Connect
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health group.
Thank you for sharing. My new primary physician whom I met last week suggested that during my surgery 5 years ago nerves may have been severed that serve the colon.
That is the first logical explanation I have received since meeting my gastroenterologist.
Like you, I plan when I will take a natural laxative and stay home the next day.
I see my GI on April 4th, I will post what he says. He is rather dismissive. My new PCP put in a request to my insurance for a second opinion referral to a different GI . So frustrating. Like you, I work out, hike, drink lots of fluids, eat fruits and vegetables, etc., etc. Nothing! So frustrating. Doctors don't get how much this changes quality of life.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCurious, I take Align probiotics, Colace 1xdaily and they do not stimulat my colon. So I take Prunelax at night every 5 days. This causes diarrhea so I have to stay home the next day.
It is such a pain! And when I have bacterial overgrowth flare I take antibiotics. Ugh!
i take 3 senna and 3 colace daily unless i have frequent bowel movements. my gi doc is ok with that. i take physicians choice probiotics daily. i have heard align is good but a bit too pricey for me.
On your regimen how many times a week do you have a bowel movement?
My colon is also very long. That is the reason it twists, turns and loops, because there is not enough room inside of me. The question seems to be if I was born that way or if all the years of constipation caused it. No way to really know. I have tried numerous probiotics and never saw any real impact.
My understanding is that Reglan helps with emptying stomach contents so is given for nausea. Motegrity increases bowel peristalsis to help move stool through. Miralax draws water into the bowel and yes, it is a cumulative effect.
Yes,yes,yes…I’m on my second gastroenterologist in Boston. So my lists of tests is endless. This new Gastro on March 16th said you didn’t have an endoscopy or the smart pill study. I did do the sitz marker study and never passed one ring after 5 days. April 28 is endoscopy and early May is the smart pill. I’m never giving up to surgery. Yes, the nerve has always made sense along with long term anesthesia. I know that is rare but it can happen. Anesthesia shuts down digestive system during surgery. I’ve always, even with smaller surgeries needed to be catheterized because by bladder never wakes up, so why not my bowels. Just thoughts I have. Visceral massage is absolutely wonderful and I never heard of it till November last year. She works on scar tissue in my neck. My surgery called acdf is going through the front of your neck to repair cervical spine. While working on my throat area I feel the pull in my navel which has scar tissue from appendix and gallbladder. She works on vagus nerve every week. It’s so tied together it baffles me. I take probiotics every other day but more of a believer in prebiotic’s which is simply fermented foods. It’s actually food that feeds your already good bacteria. I get fermented pickles and carrots and ginger. You don’t need to eat a lot at all. I take a heaping tablespoon of carrots and toss it on something or eat a pickle, found at Whole Foods. If another doctor says are you sure you drink water and exercise I think I will throw up. Those things don’t matter when you have motility issues. Yes, drink water and exercise but it won’t cure us. I understand it’s tough to believe in almost two years I either poop bunny stool or diarrhea but it’s true. I was so active prior to this and now I have to rethink everything. I go on a plane I’m doomed for days. I never eat out cause I need to know what’s going in. It’s just awful but I refuse to remove my entire colon. It could be a valve or small intestine. Well this new Gastro is kind of back tracking. I also get pelvic floor pt because when you don’t pass normal stools your rectum gets extra tight. I have no modesty anymore, lol. I just don’t care. Someone must have an idea out there. I wish doctors at Mayo read our stuff and chimed in. I’d travel anyplace if someone reached out and said I think I can fix you. Good luck and keep posting..Joanne
I think their are thousands of us out there.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsIn 1995 I had surgery (called a Nissen) to reduce GERD.. it was botched in Central Iowa…. after losing 50 pounds in 2 months I went to Mayo MN where the GI doctors gave me 3 tests in a day.. the stomach emptying test found that it took many hours for the standard meal to get through the stomach.. diagnosed as "post operative gastropanesis…".. there had been damage to the hair net like system of nerves that empty the stomach.. Mayo gave me a way to cope.. the condition is not fixable..
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactioniinteresting… i too had a nissen. also before diagnosed with gastroparesis.
Wish you the best. I have same problem.
Did you consider seeing a gi that specializes in motility? Just a thought. Also, after years of doctors throwing meds at my constipation with less than great results and my 30 years of constant migraines, I gave into my daughter’s nagging and scheduled an apt with a naturopath. I figured one more opinion couldn’t hurt.
I agree, Miralax takes several days, at least 3 for me, too sometimes more. My GI Dr. said to speed that up I could take it 2 X's a day. I have been relying on it along with Citracel and lots of water and fiber in diet, but finding a balance of both as to not be " going all the time" is tricky. Plus I'm not real happy about relying on the Miralax. But it has helped my lower left pain and constipation issues.