Severe constipation after covid: What helps?

Artist66 -
The symptoms you describe are very similar or the same symptoms for Celiac Disease suffers. Getting gluten free and limited dairy are very good ideas! And the fact that they were helpful indicates that CD may be the source of your problems or at least contributing to those symptoms.

Because of these similarity of symptoms, it would be helpful to your management strategies to empirically eliminate or confirm CD from the diagnostic process.

There is a recently developed blood test called HLA-DQ2 that if positive indicates the presence of the gene associated with CD. Unfortunately, the latest CD symptom test requires the consumption of gluten as a prerequisite, so being gluten-free negates that avenue.

This leaves potential CD patients with the need to identify how many of the commonly listed CD symptoms to develop a better frame reference in the diagnostic process.

As a 40 year CD sufferer, one of the best treatments to ameliorate my symptoms is weekly B12 injections. B12 is a very powerful anti-inflammatory vitamin. Enough that many of the smaller symptoms that accompany CD are mediated by this treatment.

Why B12? The treatment for a high CRP - a general inflammation indicator - blood test is B12. And, the ability to absorb B12 from food is often compromised by significant gut wall damage.

If that is true, a vegetarian diet can exacerbate/increase low B12 conditions!

Additionally, testing for Adrenal cortisol production can be very useful understanding the dynamics of your gut issues!

Chris47 -

I was tested for CD - negative. My symptoms are steadily improving. It's long Covid. Covid can tear up your GI tract.

I have the same issue laxatives meralax didn’t help at all . I have to eat foods that give me problems and even then it doesn’t always help

I have a prescription for motegrity which is helping

I am Moderna 1, vax inured, with symptons simlar to long Covid, plus several autoimmune diseases. So far, mobilizing all the holpers can for intracrible constipation, I have used the following supplements and most often avoid suppositores or laxatives; Colace extrastrength stool softener, rmd Daiky digestive essentials, RenewLife saccharomyces boukardii 500 probiotic, Ancestral Supplements Beef Liver, adding in other pre and probiotics, prunes, salads, veggies, etc. IMPORTANT; gluten and dairy free. I am noe mostly grain free. I keep boosting my immune system with supplements and using successive tratments of antivirals and monolauren.cvitamins, tc. All the best for dgestion, health, and wellness.

I have been told to take 5 prunes for breakfast and 3 dulcolax tables in the evening. I also use Metamucil. It is working - sort of.

So glad you found a combination treatment that is working for you. In the past, I tried the laxative route, which gradually needed an increasing doseage to be effective. So avoiding the frustration I felt with laxatives, I have been searhng out supplements that seemingly replace what is missing in my bodydue to advanced age and multiple illnesses, rather than just treat constipation symptom. I have also avoided Rx drugs that work as they should, because so many big pharma treatments have diastrous long term effects. However I have a good suply of laxatives just in case as I work on severe constpation, so far successfully (finally). All the best to you with keeping healthy and happy.

How long did it take for Motegrity to work? Thanks! Joe

Hi plisbe,

Thanks for posting. I've had both knees replaced this year and for some reason, I've had severe constipation since the second surgery in July. But I've tried everything, and so it is "idiopathic". that just means the Drs. don't know what's causing it. Dulcolax works, but it's harsh and I don't want to over use it. I'm literally stuck....

I'm on Linzess and have recently upped the dose from 145mcg to 290. I don't think it's going to work. How long did it take for the Motegrity to start working for you? Any insight into how you got there and how it's working would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Joe

Does anyone here take Motegrity for CIC? Can you tell me your experience with this medicine? I'm currently on Linzess and it's just not working. Thinking to switching to Motegrity as it has a different mechanism of action.

Thanks all!

Joe