1. < Digestive Health

New constipation issues

Posted by barbaradh @barbaradh, Apr 4 9:03am

I am a 68 year old female of normal weight, active and w/o new health issues. In January my bowel movements changed overnight; there has been no change in diet or hydration, activity level, meds (only Rx is beta blocker for a PSVT that appeared 3 years ago). I went from having normal looking stools to passing small “stones” (Bristol scale image 1). I went to see gastroenterologist who said, “Let’s start with colonoscopy.” That sounded reasonable as it was almost ten years since the last one which was 100% normal. Well, so was this one. I am almost two weeks past thar test, and my stools went right back to small stones. I poop on a regular time schedule, and there is no-strain to pass the stools. I am scheduling a follow up with the same doctor, but I am curious if any one has lived through this. Probiotics change nothing. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

bkatz43 | @bkatz43 | 6 days ago

Hi there,
I can go on my USPS account and get price for a Priority mail envelope, if you want.
Contact me via PM on Connect and let me know. (Can ship it tomorrow from WA state) . Should take 2-3 days

REPLY
jeannieflores | @jeannieflores | 6 days ago
In reply to @jeannieflores "IBSC is the pits! I’ve had it for at least 50 years and it’s no picnic!..." + (show)
@jeannieflores

IBSC is the pits! I’ve had it for at least 50 years and it’s no picnic! The only regime that I have is morales in my morning coffee. Then, I need at least 1hr. on the potty to get relief. This usually works. For me, it’s a “mind game!” My brain wants to control my movements. I also go to an acupuncturist and as corny as it sounds, he gives me some needles for constipation. My protocol is not perfect but I can lead a fairly normal life. Good luck to you!!

Jump to this post

MIRALAX, not morales. Silly autocorrect! Sorry….

REPLY
peggyp2 | @peggyp2 | 6 days ago
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hi Barb, I sympathize with what you're going through. I'm 70 y/o now, but started to..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Hi Barb,

I sympathize with what you're going through. I'm 70 y/o now, but started to suffer from Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) when I was 68.

I too am very active, in the gym everyday, 5x/week spinning along with resistance training. Weight is normal. Anyway, I meet the "keep moving" part of the advice to deal with CIC. (And CIC is fancy medical jargon for - we have no idea why you are constipated.)

I've tried different approaches, some prescription drugs (Motegrity seems the best, but it is now cost prohibitive and there is not a generic). Now I rely on Dulcolax (bisacodyl) - an OTC stimulant that is not supposed to be used very long, or to only relieve "periodic" constipation. I know I shouldn't be taking it as much as I do, so please don't take this as advice for you. It isn't, just wanted to share my problem with CIC.

I'm sorry I don't have better news. I do take Miralax every night, and eat a diet with a lot of fresh fruit and a lot of fiber.

Please let me know any progress you make. Did your GI Dr have any suggestions? (The good news is the clean colonoscopy.)

All the best my friend. FWIW, you are not alone.

Joe

Jump to this post

Ben heavily constipayed for year Linzess. Now on trulance. Very active also bloated. Gastralogist said some people have backup. What about toxins from back up?

REPLY
1 reply
standinginfaith | @standinginfaith | 6 days ago

I have been constipated since I was a small child (I remember my dear Mother running after me with the ..enema bag..ohh!!) Now I'm 71..On Dec 19 2019 I took a 500 mg Levoquin.. usually take 250 and it blew a hemorrhage in my stomach..and it's been a real roller coaster since then..Diagnosed with scurvy due to malnutrition , I got down to 98 lbs and one thing after another. pancreas elastase was under 200 and they put me on "pig pills" .. could only take 5 and had to quit . told them retest.. it was normal..and this year came back at 800.. (GI says would you rather it be low last visit..had gall bladder out.. diagnoses with pyloric stenosis, hiatal hernia and gastritis..had my SCL-70 tested 2 years ago and it was above normal and continued to rise but falling now.. rheumatologist is a devout Believer and he cried.. (I thought this is bad..) but he says it's a miracle .. you don't have scleroderma..he prayed with me!! Then the tortuous colon diagnosis.. last fall.. was sched to see surgeon on Oct 30 .. but God .. I started going to the bathroom Oct 15th.. 3 times a day!! The surgeon said ..I don't know what you're doing.. BI biofeedback or what .. but it's working.. I told him The Word works!! Now I am too heavy..158 lbs 5'5.. but I take Trulance..and Miralax and claim my healing.. it's still a ways to go.. after 16 trips to ER and 3 hospital stays in 3 years..I had tried Linzess and Amtisia to no avail.. just getting over a 3 week course of 2 antibiotics for colitis and ecoli.. which made me so sick diarrhea and then constipated.. oh the dreaded constipation!! 7 days of miralaxing ..doctor out of town for a week.. but God!! Turned the "poop" back on ..I use Nahum 1:9"what do ye imagine against the LORD? HE will make an utter end : affliction shall not rise up a second time (KjV) ..have tried about 5 gastros..and looking for a different one.. people don't understand how awful digestive issues are..I also take VSL3 probiotics.. and careful what to eat.. my heart breaks when I hear of everyone's problems.. so soo much more serious than mine.. I am praying for all of you!! Jesus please heal them all!!

