Microscopic colitis and chronic constipation!

Posted by nwcs @nwcs, Sep 1, 2022

I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis six years ago. I had IBS all my life, and was constipated most of the time. During the last six years I’ve been on budesonide pretty much all the time because the diarrhea would never go away. I always had much pain and cramping with it. Recently I found out that my colon is full of you know what! I had a lot of pain a few weeks ago and went to the hospital and they did a CT scan, after I had had an extremely bad few days of gushing diarrhea. Shocked to see that my colon was full! My G.I. doctor decided I should try doing a colonoscopy clean out. I went through the awful drinking of all that liquid which I mostly threw up. And it seemed as though it went through the motions, got down to the bile yellow that comes out at the end. But just for giggles we decided to get an x-ray and see if I was actually cleaned out. Lo and behold I was not, it said that my bowel was still full of moderate to large stool. For several years (doc suggested) I take eight loperamide a day trying to stop the diarrhea. I quit taking that a few weeks ago but I still can’t get that stool out of my body. I am at a loss as to what to do next. My G.I. doctor doesn’t seem to have an answer either. Has anyone else had this issue?

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John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 1, 2022

Hello @nwcs, Welcome to Connect. I don't have microscopic colitis but have been battling constipation this past year. What has kept me moving so to speak has been the daily use of Miralax (approved by my doctor). I did find some information from 2015 that I think might explain what is happening.

"There have been rare cases reported of people who had microscopic colitis but had no diarrhea or had constipation instead. In these cases, ..."
-- Microscopic Colitis: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17227-microscopic-colitis

@oakbourne, @aithnie, @emyliander, @astaingegerdm and others have posted about microscopic colitis and constipation in other discussions and may have some suggestions for you.

Have you made any changes to your diet to see if it might help?

nwcs | @nwcs | Sep 1, 2022

Thank you!

nwcs | @nwcs | Sep 3, 2022

In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @nwcs, Welcome to Connect. I don't have microscopic colitis but have been battling constipation this..." + (show)

I’ve tried everything. Gluten-free, dairy free meat free, high fiber, nothing seems to work or change anything. I’ve been on the desonide for almost 6 years straight. Since I’ve had extreme pain through it all, And had IBs-c before I had diarrhea all the time, I now suspect that I still had IBS-d AND mc. I just didn’t know I was constipated still. Interestingly I was advised to get a bottle of magnesium citrate and there’s a shortage, lol. So I’m gonna try taking a whole bunch of magnesium citrate capsules.

riv2ga | @riv2ga | Sep 4, 2022

Sorry you are suffering like this. I also had the same issues until my Doctor put me on Budesonide. This worked great for me and stopped all of the horrible side effects and have been able to regain my life again. Good luck and God bless.

nwcs | @nwcs | Sep 4, 2022

Thanks! I’ll let you know if I find something that works. Budesonide has worked at times but I should have gone into remission at least ONCE in 6 years..