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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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Hi, My name is Hal I was having trouble so I started using Mira Lax and I eat several pitted prunes and now I go every day. I don't know if it would work for you but it works for me. Eat several prunes per day until you find the balance that works for you. I buy Costco Sun Sweet prunes and they are tasty also. Hope you get better. By the way my care Dr. recommended the Mira Lax. I mix in a little Crystal Lite for flavor. in an eight ounce glass. This method is not like using Milk of Magnesia or other types of laxatives. Some days I don't even use the Mira Lax.
Hi @tadueo, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled:
- Problem with Chronic Constipation, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/problem-with-chronic-constipation/.
I did this so you could meet many of the members in your shoes discussing what they have tried and alternatives to the things that have not worked so well. @camoriello, @heyjoe415, and @reillyg1013 have all discussed different things that have tried.
@tadueo, you mentioned your GI docs were no help, did they give any suggestions? It sounds like you may be battling dehydration or not being able to get enough fluids in your body to work with the Miralax as a diuretic, are there any foods or coffee or anything that got your body going in your past you could try introducing?
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2 ReactionsI tries just miralax. Then I tried just Metamucil. I found using these interchangeably helps more than doing just one of them every day. I throw in oatmeal here and there. Seems to be good or working for me. I haven't been eating veggies lately but I need to add that back in. Seems to be a balancing act
!'m 90 and take a diuretic, Furosemide, for blood pressure and CHF. I take Miralax but it has recently stopped working cause the diuretic dries out my colon and the Miralax needs water to work. Is there another laxative that will work for a dry colon?
Gastroenterologists have been no help and I battle constipation every day and it can only end badly unless I find a laxative that works.
tadueo
So sorry clown. 20 is way too young for these problems.
Question, are you athletic, do you work out? I'm not talking about a gym rat, someone who exercises regularly.
If you can do it, I recommend you try running, ideally outdoors. I used to be a runner, ran a lot of marathons, and running jump started the peristaltic motion in my intestines. I'd go for a run, and be looking for a public rest room, or some woods, at some point in my run.
It's worth a try if you can run. As far as other exercise, I found a rowing machine kinda does the same thing. Your knees are up above your waistline, and this is a recommended position for a BM.
Might sound weird, but it involves no chemicals and is good for you in many ways. Give it a try if you can. All the best!
(I don't run anymore after having both knees replaced. But I row a lot and work out a lot. And I drink a lot of water.
Yeah the frustrating part of the GI Drs is they all say the same thing - fiber, hydration, exercise, sleep, manage stress, diet - I've tried all that!!!!!! I'm a 68 y/o male, in shape and in the gym 6 or 7 days a week, twice with a trainer. Had both knees replaced last year and I feel good and am in the the best shape since my marathon days in the 80s and 90s.
I finally settled on Miralax before bed, every night, and then setting an alarm for 12pm to take Dulcolax every other night. This has been called "gush and push" - but it mostly works. I haven't seen any signs of tolerance to the bisacodyl in Dulcolax. I'm 68 and don't want to do a shit load (pardon the pun) of tests only to get nowhere. I'm doing what works. If there are consequences, I'll have to deal with it.
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2 ReactionsI am so sorry you are having such horrible issues, and I feel your pain because I have had the same problem since I was in elementary school, I’m now 67 and still suffer. The only relief I have found is from Australian black licorice. It tastes quite different from what you find in the U.S. and warning, not good if you have high blood pressure. You can find it on the internet, I believe one subscriber said it’s called Kookaburra. My constipation gets so severe that I can’t urinate. Eating more fiber and using Miralax just doesn’t help me at all, but the licorice has worked every time. I wish I could use it regularly, but I have very high blood pressure, so I try to only use it when I’m desperate.
Good luck to you, and on a side note, I waited 3 months to see gastrointestinal doctor, they recommended more fiber in my diet ( Ha)
I assume doctors have checked you out for appendicitis, which could have symptoms like belly button pain and well as constipation.
You need to keep your constipation at bay. I recommend not worrying about dependency for now. Some products are harsh and people cannot tolerate them. Colace 2 in 1 for bad constipation should be considered, at maximum-listed dose. It is gentle, per my Gastro and my experience.
One can get "hunger pangs" from eating the wrong foods or eliminating certain foods you crave. The latter happened to me (and yes, I felt like digging...) Read this about hunger pangs for other information: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321725#causes
as well as: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/hunger-pangs/#:~:text=Hunger%20pangs%20can%20occur%20when,like%20your%20belly%20is%20empty.
Regarding your anxiety and depression, are you on any meds? They can cause significant constipation. So can certain supplements (for me -- too much Melatonin). Family doctors may not be well-versed on the bowel effects of the meds they prescribe or supps you take. Do a deep Google on what you are taking to see. (My gastro doctor prescribed Zoloft for my anxiety as it is also beneficial for constipation; I have IBS-C. Other anxiety drugs are beneficial for diarrhea.)
As far as treating anxiety goes via a non-drug route, check out GI Psychology in Burke, VA. They only do virtual appointments. They use deep relaxation therapy (hypnosis) to treat anxiety. I gotta say, it works for me.
In conclusion, keep the constipation at bay. Check out your meds/supps. Consider everyones' posts on their experiences with foods like gluten and FODMAPs. You don't need to have textbook symptoms for something to either work for you or bother you.
P.S. You mentioned slow digestion. That can be sped up with apple cider vinegar -- the good brand -- Bragg. You can Google apple cider vinegar; there are also capsules. As a natural stool lubricant laxative there is mineral oil/olive oil at bedtime. Google that too.
I have given up on Doctors for this and many other things. I eat a lot of fiber and am in excellent physical condition, however I take a suppository every couple of days and it works for me. I've been doing this for a few years now and I am okay with this. With Doctors lately everything seems to be ' I can see the problem but can't do anything about it' ( referring to another condition). It's a matter of live with it.
Check out food intolerances. Lactose and gluten being the most glaring.
I had the same problem. Cut out all dairy products for 2 weeks then ate a pint of frozen milk. Instant pain. Then give up gluten Etc till you find your trigger.
(40 years later a dna test confirmed lactose intolerance.) even if you get relief from changing your diet, you may still have small intestinal bacteria overgrowth.
If you still have problems ask for a SIBO breath test. Problem is one of the drugs you take runs around 2500 dollar and insurance probably won’t pay for it. You can go through pharmacy in Canada for under $500. Just need your doctor to send up prescription. Btw they also produce a generic version in India for less than a hundred.
Psyllium for me was constipating, try just wheat bran in juice or water or add to cereal in morning, it will help keep it loose and soft, making it easier to pass.