Severe Constipation

Hi, I had surgery planned September 29 2021 for total colectomy in Boston. I have not had a bowel movement in 14 months only passing liquid with laxatives, absolutely no life. I felt I was to sick and not in a good place for such a big operation. I just was severely getting sicker every day so the end of August I spoke with my surgery who is wonderful. We moved it to January next year to see if I can have more time to figure out why it completely stopped. I only past water never once formed stool. I’ve been getting help with pelvic floor PT. I would suggest trying that. You don’t want to loose your push muscle. She also teaches me breathing and stomach massage. I get acupuncture now twice weekly. Yes,it’s getting costly but I don’t want surgery. On September 8 out of the blue I passed stool. The best day ever. It continued for 5 days then came to a complete stop. I ask why every day. I have severe motility issues. When I had the sitz marker study I never passed one ring. I’ve had every test you can imagine and when I eat my colon doesn’t do what it should. Constipation is just awful. I’ve tried all the prescription drugs and nothing worked. I’m trying one for at a time cause many of those diets some foods great others are not. I’ve decided to do it my way for now. I’m not giving up. I had a moment and that must mean something. Wish all good luck. Everyone has something they are dealing with. Stress doesn’t help so the acupuncture helps and also she specializes in digestion. I’m not throwing in the towel. Something or someone must be out there to help us.
Blessings, Joanne

Hi, I had surgery planned September 29 2021 for total colectomy in Boston. I have not had a bowel movement in 14 months only passing liquid with laxatives, absolutely no life. I felt I was to sick and not in a good place for such a big operation. I just was severely getting sicker every day so the end of August I spoke with my surgery who is wonderful. We moved it to January next year to see if I can have more time to figure out why it completely stopped. I only past water never once formed stool. I’ve been getting help with pelvic floor PT. I would suggest trying that. You don’t want to loose your push muscle. She also teaches me breathing and stomach massage. I get acupuncture now twice weekly. Yes,it’s getting costly but I don’t want surgery. On September 8 out of the blue I passed stool. The best day ever. It continued for 5 days then came to a complete stop. I ask why every day. I have severe motility issues. When I had the sitz marker study I never passed one ring. I’ve had every test you can imagine and when I eat my colon doesn’t do what it should. Constipation is just awful. I’ve tried all the prescription drugs and nothing worked. I’m trying one for at a time cause many of those diets some foods great others are not. I’ve decided to do it my way for now. I’m not giving up. I had a moment and that must mean something. Wish all good luck. Everyone has something they are dealing with. Stress doesn’t help so the acupuncture helps and also she specializes in digestion. I’m not throwing in the towel. Something or someone must be out there to help us.
Blessings, Joanne

@mothermary1 Wow. You win the prize! That’s truly stunning, 14 months. So glad you found a bit of relief. What changed the day you had relief? Breathing practice goes well with meditation, I’ve discovered. Have you had tests for SIBO? Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. I had a super high count and now follow the FODMAP food plan. It’s a life-changer and asks that you change your habits in both food and meals. I now eat five small meals a day. It’s been good for me. Take a look and see if it’ll work for you. I have very slow stomach emptying also-that’s the reason for small frequent meals. I will find some links for you and send them along. Will write back soon. Stay strong and keep doing what you’re doing. I’m rooting for no surgery too!

Hi, yes I was tested for everything beginning last August.I started with colonoscopy and one polyp.Then sitz marker study,failed completely.next MR Defecography found some rectal push issues. This Gastro in my state of NH. I decided to go to Boston. In March I had Anorectal Manometry some push issues. Then SIBO, negative. Then in June Nucleur Medicine gastric emptying which I passed by stomach emptied in four hours which is normal. Then I has Fluoroscopic UGI series with small bowel. This was fine but found 3 cysts on pancreas . The last two tests were to be sure stomach and small intestine working normal to handle complete colectomy,it is fine. The PT person helping with my push issue. I’ve been through it all not to mention meds.I had a choice live this way or remove colon. I had seen two surgeons,both agreed. Sort of like shorten my plumbing so my stool will come out. I just couldn’t do it. With covid pushing it out two months I just kept getting sicker. The anxiety was killing me and I found out during preop I will have a nasogastric tube.that did it even with surgeon putting it in while asleep. I decided NO. I have always suffered constipation and food sensitivities so I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. I’m working on food. I’m thin and lost more weight. I can eat an egg one day I’m fine then the next it kills me. I’ve cut out all OTC laxatives and meds. When I hit one week with no BM I take Philips and pray. I want to try what I can on my own. I exercise more, I have always eaten small meals throughout the day and I drink a ton of water I always have. I’ll continue my PT and acupuncture and I’m seeing a Naturopatic doctor November 15 for 90 minute consult. I’m trying it all. I want to keep my colon. It’s been a very long ride but I’m going to keep trying. I’m almost 67 and prior to all this my life was wonderful and very active. I want that back. Send any suggestions please. I have tried many food programs but many foods on the list I don’t tolerate. Well their it all is. Maybe it will help you…Joanne

@mothermary I’m glad i read your post this morning because you just sound so positive! With your attitude and determination, i know you’ll be successful. It may take time, but you will get there. Will you continue to let us know of your progress?

