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Problem with Chronic constipation
I have a history of hypothyroidism, severe endometriosis/treatment was a hysterectomy 17 years ago.I also have a hx of IBS. My thyroid hormone levels are stable. I eat like a rabbit(I poop like one too, LOL!!!!!!). I eat a large amount of fiber and drink almost every hour(nonalcholic).ONly prescription drugs I take are armour thyroid and my estrogen/prosterone troche. I make a coconut bread and I add psyllium husks,flax seed and chia seed to it. I eat it practically every am. I also eat a spinach salad for lunch daily with nuts and yogurt and eat a lean meat and veggie and more coconut bread at night. I do one cheat meal with a cheat dessert once per week. I am relatively active for my age of 60. I've been to a gastroenterologist and we have tried Linzess which didn't help at all. I take miralax, and a Super Cleanse tab one per day which has herbs to soften the stool and to stimulate the bowel and It barely works. I am at a loss. I have not tried Montegrity yet. I don't know if it will be helpful and the side effects scare me. I had a CT of my abdomen and it was ok, no obstructions. The gastroenterologist that I go to practically accused me of abusing laxatives. I would be impacted if I didnt use the miralax and the Super Cleanse. Diet/water and activity do not help. I had diarrhea from my late teens to the age of 36 when my intestines out of the blue just shut down completely. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I was put on Synthroid but the constipation didn't go away. So if there is any gastroenterologist out there that can help me, please let me know.I feel defeated and worry about my health.
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I love your post, must say I laughed at “blow a carotid artery” because I’ve been there and you’re absolutely right. Well said. I’m not a nurse, I’m a retired social worker and spent most of my career with psychiatrically disabled adults in community mental health where we also provided primary care. I so relate to your comments about doctors failing to see the whole person and thinking critically about ALL of what is going on with a person. I was blessed to work with providers, both psychiatrists and internists, that were able to take the time with patients to provide integrated care for this medically fragile population. Our funding allowed them the “luxury” of time, and I see that as the major failing of our health system in general - the overscheduled providers always have constraints on their time with each patient. I spend a lot of my own time trying to educate myself so I can think critically and pose questions to my providers that take all of me into account. To get good care you truly must have a consumer mentality and think of yourself as your own case manager, like we do for people with disabling conditions who can’t always do it for themselves. At any rate, as a fellow GI challenged individual, I support everything in your post and appreciate your perspective as a medical provider. Thanks!
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1 ReactionRegarding my flatulence and other IBS issues, I have gone on a low Fod diet, and it seems to be helping.
I have rice, so long as it is Japanese rice that they make rice balls with, as there is a cheap market near my house that sells them, and it seems to be OK. Strict on everything else.
I am taking Malox, and have gone up to three cups a day to regulate bowel habits. Currently, I am trying to reduce the dosage to two cups of Malox a day. The water intake is at three liters a day.
My bowel movements are more consistent, and the bloating and stomach pain is mostly gone. My issue of having an unbelievable amount of flatulence has improved, thank God. It was so severe that I had a constant fear of major accidents, not to mention the discomfort. It felt like rocks were moving around my intestines. No fun.
Today I am starting to take Vitamin D3. Hopefully, it will improve my energy in a month or so.
Currently improving, I will have a meeting with the doctor in a few more weeks to discuss other issues.
Thank you all for being so open on this site and sharing info.
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2 ReactionsSaline enema. Works every time for me. I take mirakax every day as well. Try to stay away from pasta rice potatoes. High fiber bread helps. Lots of fruit and veggies. If you can. But I’m on a very limited diet. So the enema really works for me when I’m blocked up. Good luck!!!!!
Have you tried a saline enema? I suffer with condtiiation very badly from some health issues. I take mirakax everyday. But sometimes if I’m in a bit of pain and haven’t pooped I do an enema. Works for me every time. Good luck to you. Hope you feel better!
Sorry I misunderstood your comment.
Have just posted my comment and explained my experience. Please check it out it may be of help..
I do miralax and mg citrate every pm BUT still I would not have a BM other than a few hard rock balls that you will blow a carotid artery to get out if I didn’t take a prescription called Linzess. Before Linzess three years ago I lived like that! It was proven I have very slow colon transit with the Sitz study and I only had rock hard people fer with bloating and abdominal distention and pain. I’m 64 and since 36 I’ve been extremely extremely constipated. I was a vegetarian and very active and drink lots of water. They couldn’t blame it on the usual like poor die, lack of exercise and lack of activity etc. I do have some adhesions from years and years of endometriosis and have hypothyroidism which is under control but still didn’t help when hypothyroidism fixed as it should if it was my hypothyroidism. Sometimes everything checks out, you eat a pristine diet, drink adequate fluids and are not sedentary and you’re still severely constipated! Drs don’t know everything. I’ve been a nurse for 44 years and as I’ve have had more health issues from just a life of working hard and genetics I realize more and more Drs know less and less. I also see the basic knowledge decrease in Drs in general and in the inability to listen and look at the whole person. They all specialize and are poor diagnosticians. Quick to stamp on a one size fits all because that does not require critical thinking and a broad knowledge base.
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6 Reactions@busylady yes, Beano is for gas relief, not constipation.
I just posted the following on another Mayo Clinic site:
This might not apply to you, and I'm not a medical person, so please keep that in mind when reading this. But I'll tell you what is helpful to me. I seem to have an area just under my stomach and to the left where things get stuck. I have found that the following helps: I lie on my left side and just slightly rotate my waist to the right so that it opens up the area where things are stuck. After a moment I feel and hear gurgling, and things start moving. If things get stuck farther down, I take the heel of my hand and gently push downward (toward my lower abdomen) on the upward edge of the problem area, and that seems to get things moving again. This relates to my specific problem, but a massage therapist suggested it to me and it has really helped. Maybe you can figure out where things bog down for you. And a massage therapist may be able to give you good advice. Also, I've changed my diet: no rice, potatoes, minimum starchy foods or cheese, and plenty of water!
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3 ReactionsGood luck with Dr.