Dave Crow" + (show)
Profile picture for davecrow @davecrow

@ess77

How long does it take for Probulin to work?
Thanks,
Dave Crow

Jump to this post

@davecrow and all... Dave, I think when I began taking it I was seeing positive changes within a day or so, real changes pretty quickly. I haven't felt 'stones' or 'rocks' in my belly for months now, after taking Probulin for over a year. No real constipation and no diarrhea after several days, and for months no hard stools at all. Multiple and often quite large stool, so don't be surprised at how much you are hiding inside those intestines. It's amazing and concerning at first that I had so much waste hanging around in my body. Not healthy and no wonder I felt so yucky, was so bloated, so uncomfortable and cramping.

I think you'll be pleased with the speed in which you see good results with this probiotic if you give it a try.

BTW: I eat 1 cup of yogurt for breakfast and often a 2nd cup mid-afternoon for a snack or as part of dinner. I eat several small meals daily and add a yogurt somewhere. I had a touch of the gastro flu a month or so ago. It only bothered me for 3 days. My 57 year old son had it for over a week. I think my probiotics surely helped me do better... It's been year since I got well from anything so quickly and I never was as ill as he. That's a new thing for me on both scores - light case and quick recovery!

Blessings. Elizabeth

REPLY
Profile picture for davecrow
davecrow | @davecrow | Mar 13 1:49pm

Thanks again, Elizabeth. You have been very generous with your time and attention.
Dave Crow

REPLY
Profile picture for heyjoe415
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Mar 16 6:26am
In reply to @davecrow "@heyjoe415 Joe, thanks for your comment. I have a couple of questions: Does Motegrity work better..." + (show)
Profile picture for davecrow @davecrow

@heyjoe415

Joe, thanks for your comment. I have a couple of questions:
Does Motegrity work better than Miralax?
Does Motegrity require a prescription?

Thanks,

Dave Crow

Jump to this post

Hi Dave,

Truthfinder's comment on Motegrity is very good and it looks like it has helped him wean from Miralax.

I have just started to wean myself off of Dulcolax and use just Motegrity. That will take at least a few months before I know if it's helpful.

I do think Motegrity works for me. It kind of jump starts the intestines to move. It does require an Rx and is very expensive. If you want to try it ask your Dr to send an Rx to http://www.costplusdrugs.com - first open an account on the site and then have your Dr send in the Rx.

All the best!

Joe

REPLY
Profile picture for davecrow
davecrow | @davecrow | Mar 16 8:31am

Joe:
Thanks for your comment.

Dave

REPLY
Profile picture for sjd416
sjd416 | @sjd416 | Mar 31 10:00pm

I’m writing about the constipation I’m experiencing. Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in bed and six days in the hospital for an episode of flu that knocked me flat. I couldn’t eat, and/or I couldn’t keep food down. After I started eating again, they had to resort to an enema in the hospital. I’m home now and doing physical therapy after the long period of being in bed, and I’m constipated again. I’m currently taking 3 colace tablets/day, drinking as much water as I can. I saw on this site I should try to get 64 oz of water each day. For five days in a row, I was able to have a bowel movement - not complete, but passing some stool each of those days.

Now I’m into a third day of not passing any stool. In addition to drinking water and taking Colace, I eat oatmeal, prunes, grapes, dates, walnuts and blueberries. Once when I was able, I oven roasted chicken and carrots and Brussell sprouts. Took two days to put that together since I haven’t regained all my strength. My husband doesn’t cook; I’m eating these foods because they are high in fiber and don’t require preparation. I’m considering using a suppository to help with getting things moving.

I take medication that has a reputation for causing constipation. We’ve decreased dosage, but stopping the meds isn’t an option right now.

Thoughts and ideas about getting through this are welcome.

REPLY
7 replies
Profile picture for celia16
celia16 | @celia16 | Apr 1 4:25am
In reply to @sjd416 "I’m writing about the constipation I’m experiencing. Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in bed..." + (show)
Profile picture for sjd416 @sjd416

I’m writing about the constipation I’m experiencing. Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in bed and six days in the hospital for an episode of flu that knocked me flat. I couldn’t eat, and/or I couldn’t keep food down. After I started eating again, they had to resort to an enema in the hospital. I’m home now and doing physical therapy after the long period of being in bed, and I’m constipated again. I’m currently taking 3 colace tablets/day, drinking as much water as I can. I saw on this site I should try to get 64 oz of water each day. For five days in a row, I was able to have a bowel movement - not complete, but passing some stool each of those days.

Now I’m into a third day of not passing any stool. In addition to drinking water and taking Colace, I eat oatmeal, prunes, grapes, dates, walnuts and blueberries. Once when I was able, I oven roasted chicken and carrots and Brussell sprouts. Took two days to put that together since I haven’t regained all my strength. My husband doesn’t cook; I’m eating these foods because they are high in fiber and don’t require preparation. I’m considering using a suppository to help with getting things moving.

I take medication that has a reputation for causing constipation. We’ve decreased dosage, but stopping the meds isn’t an option right now.

Thoughts and ideas about getting through this are welcome.

Jump to this post

@sjd416 , if yours is due to meds that’s tough. Have you tried daily Miralax? That helps some people.

Mine was not due to meds, but has resolved itself. I’m not sure why, except I do keep a good diet. No longer take anything for constipation. Daily I have a bowl of organic mixed greens, shredded carrots, sliced beets, tomato, cucumber, almonds, blueberries along with broccoli, cauliflower, and other veggies. Also, usually 1 apple and a serving of avocado. Sometimes diet alone will not help constipation, though. Perhaps your doctor can prescribe something. Drinking lots of water never helped me either. And, oatmeal clogs me up. Go figure.

REPLY
Profile picture for berekann
berekann | @berekann | Apr 1 7:28am
In reply to @sjd416 "I’m writing about the constipation I’m experiencing. Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in bed..." + (show)
Profile picture for sjd416 @sjd416

I’m writing about the constipation I’m experiencing. Earlier this year, I spent three weeks in bed and six days in the hospital for an episode of flu that knocked me flat. I couldn’t eat, and/or I couldn’t keep food down. After I started eating again, they had to resort to an enema in the hospital. I’m home now and doing physical therapy after the long period of being in bed, and I’m constipated again. I’m currently taking 3 colace tablets/day, drinking as much water as I can. I saw on this site I should try to get 64 oz of water each day. For five days in a row, I was able to have a bowel movement - not complete, but passing some stool each of those days.

Now I’m into a third day of not passing any stool. In addition to drinking water and taking Colace, I eat oatmeal, prunes, grapes, dates, walnuts and blueberries. Once when I was able, I oven roasted chicken and carrots and Brussell sprouts. Took two days to put that together since I haven’t regained all my strength. My husband doesn’t cook; I’m eating these foods because they are high in fiber and don’t require preparation. I’m considering using a suppository to help with getting things moving.

I take medication that has a reputation for causing constipation. We’ve decreased dosage, but stopping the meds isn’t an option right now.

Thoughts and ideas about getting through this are welcome.

Jump to this post

@sjd416 i’ve read several times in different places lately that Colace does not work so maybe eliminate that, a suppository doesn’t do much good for me personally, my G.I. doctor said it’s better to get the food moving from the top and he suggested MiraLAX or Metamucil. Benafiber is another idea. Have you tried abdominal massage that’s been recommended here several times. Good luck!

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.