Chronic Constipation and Other GI Issues

I'm so sorry to hear you are experiencing all these GI issues. My son, who is 28 now, dealt with chronic GI issues most of his life. He has a peptic ulcer, eosinophilic esophagitis, pancreatic insufficiency, GERD, chronic constipation, gastritis, and an issue that they notated was " due to a previous viral insult" but they could never say more than that. We did endoscopes every year. He was on a gluten, casein, dairy, wheat, soy, and corn free diet for 7 years. That did help with the symptoms. He took many different medications for the reflux, pancreatic insufficiency (enzymes), constipation, and the ulcer. So many that I can't name they all. We did elevate his bed at night to try and help with the reflux. Anyway, long story short, after keeping him on the diet for 7 years, his endoscope came back clear two years in a row. We reintroduced the foods during that time and no issues. However, he does still get reflux and is on pepcid daily. The chronic constipation was the worst. He could not use the bathroom without a glycerin suppository, even though he was on Miralax and extra fiber. We found a new gastroenterologist. He kept my son on Miralax but recommended an OTC med called Prunelax. The instructions were to use the Miralax daily and take 1 Prunelax daily. We could go up to 2 Prunelax daily if needed. Well, we DID NOT need to go up. In fact, we had to decrease the dose to Prunelax 4x a week. Since starting the Prunelax, he uses the restroom everyday without issue. Just an FYI. He does take a magnesium citrate supplement. For severe constipation, our GI recommended keeping OTC liquid magnesium citrate on hand. I hope this helps. I wish you all the best.
Kerry

I'm so sorry to hear you are experiencing all these GI issues. My son, who is 28 now, dealt with chronic GI issues most of his life. He has a peptic ulcer, eosinophilic esophagitis, pancreatic insufficiency, GERD, chronic constipation, gastritis, and an issue that they notated was " due to a previous viral insult" but they could never say more than that. We did endoscopes every year. He was on a gluten, casein, dairy, wheat, soy, and corn free diet for 7 years. That did help with the symptoms. He took many different medications for the reflux, pancreatic insufficiency (enzymes), constipation, and the ulcer. So many that I can't name they all. We did elevate his bed at night to try and help with the reflux. Anyway, long story short, after keeping him on the diet for 7 years, his endoscope came back clear two years in a row. We reintroduced the foods during that time and no issues. However, he does still get reflux and is on pepcid daily. The chronic constipation was the worst. He could not use the bathroom without a glycerin suppository, even though he was on Miralax and extra fiber. We found a new gastroenterologist. He kept my son on Miralax but recommended an OTC med called Prunelax. The instructions were to use the Miralax daily and take 1 Prunelax daily. We could go up to 2 Prunelax daily if needed. Well, we DID NOT need to go up. In fact, we had to decrease the dose to Prunelax 4x a week. Since starting the Prunelax, he uses the restroom everyday without issue. Just an FYI. He does take a magnesium citrate supplement. For severe constipation, our GI recommended keeping OTC liquid magnesium citrate on hand. I hope this helps. I wish you all the best.
Kerry

I understand your struggle. You may want to consider a GI at Penn Medicine in Philly. Penn is great in general but they also have very knowledgeable doctors. Obviously I haven’t been with everyone who works there, so don’t be afraid to press a bit for tests and new treatments if the doctor you get is a little reluctant or isn’t taking you seriously.

@keeg1010 - thanks for the info. I'm trying the Prunelax tonight. It has the same active ingredient as the Senokot I've been taking, but the Prunelax has a significantly higher concentration of senna. Fingers crossed!

Trulance has helped me!! I tired Linzess (made me sick) and Amtezia and another one.. occasionally I take MIralax.. also I take 2 VSL3 probiotics every Am.. I have been thru 7 years of agony.. been constipated all my life.. but in Dec 2019, an antibiotic that was double the strength blew a hemorrhage in my stomach.. all down hill from there.. I got down to 98 lbs and leveled at 104 for 3 years.. developed pyloric stenosis (adult) they used to botox it.. then it healed.. I even got scurvy my Dentist was appalled..so I had colitis so bad I almost died.. couldn't get anything up or out and sweated out all my fluids.. BP 60/40.. hospital 1 week.. many many trips to ER ..so they did the Stitz marker test.,.colonoscopies upper EDGs and all of that.. diagnosed with gastritis, hiatal hernia, diverticulitis and tortuous colon.. and systemic scleroderma and fibromyalgia and CSU .. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.. everything was under control until I took a Xolair shot JUly23.. ohh..but anyway.. I feel your pain.. I live in rural OK and not may good drs here.. took me 6 years to find a great gastro.. and now I'm overweight but going!! I did the whole leaky gut think for months too.. allergist said "that's not even a valid test and all it does is scare people" and then she gave me the "killer " Xolair shot.. so.. I drink Vanilla plant based Ensure.. has no sucralose.. sucralose sent me to the hospital once.. for 3 days (It's sneaky and you have to read labels).. I don't know if this is helping you.. It's a miserable lonely life with the gut issues.. I will say ..God healed everything except the gastritis ..until.. the Xolair shot. so..prayer works!!(I still standing on the stripes of Jesus..and won't be budged!! 72 widowed 15 years..and stubborn.. when then enemy kicks in.. I dig in and pray!! Praying you will get the help you need!! Like you , I am very leery of those who sell their own supplements.. praying God will give you strength and wisdom and healing!!

I'm so sorry to hear you are experiencing all these GI issues. My son, who is 28 now, dealt with chronic GI issues most of his life. He has a peptic ulcer, eosinophilic esophagitis, pancreatic insufficiency, GERD, chronic constipation, gastritis, and an issue that they notated was " due to a previous viral insult" but they could never say more than that. We did endoscopes every year. He was on a gluten, casein, dairy, wheat, soy, and corn free diet for 7 years. That did help with the symptoms. He took many different medications for the reflux, pancreatic insufficiency (enzymes), constipation, and the ulcer. So many that I can't name they all. We did elevate his bed at night to try and help with the reflux. Anyway, long story short, after keeping him on the diet for 7 years, his endoscope came back clear two years in a row. We reintroduced the foods during that time and no issues. However, he does still get reflux and is on pepcid daily. The chronic constipation was the worst. He could not use the bathroom without a glycerin suppository, even though he was on Miralax and extra fiber. We found a new gastroenterologist. He kept my son on Miralax but recommended an OTC med called Prunelax. The instructions were to use the Miralax daily and take 1 Prunelax daily. We could go up to 2 Prunelax daily if needed. Well, we DID NOT need to go up. In fact, we had to decrease the dose to Prunelax 4x a week. Since starting the Prunelax, he uses the restroom everyday without issue. Just an FYI. He does take a magnesium citrate supplement. For severe constipation, our GI recommended keeping OTC liquid magnesium citrate on hand. I hope this helps. I wish you all the best.
Kerry