If it's any consolation, you're not alone. People just don't talk about bathroom issues. I, too suffer from chronic constipation. Finally found a Dr. who diagnosed me with tortuous colon and pancreatic insufficiency. I continued with a certified nutritionist, we'll see, too soon to see results, but I am feeling optimistic for the first time. Social events also causes anxiety because laxatives cause "surprises". I have spent the last two years a bit of a hermit, of course the pandemic helped me stay at home. Now its time to leave and socialize. Working on trying to still my mind with all the "what ifs". I totally understand!

I also have a tortuous intestine. Very long for a person my size. It has caused me problems my entire life and I just had my 70th birthday! I'm in pretty good shape, athletic, and not sedentary. Early this year I had a dental issue and was put on Clyndamycin. I ended up with C-diff and am still recovering from it. Through this site I was able to glean information that is helping me. I am free of the infection but continue to face problems of post infectious IBS, my life long problem with constipation and everything that goes along with trying to resolve that. It was suggested that I try Prunelax, mini tabs. They have produced better results for me than anything else recommended. They don't leave me feeling wiped out from the chemicals in Bisacodyl. I am still adjusting dosage to get the best results, but I feel much better. I know different things work for different people but this is my experience and i would recommend it for anyone in our situation. It's worth a try. I understand they also have a maximum strength and I plan on trying that after I figure out a dosage and my body adjusts. Sometimes it just takes time. In the beginning I thought it wasn't going to work either but all of a sudden it began to give me results. I SO understand the issues involved with all of this and sometimes you feel so alone and I've found the doctors (in my experience) go down a programmed road of what to recommend to you. Some of it is good advice and the other leaves you all alone again when things don't work. Not one doctor recommended trying this more natural "senna" product. I don't think they deviate from chemicals and what they have been taught. I even asked questions about prolonged usage with Miralax, Magnesium, etc., on the kidneys. I brought it up from info on this site. The answers were, "I don't think it will harm you, but you should follow through with a renal test from your primary physician." Well, why didn't they inform me of that in the beginning. Otherwise I would go on taking these for months trying to produce results, not getting anywhere, and creating another problem with my kidneys! It appears we have to be our own advocates and reach out ourselves and share as much info between ourselves as we possibly can. Someone information that they shared has helped me and I hope to help someone else by passing it along. Best wishes to all of you. Jacque

@mothermary1 Have you ever been anorexic or bulimic? I was bulimic for many years. The amount of binging and purging came in waves depending on my anxiety and depression. I feel those years (20 of them) contribute to my difficulties. I know, ok, that was then this is now, but being able to see the big picture is grounding. I'm happy to be mostly dealing with now, rather than then. And that means chronic constipation from years of suffering through a lot of trauma, upset, and mental abuse. Constipation for me as well has been lifelong but so was my depression and anxiety. It's difficult to see them as related, but, for me, they are. I had to get real honest with myself, sit myself down and say, which comes first, and I voted for me. So, at 70, I divorced, moved, and started over. For me, it really has been a new beginning with feelings of joy and trepidation, and challenges. But they're all mine and between my dog and me, we are moving ahead.
Naturopathy is a wonderful field. I had two kids, both with chronic ear infections. They're 11 years apart. With my eldest, I followed allopathy and she got tubes-cut to the chase, they fell out and had to have replacements 4X. I was young and did what the doctor said. 11 years later, with my son, I went to a naturopath. It was an hour and a half, my boy was antsy and it was long, but the doc asked a ton of questions that at first seemed odd, but wound up getting my son a remedy that worked immediately. So, long story short, I really believe in Naturopathy and I hope it does the same for you. Best of luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed. xoxSuzanne

@bgiddio Thanks for writing. You've given me some ideas, though, and I'm grateful. How were you diagnosed with tortuous colon? Colonoscopy? I've never had a doctor that looked for that, and I've always wondered. I did hear a doctor say, that's the longest colon I've ever seen. I'll seek that out. Good luck with your nutritionist. I think I have my diet under control. I was diagnosed with SIBO and I do pretty well with the FODMAP diet. I don't find it all that restrictive. I'm gluten-free, so I can have bread. I love ice cream and have either oat milk or soy or coconut milk IC. I love it. Fortunately, I don't have weight probs. I have to eat small meals/snacks every three hours which doesn't lend itself to eating out. But as an introvert, my favorite thing would be to go for coffee and nosh on a little GF treat with a friend.
Let's stay in touch. I'm interested in and hoping that good results come your way. Best, Suzanne