Problem with Chronic constipation

I did try to bulk up my fiber but nothing was working fruits did nothing the only thing I didn’t do was drink lots of water because I got choked every time I would try to chug it down! That was all due to my Jack Hammer Esophagus which I’ve had since I was born it’s a rare disorder of the lower esophageal sphincter I just had surgery for that last Sept 3rd I no longer get choked on anything and I can eat without worrying that I’m going to get choked. So the future is looking brighter for me!

Thanks for the detailed reply. It is very hopeful to hear when you and others eventually find a good solution!

I haven't been diagnosed with IBS-C but it think it applies to me, no matter the cause of my obstipation whether it be tortuous colon, adhesions or overuse of laxatives. Actually the last few days have been ok maybe due to the very ripe fruit I have been eating. Did you try any dietary approaches to relieve your constipation?
How do you manage the side effects of the Amitiza, if there are any?

Miralax did not help for me! I have been dealing with chronic constipation all my life since I was a little child had multiple procedures for impacted colon! I have tried everything out there but after multiple trips to the ER a two week stay in the hospital for severe constipation and Pernicious Anemia it was discussed to have a Colostomy bag put in place but my husband said no we need a second opinion so I was sent to a motility specialist and she figured it out for me! This was back a medication called Amitiza first came out! She explained to me that the inertia in my colon was from the over usage of harsh laxatives and enemas over a long period of time it somehow messed up the motility of my colon and that the only way that my bowels could or would move was to have something constantly stimulate it . So she put me on the Amitiza and that medication saved my life! I tried the Miralax, Linzess, Sennecot, Swiss Criss, Colace , Metamucil but nothing worked like the Amitiza! Until I started that medication I could go for 2 weeks and no bowel movements but now I go everyday like normal! It’s the best medication I have found for my chronic constipation! If you can’t afford it there is also a generic of the same medication called Lubiprostone as well. It’s expensive but so worth it if you have good insurance. I think it’s $1500 without and insurance but with a Good RX coupon sometimes you can get a little cheaper. With my insurance it’s $80 but I have been on this medication for many years now and I need it to survive so it’s worth every penny! If you have diagnosed with IBS-C or IBS -ICC this could be the ideal medication for you! Good luck!

Hi again - Thanks for the reply and warning about Motegrity. I was unaware of its possible psychiatric effects (active thoughts of suicide). I told my gi I was feeling very depressed about my future. I hope she wasn't trying to reduce her caseload by nudging me toward "leaving". Motegrity's headache, nausea, and abdominal pain side effects sound bad enough for me to delay taking it until the gi makes clear she knows what my risk factors are.

Your regimen sounds challenging. Drinking a quart (?) of water in one sitting takes some fortitude. But apparently the Linzess now works for you, unlike on 2/1/21. If you continue to have the lean meat and some yogurt you mentioned in your 2/21 post, might it affect your sluggish colon?
If you decide to try the Motegrity, let us know what happens.

I use Linzess. It sometimes works. I have IBS-C. I’ve had a Sitz study which confirms sluggish colon. I still have to take Magnesium by mouth, and a dose of miralax each evening. I also have to drink 4 large glasses of water when I take the Linzess and eat exactly half hour after taking it. Say good by to eating breakfast out ever! Also, it may not kick in for 1-3 hours later. It’s hard to get to work on time and I’m up at 5am and take my Linzess then and eat at 5:30 am. Im having a repeat Colonoscopy and an EGD next month and I will ask my GI Dr if he has some samples of Montegrity to try. My reservation to Trying Montegrity is the possibility of psychiatric side effects. They can be severe!

With a diagnosis of obstipation, I have been advised by my current gi to use Miralax daily and she also ordered Motegrity which I have not yet tried.

Does anyone else have any experience with Motegrity?

@bb03 Although it has been more than a year since your post, I am hoping my reply allows people to see my post asking if anyone has experience with Motegrity, the latest medication ordered by my new gi for obstipation.

A combination of All Bran, grenola, pecans and dried cherries in the morning works like a charm and I have been constipated all my life before eating this for breakfast. Other types of bran doesn’t work for me.

I notice you are taking three foods that are high in oxalates daily: Spinach, nuts and chia. It is good that you are drinking plenty of fluids. I just wondered if you have tried a trial of reducing high oxalate foods? I say this because I participated in some Zoom oxalate classes elsewhere earlier in the year and participants repeatedly reported bowel issues (among other problems) until they had reduced their daily oxalate intake. Spinach and almonds were two of the worst high oxalate offenders. When you have been consuming over time a lot of high oxalate foods it is said that it is best to decrease your intake of them gradually to prevent oxalate dumping, which makes people feel unwell. I have found as I have gotten older my body's ability to tolerate high oxalate foods has diminished, which makes sense because nephrons, or some functioning part of our kidneys (we lose brain cells too!) decrease in number as we age.

I am approaching more and more osteoporosis and taking calcium at night is recommended . This does not allow me to go without severe constipation, even though I use Purelax, Magesium, MOM, Triphala. So I have abandoned the Calcium idea for now. I did take Fosteum Plus by prescription for a while but now have stopped that too.