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!
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.
Also very effective is magnesium Citrate liquid in a bottle, Not pills. Works fast. But cheapest place to purchase is from pharmacies or Walmart..etc. About $4.00
Hope this helps
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
Yes, increase your fluid intake. Although we are instructed to try to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day, as a constipated person you should be drinking more. Your colon deals with fluids in your body to help stool move through. Even though most of us have peristalsis to move the stool some have less than others. Fluid provides a slippery path for the stool to flow.
Also very effective is magnesium Citrate liquid in a bottle, Not pills. Works fast. But cheapest place to purchase is from pharmacies or Walmart..etc. About $4.00
Hope this helps
Magnesium Citrate is used as a colonoscopy prep as well.
But be careful with this stuff! A little goes a long way. If you drink too much, you certainly won't be constipated but it will be a very unpleasant, sometimes surprising, very long experience. Either stay in your bathroom, or stay very close to it.
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Thanks 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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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
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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1 ReactionAnd probably maybe stress related!
Thank you Catherine. Very helpful.
Also very effective is magnesium Citrate liquid in a bottle, Not pills. Works fast. But cheapest place to purchase is from pharmacies or Walmart..etc. About $4.00
Hope this helps
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsYes, increase your fluid intake. Although we are instructed to try to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day, as a constipated person you should be drinking more. Your colon deals with fluids in your body to help stool move through. Even though most of us have peristalsis to move the stool some have less than others. Fluid provides a slippery path for the stool to flow.
Magnesium Citrate is used as a colonoscopy prep as well.
But be careful with this stuff! A little goes a long way. If you drink too much, you certainly won't be constipated but it will be a very unpleasant, sometimes surprising, very long experience. Either stay in your bathroom, or stay very close to it.