REPLY
barbaradh | @barbaradh | 6 days ago
In reply to @jfperrone "Had a recent test for C Diff, negative thank goodness. However very constipated. Have not gone..." + (show)
@jfperrone

Had a recent test for C Diff, negative thank goodness. However very constipated. Have not gone for about 5 days. Tried every trick in the books, fiber drinks, stool softeners, prune juice, fleet enema and lots of water. No action yet. Any advice? This is unusual for me. I usually move along at a somewhat erratic pace but I do go. But not now.

Jump to this post

Jerry, Have you tried binging on some citrus fruit? In one day eat two oranges, two clementines and a grapefruit. Something in the pectin, I think, helped me a long time ago when I was having a constipation problem. I had tried high fiber, prunes, bran, etc. to no avail.

REPLY
1 reply
JerryP | @jfperrone | 5 days ago
In reply to @barbaradh "Jerry, Have you tried binging on some citrus fruit? In one day eat two oranges, two..." + (show)
@barbaradh

Jerry, Have you tried binging on some citrus fruit? In one day eat two oranges, two clementines and a grapefruit. Something in the pectin, I think, helped me a long time ago when I was having a constipation problem. I had tried high fiber, prunes, bran, etc. to no avail.

Jump to this post

I'll give it a try. Thanks for the advice.

REPLY
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | 5 days ago
In reply to @peggyp2 "Ben heavily constipayed for year Linzess. Now on trulance. Very active also bloated. Gastralogist said some..." + (show)
@peggyp2

Ben heavily constipayed for year Linzess. Now on trulance. Very active also bloated. Gastralogist said some people have backup. What about toxins from back up?

Jump to this post

Hi Peggy and thanks for your reply. Did either Trulance or Linzess help ease constipation? I tried Linzess a few years ago with no luck.

Thanks Peggy.

Joe

REPLY
3 replies
martyd | @martyd | 5 days ago

I need to say this so that there is a better understanding of what people are talking about here. This discussion is not about normal constipation that can be alleviated with a laxative, or more fiber, or whatever. This is a serious problem that the alleged doctors don't seem to have a clue as to how to treat. They all go through the same routine of trying this, trying that. Actually, nothing works. THEN WHAT?
Enter pelvic floor. We are advised to go for pelvic floor therapy... Useless! THEN WHAT?
Here I am. It takes me 3 hours to complete a bowel movement. I'm always uncomfortable, and the alleged doctor says, I'll see you in three weeks. THEN WHAT?

REPLY
1 reply
barbaradh | @barbaradh | 5 days ago

As a non-medical person, it would seem that chronic constipation may be a symptom of something else not working correctly. In other words, there may be a reason the GI doc cannot figure it out. Maybe another type of specialist is the key? What else can constipation be a symptom of? (Rhetoric question, but I bet Dr. Google has tapped out on that.)

REPLY
1 reply
standinginfaith | @standinginfaith | 5 days ago
In reply to @jfperrone "Had a recent test for C Diff, negative thank goodness. However very constipated. Have not gone..." + (show)
@jfperrone

Had a recent test for C Diff, negative thank goodness. However very constipated. Have not gone for about 5 days. Tried every trick in the books, fiber drinks, stool softeners, prune juice, fleet enema and lots of water. No action yet. Any advice? This is unusual for me. I usually move along at a somewhat erratic pace but I do go. But not now.

Jump to this post

I went 7 days.. unusual for me.. and was frantic of course..then I miralaxed once in the morning and once at night (2 times that day) drank 4 bottles of water and Kinderlite (Pedialyte an Gatorade have sucralose int them.. good gut bacteria killer!!) I also take Trulance daily..And claimed Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD>He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up against the second time!!KJV and stood on the Word.. the Word works!! I don't know if you're a believer or not. but I started going 3 times a day again..Praying for you!!!

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.