@marciakeren I understand how your experiences could make you nervous about eating foods. I was wondering if there could be other contributing factors that could cause constipation like perhaps other prescription drugs or antibiotics? It may be worth talking to your pharmacist for information. Have you been on antibiotics that would be killing off your normal healthy gut bacteria? You can re-establish beneficial gut bacteria with supplements or foods like yogurt. These would be questions to ask your doctor as to what is right in your situation. Water consumption is also important because your body will reabsorb it from the colon if you are dehydrated. Your body needs water for kidney function in removing waste products from the blood stream. Ask your doctor how much you should be drinking on a daily basis, and remember caffeine is a diuretic and removes water from your body.

This is from Harvard about gut bacteria https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/

Has your thyroid function been checked? A low functioning thyroid does cause constipation and I have experienced that myself. I had Hashimoto's thyroiditis which can cause hormone levels to fluctuate and eventually the thyroid will have low levels of its normal output. I do take a prescription of natural desiccated pig thyroid and if I do not get enough, I get constipated and tired. When my dose is right, all is well.

Here is a link.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284
Has your doctor discussed any of these possible issues with you?

Hello @marciakeren

I can empathize with you about fearing food. I have had three surgeries of the upper digestive tract and the first two surgeries involved a 6-day hospital stay for each surgery. During that time, I was dependent on an IV for hydration, I had an NG tube so I had nothing by mouth for 4 -to 5 days.

I also found it difficult getting back to eating because it was hard to know which foods would cause other digestive tract symptoms. What was helpful for me was getting a referral to a registered dietician at the hospital. Dieticians can be very helpful and supportive in working out a food plan to help in these types of situations.

Have you seen a dietician yet?