Feedback on Linzess for Irritable Bowel-C or Chronic Constipation

@cezanne
I’m sorry that you too suffer from chronic constipation.
I don’t know how Linzess functions but what you see as diarrhea is liquid stool running down outside the hard stool that’s in your colon. With chronic constipation more and more stool collects in the colon- causing it to expand and can hold more. I don’t think Linzess is going to help you.
You need to see a GI that knows how to treat us with chronic constipation. I’m not sure what methods they use nowadays, but it will take time to control. It took time to get to where you are now.
I hope you have had bloodwork done that includes a thyroid test. Low thyroid function can cause constipation.
If possible, try to find a GI department at a university hospital. They are more likely to be experienced with this problem. You are not alone, believe me.

Linzess Question - for those of you who have taken Linzess for chronic constipation - how long did it take to work? Thank you in advance for any and all feedback.

@cezanne
Me again! I’m having trouble getting a good clean out for colonoscopy too!
I think that you’ll first need help cleaning out the colon over time, get it back to normal size.
Once that’s done Linzess might work- or something else the doctors recommend to keep you going.

@astaingegerdm
Thanks for the continuing exchange on this. What worked to clean out the colon over time and what worked, if anything, for you to get a good clean for the colonoscopy?

I have not been able to find this product, magnesium citrate, anywhere for past few months.
There was a recall.
Does anyone know if it is back in production?

Have you tried any natural approaches? Fresh papaya fruit, eaten daily, normalizes the stomach quite well. Also, bone broth powder, put into orange juice, used daily, can be great at normalizing the stomach problems. Try these. They may work for you. Lori Renee

@cezanne
I never got a perfect clean out but good enough to take biopsy samples.
Over the years I have used a variety of medications to get things moving. There are periods when there is some regularity and then there are times when nothing works.
A few years ago I tried Motegrity (generic from Canada) and it got things moving. I don’t take it now- I was annoyed by the cramps!
Lately I have used Prunelax- powerful-, Senokot and now Dulcolax. You need to drink a lot of water.
I also have Rx Amitiza. Similar to Linzess.
On Connect I have seen members needing surgery because nothing helped. I don’t want to get to that point.
It appears that one has to change things up- one method may not work well after some time.
I hope you can find a GI who really understands chronic constipation.

@astaingegerdm
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for your helpful remarks and suggestions. I suspected as much about the liquid stool going around the collected stool. Once I have results from an upcoming colonoscopy and endoscopy I might seek out a specialist at a university hospital. I doubt the prep for the colonoscopy will clear me out (failed in past years and I use Cologuard now) but they want to try Sutabs with Miralx and Dulcolax as a prep.

Any notions about what might work or what steps are taken if Linzess fails are appreciated.

Thanks again. This is a great support group.

@cezanne also had trouble getting totally cleaned out before colonoscopy- even did an enema before I left for the scope…better, not as clear as I wanted…doctor said it wasn’t a real problem, she could see everything she needed to see…. Probably a few very small bits of poo. Some people get results from magnesium (glycinate easier).