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Problem with Chronic constipation

Posted by bb03 @bb03, Feb 1, 2021

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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Profile picture for carolinlv
carolinlv | @carolinlv | Jul 25, 2024
In reply to @bkatz43 "Oh my gosh! I have sent your above comments to several of my family/friends because this..." + (show)
Profile picture for bkatz43 @bkatz43

Oh my gosh! I have sent your above comments to several of my family/friends because this is my story as well. I am 1.5 years into G.I. madness. 5 G.I. docs later, with a large Amazon box of discarded pharmaceuticals and OTC drugs, I am working with a G.I. doc older and (wiser?) than me. We shall see. I am hopeful but extremely guarded. I now believe my contracting COVID (after 5th vaccine) had a role in my symptoms. So what? I need effective treatment to resume what used to be normalcy (pre age 65.5; I am now 67).

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If I were a doctor, I would hope it would weigh heavily on me how much importance people place in us to return quality to their lives. Sadly, I’m of an opinion now that it’s not even a concern.

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farmersmith | @farmersmith | Jul 25, 2024
In reply to @razelrosey "For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other..." + (show)
Profile picture for razelrosey @razelrosey

For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other day I had a small backache that radiated around to the front and I went to ER and they discovered which I have had problems before that I had backed up constipation so I have been taking MiraLAX Fiber supplement magnesium citrate stool softener, and I still have not evacuated like I should have a gastrologist a new one in a month. I hope I don’t explode before the month is over. Any suggestions out there?

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Putting in my all natural regularity for redundant colon: Discovering last December explaining all the years of constipation here is my latest addition. A tablespoon of carob first thing in the morning with the ground seeds and even one before bed or with dinner is helpful. Also I make a non flour, with bananas carob brownies that are great. Good luck. Feeling great.

@farmersmith

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bkatz43 | @bkatz43 | Jul 25, 2024
In reply to @carolinlv "Shelley, I finally found your original post and realize my recent post with hopes of you..." + (show)
Profile picture for carolinlv @carolinlv

Shelley, I finally found your original post and realize my recent post with hopes of you "feeling better nowadays" seems unlikely. I truly hope there is a doctor somewhere that can help you. I am miserable but at no level that you must be feeling. Why is it so hard to get help for this problem? A good gastroenterologist seems impossible to find. They are readily available for endoscopies and colonoscopies but once those are done, I feel like they block my calls😭 I'm at my wits I'm just waiting for basic help. You must be ready to kill someone!😢❤️

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Oh my gosh! I have sent your above comments to several of my family/friends because this is my story as well. I am 1.5 years into G.I. madness. 5 G.I. docs later, with a large Amazon box of discarded pharmaceuticals and OTC drugs, I am working with a G.I. doc older and (wiser?) than me. We shall see. I am hopeful but extremely guarded. I now believe my contracting COVID (after 5th vaccine) had a role in my symptoms. So what? I need effective treatment to resume what used to be normalcy (pre age 65.5; I am now 67).

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2 replies
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misssuezq | @misssuezq | Jul 25, 2024
In reply to @shelleyw "Misssuezq, 8/7...unless I jump off a bridge first (jk), A lot of my issues are flaring..." + (show)
Profile picture for shelleyW @shelleyw

Misssuezq, 8/7...unless I jump off a bridge first (jk), A lot of my issues are flaring big time all at once 24/7. OMG, I hope it relieves or at least tamps down the intensity of my buckets of issues that can be related to it. Hey, thanx for asking about this. It felt like a big hug when I read it. Truly, I am way down the dark rabbit hole, useless and negative . So many 🥰

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Well you have a lil bit of time before your surgery hopefully your other issues that are flaring calm the heck down. I will be sending you positive vibes.

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1 reply
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rashida | @rashida | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @shaylyn4 "Hi Shelley. I have the opposite issue of you. I have hypothyroidism and have been taking..." + (show)
Profile picture for shaylyn4 @shaylyn4

Hi Shelley. I have the opposite issue of you. I have hypothyroidism and have been taking Synthoid since my early 30’s. I have actually taken Citrate of Magnesium and that is a fast response but because of my EPI and Gastroparesis my GI is against that. I keep hearing about GI docs.that seem heartless or just don’t care because people have so many problems. I have a young GI now after the one I had for 40 years retired and he is open to whatever I think will help as long as it doesn’t affect me in other ways. I have really big problems having a colonoscopy so he did a much easier prep for a sigmoidoscopy which I tolerated and showed I had thickening of my bowel. He watches me carefully since Creon ( for my EPI ) can cause thickening of the bowel and obstruction ( which like you I had ) I now also have a new PCP internist who specializes in gerontology so he understands all the old age problems we have. I can call my GI in the morning and he will get back to me the same day even if he calls from home which he does frequently.
A support group is nice. You can talk to people with same problems and they don’t thick all you’re doing is complaining, etc.

