I am just starting to use the forum and am really appreciating it. I always hesitate to share my personal experiences, don’t want to lead someone in the wrong direction but this area compelled me to write. Last summer, I suffered several personal losses as well as a very bad streak of Covid for my loved ones and myself and my body seemed to shut down on many levels. I didn’t have a BM for more weeks than you would believe. My pcp’s office would only say go to the ER bc I was going to die. With the Covid symptoms, they would only say again to go to ER. Our ER was terrible, 8 to 12 hours waiting time, full of very sick Covid patients, some patients throwing up and even people fighting. We finally turned to Patient First who tried many things and most,y reassured that I would eventually get through this. We were so grateful for them. I have always had to be careful about constipation so was familiar with many remedies and we tried them all, oftentimes at the same time, enemas, suppositories, stool softeners and kicked up doses of Miralax, laxatives, fiber supplements, prunes, prune juice and a very controlled diet. I also had prescribed meds and as a last resort telling me only one dose of something that I forget. I was given a few doses of it bc one dose couldn’t be pulled from the bottle with the dropper. It came with a warning to only take one dose and throw the rest away. I was so frantic that I ended up taking it all and still had no results! Shocking to me was that I wasn’t feeling terrible through this much time. I continued to eat very little but was enough to sustain me. I ended up going to a gastro doctor who tried to do a colonoscopy but my bp shot up to over 200 and anesthesia wasn’t safe. He did give me a sigmoid exam without any sedative which was negative. He prescribed Linzess and I finally started to move. I took regular doses for a couple of months and it seemed to become too harsh and I was able to go back to a supportive diet, prunes once in a while, and a half dose of Miralax first thing in the morning and the other half before bed. I figured it out that the two smaller doses worked better than the one larger dose which is what I still do. I panic if I miss a day or have trouble moving and kick everything up. I am sorry this got so long but hope it might help someone as I know how difficult it is.
I don't understand why a GI dr would even try a colonoscopy if you were constipated. Just doesn't seem right. Can you explain why the dr did that, or suggested it? Thanks!
I don't understand why a GI dr would even try a colonoscopy if you were constipated. Just doesn't seem right. Can you explain why the dr did that, or suggested it? Thanks!
Thanks I was just curious. In the category of TMI, I was scolded for not doing an appropriate prep. Can't win.
When I first started getting constipated, I was 66 then, the Dr. ordered an Xray that showed I was very backed up. I guess he didn't believe me. Anyway, I would think that would identify any blockage as well.
I hope you feel better. It's really awful to feel this way, and people who don't deal with constipation can't understand the frustration.
I read your comment with interest as my husband took Linzess for years. He had chronic constipation due to pain med he was taking for back issues. I hope they have found the source of what is causing your problem. I have Crohn's which was first diagnosed at age 69 when I developed a fistula. After two surgeries I have now developed a colonic stricture. This is severe narrowing of the sigmoid colon. I take Miralax every other day and Metamucil every night. Balloon Dilation being done next month.
I read your comment with interest as my husband took Linzess for years. He had chronic constipation due to pain med he was taking for back issues. I hope they have found the source of what is causing your problem. I have Crohn's which was first diagnosed at age 69 when I developed a fistula. After two surgeries I have now developed a colonic stricture. This is severe narrowing of the sigmoid colon. I take Miralax every other day and Metamucil every night. Balloon Dilation being done next month.
I am wishing you well as I can relate to how challenging it is for you, although my situation pales in comparison.
Best wishes for a good result with the Balloon Dilation.
God bless!
I read your comment with interest as my husband took Linzess for years. He had chronic constipation due to pain med he was taking for back issues. I hope they have found the source of what is causing your problem. I have Crohn's which was first diagnosed at age 69 when I developed a fistula. After two surgeries I have now developed a colonic stricture. This is severe narrowing of the sigmoid colon. I take Miralax every other day and Metamucil every night. Balloon Dilation being done next month.
Yes it is common. It is done by advanced endoscopy and the success rate is 50%. It can be done a second time to improve those odds, but if that also fails the next option is abdominal surgery and resection after removal of the narrowed area.
