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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silvernblack | @silvernblack | Mar 22 11:08am

In reply to @celia16 "Great it works for you. It only worked for me 2 days then nothing. I’m so..." + (show)

Doc tested me for everything he could think of; bacterias, fungus, parasites, CT scanned my abdomen, and he said I'm all normal. Even checked pancreas performance and that's just super also. I've had constipation with somebody adult life but within the last 18 months to 2 years I started not being able to eat a lot because I would feel terrible, not even nauseated just terrible, so he's trying to figure out what was going on there but I'm just glad that Linzess works....

marquis113 | @marquis113 | Mar 22 9:54am

In reply to @anna17xox "I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December..." + (show)

@anna17xox

I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December so it's been 4 months. I am always gassy and the smell has been very foul so I've been scared and embarrassed to be around people lately because of how bad it smells, when I've tried to poop only gas comes out most of the time, sometimes my stomach feels stiff and I start to feel lethargic. And I've tried almost everything digestive drinks like meta Mucil, eating more fiber i live an active lifestyle and I drink plenty of fluids and water. I recently had an appointment with my pediatrician about this she made me do colon cleansing for a day . And take Miralax for a minimum of 3 weeks. My stools were watery during the cleansing but after a couple days it feels like my stool is going back to being hard and stubborn. I still don't poop completely sometimes and I'm still gassy but it's not smelly like it was before. She said I can stop taking Miralax when i feel like my stools are going back to normal after a few days or weeks and it's been a week or two and a few days. I know I still need to wait one more week but my follow-up appointment is next Wednesday. The Miralax seems like a temporary fix, I feel like it'' never go away the worst part is I cant figure out what the cause is. I don't think it's IBS because I heard IBS involves bloody stools and stomach cramps I don't have bloody stools and I don't think I get stomach cramps . It just feels like have some other serious digestive problem or something I don't really know. I don't want to be constipated for the rest of my life I feel miserable, my pediatrician said if the Miralax doesn't work as intended I may have to see a gastroenterologists.Has anyone or is anyone dealing with chronic constipation ?,does it or did it ever go away ? and has anyone been experiencing the same symptoms as me ?.Do you have any recommendations on how they treat their constipation ?

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I have had the same problem the past couple of months. Have been on lactulose for years but seemed to stop working. My doctor increased my dose from 30 ml to adding 15 ml in the morning and 30 ml in the evening. Worked for a few days and then started back to constipation. I added spring valley 50 billion probiotics with pre biotic once a day and that seems to be working.

celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 22 9:51am

In reply to @silvernblack "I've been constipated for maybe 40 years. Since I'm overall healthy most doctors would just tell..." + (show)

Great it works for you. It only worked for me 2 days then nothing. I’m so glad mine resolved with no particular remedy. I eat high fiber, drink sufficient water, exercise daily and get regular checkups. So…..idk. It could return.

Were you tested for SIBO?

lynlewis | @lynlewis | Mar 22 9:48am

In reply to @jeannieflores "A small dosage of murals every morning in coffee helps. Constipation is the pits!!" + (show)

Hi can I ask you what is murals please?

silvernblack | @silvernblack | Mar 22 9:15am

In reply to @anna17xox "I don't know what's going on with my digestion ,I have been chronically constipated since December..." + (show)

@anna17xox

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I've been constipated for maybe 40 years. Since I'm overall healthy most doctors would just tell me to eat healthy, eat more fiber, take some metamucil, and drink plenty of water. Well it's all meaningless if there's something really wrong so I finally got a doctor to listen to me any prescribed Linzess. I've been taking the 290 for about 8 months now. I don't have to go to work anymore so I don't mind going to the bathroom for a couple of hours in the morning. I've tried different times what I've concluded now is that I wake up and take it at 03:30 so that when I get up a couple of hours later I am processing. The doctor seems to think I have chronic constipation with no known cause, and/or IBS, but whatever it is I am really glad after decades to not be plugged up everyday. I had to look up that "chronic constipation with no known cause" cuz it didn't sound like something real - but I reckon it is. Fascinating. Ask your doctor about Linzess - it's ridiculously expensive so I'm lucky to have good coverage but it's worth asking

rashida | @rashida | Mar 21 10:04pm

In reply to @jcamosy "I have tried them in the past. (This has been going on for 22 months, but..." + (show)

@jcamosy no, the fibre in psyllium is not water soluble. If you want fibre that is not gritty, you could try some inulin product, like Benefiber - but if you live in Canada it may be difficult to find.

celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 21 8:07pm

In reply to @exeter "Thanks. I"m going to ask my internist to recommend a new gastro for me. I don't..." + (show)

At times, I thought a normal BM was impossible, but it happened! Don’t give up hope. Just a few things that I have considered for my own issues…..thyroid, neuropathy (I have type 1 diabetes), B12 deficiency (was diagnosed), autoimmune disorder (was tested…Positive ANA) and anxiety……,I’m much better but really struggled during that period.

exeter | @exeter | Mar 21 7:07pm

In reply to @celia16 "I can relate to what you describe. All I can say is to try to find..." + (show)

Thanks. I"m going to ask my internist to recommend a new gastro for me. I don't want to be in a position where I might need surgery.

There are so many bowel diseases/syndromes.

When I read about "stomach" issues, they all seem to be interconnected. And the treatment seems to be the same -- watch what you eat, don't stress (not sure how to manage that), get a good night's sleep (insomniac here).

All I want right now is one "good looking" bm.
Good luck to you, too. I hope you hear good news..

celia16 | @celia16 | Mar 21 5:45pm

In reply to @exeter "What happens if your body doesn't function the way it should to produce a bowel movement...." + (show)

I can relate to what you describe. All I can say is to try to find answers. I have tried for a couple of years. I’m fortunate that a couple of months ago the constipation subsided and right now I’m doing well. I was able to stop taking Miralax which I had taken for months. Miralax or Milk of Magnesia are the only thing that worked for me, though my doctors discouraged the Milk of Magnesia.

My constipation struck suddenly out of nowhere. When people would suggest eating things like prunes, apples, etc., I appreciated it, but foods did nothing to make me go. My constipation laughed at high fiber foods. My problem was much more than the wrong diet. I tried prescription meds twice that barely worked for about 2 days. I still have one test pending for SIBO. We’ll see what that says.

I’m hoping my condition continues to improve, but it’s uncertain. I do believe that a gastroenterologist will be able to get you going with some type of substance. After not going for a week, my brother went to the ER. They did something that helped, but I don’t know what it was. I think an enema. Good luck. This is a terrible situation to be in,

exeter | @exeter | Mar 21 5:43pm

In reply to @jcamosy "I have to give myself an enema every other day, or I won't have a bowel..." + (show)

Oh boy. I'm "elderly" and live alone. I'd have too many problems giving myself an enema! I tried it one time. I have IBS M and do take Miralax but not a full cap. The Metamucil, for me, was not helpful. I need to watch fiber intake. Fodmap is not easy, either. Nothing is, currently.

The gastroenterologist gave me a prescription of Linzess and it was horrible. It caused awful diarrhea. I gave it a second chance the next day and it was not different so I stopped taking it.

It's difficult to contact a gastroenterologist. They don't want to give free advice over the phone.

I'm seeing my internist next week and I'm sure she will be helpful.

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