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Lucky you, @shaylyn4, having such a good team of doctors! I gather you don’t live in Canada, where there is a dearth of physicians and specialists …?

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waterlilly | @waterlilly | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @razelrosey "For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other..." + (show)
Profile picture for razelrosey @razelrosey

For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other day I had a small backache that radiated around to the front and I went to ER and they discovered which I have had problems before that I had backed up constipation so I have been taking MiraLAX Fiber supplement magnesium citrate stool softener, and I still have not evacuated like I should have a gastrologist a new one in a month. I hope I don’t explode before the month is over. Any suggestions out there?

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Thank you! I'm retired, also. Even with Miralax, it takes many tries to get it exactly right and even then, I need to adjust it every now and then. I'll give the prune juice a try.

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carolinlv | @carolinlv | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @waterlilly "Would it be advisable to take at night after dinner or before bed? If taken in..." + (show)
Profile picture for waterlilly @waterlilly

Would it be advisable to take at night after dinner or before bed? If taken in the a.m., I'd need to be around a bathroom when it works which would mean I would have to plan my whole day around it. That could be difficult.

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From what I read, it seems to have different affects, depending upon how much people drink and how their belly reacts. When I drink the least bit too much, there is some serious gurgling and discomfort going on. That could really disrupt your sleep! Seems safest to figure out the amount that’s good for you, and once you do, how long it takes to react. Some are lucky enough for it to just help with motility. I’m still working on getting to that point every day. Luckily, I am retired so I have the opportunity to play around with quantities and times. Not everyone has that option.

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waterlilly | @waterlilly | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @carolinlv "I don’t know if you’ve already tried prune juice but it was, for some reason, my..." + (show)
Profile picture for carolinlv @carolinlv

I don’t know if you’ve already tried prune juice but it was, for some reason, my last go to after 10 years of misery. Users made it sound so simple and yet I didn’t try it until recently. I was truly shocked at its efficacy. Like I said, I did a full 7 1/2 ounce can on day one and it was just like taking a laxative. It worked within about five hours and that was it. The next day, I tried the recommended 4 ounces, but it didn’t do much for me. so I do a good 7 ounces a day and it’s really doing the trick. Maybe give it a try?? I resorted to the laxatives far too often so I’m glad I found something that’s healthier and gets results. Good luck!!

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Would it be advisable to take at night after dinner or before bed? If taken in the a.m., I'd need to be around a bathroom when it works which would mean I would have to plan my whole day around it. That could be difficult.

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1 reply
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helen1000 | @helen1000 | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @razelrosey "For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other..." + (show)
Profile picture for razelrosey @razelrosey

For the past year or so my rib cage area is like really painful the other day I had a small backache that radiated around to the front and I went to ER and they discovered which I have had problems before that I had backed up constipation so I have been taking MiraLAX Fiber supplement magnesium citrate stool softener, and I still have not evacuated like I should have a gastrologist a new one in a month. I hope I don’t explode before the month is over. Any suggestions out there?

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No problem. I also find a free/easy way to exercise. If you google "pulmonary rehabilitation exercise", you will find many videos with mild exercises so you can exercise at home at any time!!

Sorry for too many messages today. I hope they are not ovewhelming. Stay well and stay cool! 🙂

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carolinlv | @carolinlv | Jul 24, 2024
In reply to @helen1000 "No problem Carol, I understand. Did you do food sensitivity test? Or use Monash university fodmapping..." + (show)
Profile picture for helen1000 @helen1000

No problem Carol, I understand. Did you do food sensitivity test? Or use Monash university fodmapping to see what food to avoid?
When we age, our digestive system also get older so we need to be really careful about the food. I have no issue any more since avoiding all milk products and wheat product. And I usually have a one time gas daily, and it is completely gone after i try Seed Ds01 probiotics. I hope you same good luck! 🙂

Below is much cheaper ( $200- $300 range ) but not as good as treadmill but it works if it rains or it is hot. And it reduces you stress as you do not need to compete with other users. I know you will recover soon! 🙂 knowledge is power and we have a lot of technology. It just takes a little bit patience, research and time to work it out. People in these groups are highly supportive and super knowledgeable!

Sunny Health & Fitness Sitting Under Desk Elliptical Peddler, Portable Foot & Leg Pedal Exerciser for Home or Work w Optional Magnetic, Electric Motorized, Connected or in Pink

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Thank you again, Helen. I have never done a food mapping test, but it’s probably another one of your great suggestions. My stomach never gave me this much grief until I had a UTI about four years ago which was treated with a far stronger antibiotic than was necessary. I ended up with Cdiff and I feel like my belly has never truly recovered. I’ve always had a lot of allergies, but I now have problems in all areas of digestion. My Gastro did a few tests for both celiac and gluten. No problems with either of those. I have not eaten dairy for many years. The discomfort that started to give me made me give it up without a test… I just knew better than to keep eating it. I will definitely look into all of your suggestions! Thank you so much for taking the time to help!

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