I do drink coffee in the morning and of course when I wake up I have to take a pantoprazole and wait an hour to eat or drink coffee! Prunes help and I try to eat fiber foods and that helps but just wondering if there’s anything else out there that I should be doing and I do walk daily
I do drink coffee in the morning and of course when I wake up I have to take a pantoprazole and wait an hour to eat or drink coffee! Prunes help and I try to eat fiber foods and that helps but just wondering if there’s anything else out there that I should be doing and I do walk daily
Hi @buddysmom07. Am I right that this is your first contact with us? If so, we're glad to have you with us. I'll give you a sense of my recent digestive travails in the hope that you'll recognize some of the same concerns that you have in your personal situation. I've just completed three weeks of chaotic (but not severe) digestive problems that started with unexpected constipation that continued for a week. Then, just as suddenly, my temperature dropped into a safe a normal range for the first time in years. That being the case, my primary care physician and I added Miralax and Dulcolax to my diet, and after two days, the surprise was diarrhea. With that now under control (no more laxatives please) we're just waiting for my 30-foot-long digestive tract to rehabilitate itself so we can see what's normal now. Two things are essential -- daily exercise (a half-hour workout in our gym room) and plenty of water to overcome dehydration. We also think it's wise to avoid ice cream and other dairy products (other than a spoonful of yogurt with breakfast) which might be causing lactose intolerance; in addition, we have cut back on fruit that may be causing fructose intolerance. Maybe, I say, not "for sure." Keep us posted on your own situation so we can be tipped off on what would be helpful to you. Martin
I’m cutting off the ice cream for sure! I do drink a lot of almond milk but that should be okay! Not drinking enough water I’m sure! I do eat a banana in the morning and oatmeal with my coffee and I’m pretty sure I don’t need 2 large cups of coffee just one! So will be adjusting my diet now and thank you for the info!
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I don't understand why a GI dr would even try a colonoscopy if you were constipated. Just doesn't seem right. Can you explain why the dr did that, or suggested it? Thanks!
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1 ReactionGood question! He told me that he wanted to look for some kind of blockage.
Thanks I was just curious. In the category of TMI, I was scolded for not doing an appropriate prep. Can't win.
When I first started getting constipated, I was 66 then, the Dr. ordered an Xray that showed I was very backed up. I guess he didn't believe me. Anyway, I would think that would identify any blockage as well.
I hope you feel better. It's really awful to feel this way, and people who don't deal with constipation can't understand the frustration.
I read your comment with interest as my husband took Linzess for years. He had chronic constipation due to pain med he was taking for back issues. I hope they have found the source of what is causing your problem. I have Crohn's which was first diagnosed at age 69 when I developed a fistula. After two surgeries I have now developed a colonic stricture. This is severe narrowing of the sigmoid colon. I take Miralax every other day and Metamucil every night. Balloon Dilation being done next month.
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Hug
1 ReactionI am wishing you well as I can relate to how challenging it is for you, although my situation pales in comparison.
Best wishes for a good result with the Balloon Dilation.
God bless!
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2 ReactionsThanks this is interesting. I've never heard of a balloon dilation for the intestines/colon. Is this a common procedure? Success rate?
All the best to you!
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1 ReactionYes it is common. It is done by advanced endoscopy and the success rate is 50%. It can be done a second time to improve those odds, but if that also fails the next option is abdominal surgery and resection after removal of the narrowed area.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI do drink coffee in the morning and of course when I wake up I have to take a pantoprazole and wait an hour to eat or drink coffee! Prunes help and I try to eat fiber foods and that helps but just wondering if there’s anything else out there that I should be doing and I do walk daily
Hi @buddysmom07. Am I right that this is your first contact with us? If so, we're glad to have you with us. I'll give you a sense of my recent digestive travails in the hope that you'll recognize some of the same concerns that you have in your personal situation. I've just completed three weeks of chaotic (but not severe) digestive problems that started with unexpected constipation that continued for a week. Then, just as suddenly, my temperature dropped into a safe a normal range for the first time in years. That being the case, my primary care physician and I added Miralax and Dulcolax to my diet, and after two days, the surprise was diarrhea. With that now under control (no more laxatives please) we're just waiting for my 30-foot-long digestive tract to rehabilitate itself so we can see what's normal now. Two things are essential -- daily exercise (a half-hour workout in our gym room) and plenty of water to overcome dehydration. We also think it's wise to avoid ice cream and other dairy products (other than a spoonful of yogurt with breakfast) which might be causing lactose intolerance; in addition, we have cut back on fruit that may be causing fructose intolerance. Maybe, I say, not "for sure." Keep us posted on your own situation so we can be tipped off on what would be helpful to you. Martin
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3 ReactionsI’m cutting off the ice cream for sure! I do drink a lot of almond milk but that should be okay! Not drinking enough water I’m sure! I do eat a banana in the morning and oatmeal with my coffee and I’m pretty sure I don’t need 2 large cups of coffee just one! So will be adjusting my diet now and thank you for the info!
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Hug
1 Reaction