Severe Constipation

Posted by klk464 @klk464, Feb 28, 2018

I have had severe constipation for a long time. I drink lots of water and have had almost every test possible done and tried many prescription medications. These medications work for a little bit then stop. I currently take 3 docusate in morning and at night I will take 2 senna/docusate. I still dont have a daily BM. So i get bloated crampy and back pain from this.

I was told I could go to the Mayo Clinic as they may have ideas for me because they are out of options for me here.

Anyone else suffer from this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I haven’t heard of that. Thank you for the suggestion!

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@jsp68 ,
Try it and let me know how it works. It works great for me and others!

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Profile picture for linh @linh

My sibling told me a friend of hers said she had life long chronic constipation until a doctor told her to take greens daily (like medicine). So everyday she gets this over with taking greens first thing in the morning and she hasn't had a problem with constipation since.

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@linh
“Greens”?? Please give us a little more detail. Thanks!

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Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I have had chronic constipation since birth. I am now 54 years old. I have ran out of laxatives to try. I went to a gastroenterologist a couple of years ago who did a marker test (nothing moved) and then attempted to do a colonoscopy but I told him beforehand that the solution did not clean me out so of course it came back inconclusive because it wasn’t cleaned out. He diagnosed me with colonic inertia and prescribed Linzess which sort of worked for a while then it started making me nauseous and not working. I started taking Miralax every day at the suggestion of a different doctor, that worked for a while and now it just makes me sick and doesn’t work either. I have an appointment with yet another gastroenterologist next month. I go weeks without a bowel movement sometimes 4-6 weeks and of course I feel miserable. Anyone else have the same issue?

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@jsp68 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I can’t imagine how you feel having constipation since birth and not get any long term relief!
Do you know if you had tests done when you were young?
On rare occasions a baby can be born with faulty nervous system in the large intestine. These children start having constipation problems in early infancy.
I’m not surprised that you can’t get fully cleaned out for a colonoscopy. Same here- have very slow motility.
Have they been able to get biopsies when you had colonoscopies?
I hope the new gastroenterologist can help you. Something has to be done if you go weeks without a bowel moment.
Can you post after your visit?
There are many members here with severe constipation that can offer suggestions for you to try.

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Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I have had chronic constipation since birth. I am now 54 years old. I have ran out of laxatives to try. I went to a gastroenterologist a couple of years ago who did a marker test (nothing moved) and then attempted to do a colonoscopy but I told him beforehand that the solution did not clean me out so of course it came back inconclusive because it wasn’t cleaned out. He diagnosed me with colonic inertia and prescribed Linzess which sort of worked for a while then it started making me nauseous and not working. I started taking Miralax every day at the suggestion of a different doctor, that worked for a while and now it just makes me sick and doesn’t work either. I have an appointment with yet another gastroenterologist next month. I go weeks without a bowel movement sometimes 4-6 weeks and of course I feel miserable. Anyone else have the same issue?

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I did not go weeks w/o a bowel movement but probably one week years ago. Also, some bowel movements truly exhausted me to the point that I would have to go to bed. Have you tried drinking 64 ounces of water daily? After my colon resection, my doctor told me to be sure to drink that amount. It helped me tremendously. Sure hope you have success soon.

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Profile picture for linh @linh

My sibling told me a friend of hers said she had life long chronic constipation until a doctor told her to take greens daily (like medicine). So everyday she gets this over with taking greens first thing in the morning and she hasn't had a problem with constipation since.

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What is greens?

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Profile picture for Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor @astaingegerdm

@jsp68 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I can’t imagine how you feel having constipation since birth and not get any long term relief!
Do you know if you had tests done when you were young?
On rare occasions a baby can be born with faulty nervous system in the large intestine. These children start having constipation problems in early infancy.
I’m not surprised that you can’t get fully cleaned out for a colonoscopy. Same here- have very slow motility.
Have they been able to get biopsies when you had colonoscopies?
I hope the new gastroenterologist can help you. Something has to be done if you go weeks without a bowel moment.
Can you post after your visit?
There are many members here with severe constipation that can offer suggestions for you to try.

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I will definitely post after my visit. There were no tests done when I was a child. 1960’s on an Air Force base they just told my mom not to worry. Even as a teen my family doctor just said,” Everyone has a different “normal”. Fingers crossed the new Gastro will help me. Thank you for caring.

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Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I have had chronic constipation since birth. I am now 54 years old. I have ran out of laxatives to try. I went to a gastroenterologist a couple of years ago who did a marker test (nothing moved) and then attempted to do a colonoscopy but I told him beforehand that the solution did not clean me out so of course it came back inconclusive because it wasn’t cleaned out. He diagnosed me with colonic inertia and prescribed Linzess which sort of worked for a while then it started making me nauseous and not working. I started taking Miralax every day at the suggestion of a different doctor, that worked for a while and now it just makes me sick and doesn’t work either. I have an appointment with yet another gastroenterologist next month. I go weeks without a bowel movement sometimes 4-6 weeks and of course I feel miserable. Anyone else have the same issue?

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Try Movicol three times a day

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Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I have had chronic constipation since birth. I am now 54 years old. I have ran out of laxatives to try. I went to a gastroenterologist a couple of years ago who did a marker test (nothing moved) and then attempted to do a colonoscopy but I told him beforehand that the solution did not clean me out so of course it came back inconclusive because it wasn’t cleaned out. He diagnosed me with colonic inertia and prescribed Linzess which sort of worked for a while then it started making me nauseous and not working. I started taking Miralax every day at the suggestion of a different doctor, that worked for a while and now it just makes me sick and doesn’t work either. I have an appointment with yet another gastroenterologist next month. I go weeks without a bowel movement sometimes 4-6 weeks and of course I feel miserable. Anyone else have the same issue?

Jump to this post

I have been battling with constipation for over 8 years now the condition seems so terrible and unbearable to the extent it affect my performance in bed. What can you recommend for me please.

REPLY
Profile picture for jsp68 @jsp68

I have had chronic constipation since birth. I am now 54 years old. I have ran out of laxatives to try. I went to a gastroenterologist a couple of years ago who did a marker test (nothing moved) and then attempted to do a colonoscopy but I told him beforehand that the solution did not clean me out so of course it came back inconclusive because it wasn’t cleaned out. He diagnosed me with colonic inertia and prescribed Linzess which sort of worked for a while then it started making me nauseous and not working. I started taking Miralax every day at the suggestion of a different doctor, that worked for a while and now it just makes me sick and doesn’t work either. I have an appointment with yet another gastroenterologist next month. I go weeks without a bowel movement sometimes 4-6 weeks and of course I feel miserable. Anyone else have the same issue?

Jump to this post

I swear by a daily probiotic and daily magnesium citrate 400 mgs.

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Profile picture for Comr Joseph Oliver Oruma @oliversmile

I have been battling with constipation for over 8 years now the condition seems so terrible and unbearable to the extent it affect my performance in bed. What can you recommend for me please.

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My GI Dr recommended these daily, and this is working for me: 4 oz prune juice in AM, one dose of Miralax a day, 1-2 servings of Citrucel and 8-10 glasses of water a day.

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