Just Miserable

Sorry to read this an sorry cannot offer help but do sympathize with you for opposite reasons, having had ibs-d , c.diff, and for past several years fecal incontinence. Quite the opposite and change of clothing,cleanups and laundry a constant in this house - could be from radiation damage to pelvis years ago and now diet very plain and hardly any travelling, but i wanted to sympathize with you because after having acid reflux a few weeks ago I ate 3 or 4 "Tums" ant-acid pills for a week and was surprised the causes constipation... well, i could feel the pressure but it would not come out and would not of course go back in; i could not sit on a chair and although it only lasted from noon one day til relief at 1.30am I could not believe the pain pressure and effect it had on on me and i didnt want to eat any more food until the bowels emptied... it is horrible having the diarrhea and no formed b.m.s and mess etc. but having your problems and symptoms is as bad and I hope you find something that will bring relief soon. I just wanted to say that maybe there are other things you can try for relief, as now I see many treatments say they treat both diarrhea AND constipation, how can that be; also that too much of some of the things you mention can sort of make a "ball" in the bowel , wish i could recall the name, and sort of plugs up the colon... no wonder we can be "miserable." !!!

Hi Melc2023,
What a terrible situation you are in! I can recommend a home remedy for constipation that my mom always gave me. I'm 76 and still use it. It's natural but may be a little harsh. It's a teaspoon or more, if needed of baking soda (the kind you cook with - Arm and Hammer) dissolved in a glass of water. Drink the whole glass. You may want to squeeze a little lemon juice in it to make it taste better. It tastes awful, but it works. Stay near the bathroom. It works fairly fast. By the way, this also helps get rid of gas and bloating. I hope this helps you. Constipation can be so awful and it sounds like you've been going through a lot lately!
I'll remember you in my prayers.
PML

I appreciate this so much, Thank you!

Hi there
So sorry to hear you are going through such a rough situation. I have had digestive issues since a surgery on Dec 2022. It seems to be hard to get medical help after surgery. It has taken me a while to find what helps, working by trial and error.
I massage my abdomen every morning starting on the lower right and moving along the course of the colon to the left and down. There are videos on this process, it may help with mobility and scar tissue, I massage slowly with firm pressure. You will likely find some sort spots to work on.
I also use my muscles to push and pull things around in there. I am trying acupuncture as well, with some of their herbal supportive supplements. I have found that digestive enzymes can cut down on the bloating and gas. Papaya chewable are also good after a meal for me to decrease bloating and gas. Ox bile seems to help keep things moving.
Oatmeal in morning, “smooth move” tea and prune juice about 6 oz may help too.
I do hope and pray you find some relief, hang in there with us.
Sending my best wishes and prayers to you.

Hello @melc2023 I totally understand how you are feeling. I have dilation of my liver and pancreatic ducts, and the side effects of these problems include unintentional weight loss, thus my 35 pound weight loss over the past year. Like you, I too am a fitness freak, and do as much as I can to exercise each day, even when I do not want to because I feel that if I stop lifting my weights every day then that means I am giving into this horrible and still yet undiagnosed illness. I have chronic diarrhea which my doctor attributes to the return of the colitis. However, nothing can be done about that either. I also have bloating, gas and the other symptoms you described, and last night kept swearing to myself over all of these afflictions that my doctor has no clue how to treat.
I will listen to you anytime you want me to, and try to provide any support that I can. Helping others helps me retain my sense of being, if that makes sense. I wish I had something more concrete to get you through this, but just know that I am here for you and send you all kinds of positive energy. I came across a couple of items today and I am sending them to you.

Hello again @melc2023 Here are the images for you. Take care

Hi, I deeply sorry for all your pain and suffering. Prayers that you will feed Betta 🙏 it's never easy! I'm suffering from trapped Air Pockets in the Colon. SIBO a part of IBS. It's truly uncomfortable to be bloated. I lost 40 pounds since February. I'm hungry but I can't eat bloated. I hope and pray for your healing. It takes time!!!

Have you had a sitz marker study to determine whether your colon is functioning or where things are getting hung up? Also a stomach emptying study to see if you have slow (gsstroparisis) or rapid emptying? Turns out my son has very rapid emptying before and after total colectomy. Also - if you have not had an mr Defecagraphy study since your surgery, then you should get one so thst maybe they will see what is going on. I am very frustrated that we have to be our own source through trial and error to fine solutions. Good luck. By the way our motility doc wrote a script for low dose nortriptyline 10mg which helped a little. However some people have reported great results but for more IBS related. Gas bloat and diarrhea much improved. Not sure about constipation. Something might be blocking and your surgeon is passing you off to gastro and motility drs. Is it mechanical or functional? If there is a mechanical issue it created funtional problems including gas bloat etc. Good luck.