Severe constipation after covid: What helps?

Hi @sapna, Fellow members like @marcconley @ahernandezvaldez @ npinner04 have also mentioned constipation as a challenging long-term side effect of post COVID and may be able add tips about what helped them.

Long COVID gastrointestinal issues vary widely from patient to patient as Dr. Van, Mayo Clinic post COVID expert explains in this blog:
- A Gut Feeling: Long COVID and GI symptoms https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/newsfeed-post/a-gut-feeling-long-covid-and-gi-symptoms/

Some people experience constipation while other have the opposite problem with diarrhea, as you can see from this related discussion:
- Covid Recovery: How can I manage GI issues? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-recovery-and-gi-pain/

Sapna, have you tried CALM magnesium citrate? I manage constipation (not Covid related) with prunes and drinking CALM in the evening. It works for me.

I, too, have had constipation problems and have tried OTC products like MiraLax, etc. The result has been that I can't leave the house because of frequent lose stools. I, too, have had a colonoscopy. My gastro doctor now has me trying Align, probiotic, and Culturelle Complete IBS Support System. You can get both at Walgreens. Pre-COVID, I had IBS -D for years. Now, it's the opposite. I have read recently that GI problems have been identified as a Post COVID symptom. Oh, joy!!
Lucy

Sorry about the spelling of "lose" - meant "loose".

I had covid in March 2021 and it resulted in consistent constipation. I tried gluten free for several months and that helped a lot. During this time I was seeing an ENT due to my lost taste and smell and randomly discovered that the dry throat I’d developed after covid may be acid reflux. I was given Pantoprozole and within 3 days my constipation was 100% gone. I’m going on 6 weeks now with zero issues….and my dry throat is gone too. My GP had no explanation for why, but I’ll take it.

I have had severe constipation, acid reflux and throat pain for the last year. I am just now starting to get some relief. Meds only helped enough to keep me out of the ER. I'm 66 years old. I also had neurological symptoms (severe ringing in the ears) and autoimmune symptom. I still have ringing in my ears, but it is not nearly as bad as it was a few months ago. My autoimmune symptoms have resolved. After one year, I am just now getting some relief from the severe constipation. My stools look normal again. The acid reflux and throat pain in not gone, but it is a good deal better. I have lost 45 pounds because of these GI symptoms. It has been a nightmare! I cannot describe how much I have suffered with these long term Covid symptoms.

I went on a gluten free, dairy free low anti-histimine diet. It has cleared up most of the gut problems but I am trying to find the correct balance between how many metamucil I can take, how much water I need to drink so I don't get diarhea or constipated. The diet, although, fairly restrictive has helped me feel a lot better. I was on a stool softener daily at the beginning and that helped tremendously with the water. You have to drink at least four 16 oz bottles of water a day for it to work and maybe more depending on your size. Good luck. it is trial and error.

I am on motegrity. It helps a lot

Does not work for me. Can't take Metamucil. My constipation was extremely severe. Had to take lactulose three times a day and sometimes amatiza.
I don't have a problem with gluten. I'm on a vegetarian diet and I eat very little dairy. It's long Covid, and my body has to kill the virus. Meds didn't help much.

I know that med carries risks of depression. Have you had any problem with that?

That's really too bad. I hope you get some relief soon. Take care....