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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 Anna,
Best of luck, with some observations and trials you can likely work out a deal with your body! My Naturopath helped me with ideas but it his words, "I know you can figure out something that works for you," that really set me in motion to do just that.
Disclaimer: This is only my experience. I choose going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's.
Good luck. I have tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. And all say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work.
Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He could get through the colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand the pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed.
Look up Osmotic gradients and Migrating motor complex and consider your electrolyte balance. OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps and be sure to include prunes, squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in your diet. I like to soak ground 2T chia and 2 T flax seeds in prune juice overnight, then take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out, processed and refined foods and drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boys scouts. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups to get things moving under stress. I don't like coffee but it usually works. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month. It took me 60 days to figure out my solution and wow is it great. The best thing is I don't have the mental anguish that I so often experienced dealing with constipation nearly my whole life. I'm soon to be 72 years old. @farmersmith
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1 ReactionHello. You mentioned being seen by a pediatrician. Are you a person under 21 years of age? If so, you may wish to see a pediatrician endocrinologist. When my now 26 year old daughter was in high school she was diagnosed by a pediatrician endocrinologist as having "off the charts" celiac disease. It wad a serious "wow" moment and thr reason for her constant G.I. issues and her missing so much school--truly a parents' nightmare! I am in no way implying that is your situation. Simply a personal rec to see such a specialist if you are a younger person.
I have IBS-C and do not have bloody stools. I have severe constipation, major bloat, nausea, etc. I have tried everything under the sun in terms of OTC and Rx meds. They only serve to bloat me more. Haven't yet found a G.I. doc who wants to solve my puzzle. Needless to say, it has impacted my daily life activities and makes me miserable.
Good luck to you!!
Beth
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5 ReactionsI like my health care team and think they really care about my wellbeing, however…..this is my prediction for the upcoming colonoscopy. Hope I’m wrong, but I suspect it to be normal like the screening one in 2020, except for internal hemorrhoids and diverticulosis. Then, perhaps they’ll order more tests. I’ve given them ideas since this started in August of 2022 about what this could be, but they say no. I hope something changes as I really am weary of dealing with this.
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2 ReactionsI started taking Motegrity about 3 weeks ago and it has been a game changer. The listed side effects sound scary, but I haven't experienced any of them, except for a bit of gurgling in my gut. I have dealt with constipation for my entire life and have used just about every remedy at one time or another--each one would work for a while, until it didn't. I don't like being on a prescription med since I am concerned about long-term side effects, but for me now, Motegrity is the way to go (literally and figuratively!).
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4 Reactionsi have not tried the kiwi trick because it's hard to find kiwi at any local grocery stores around me but i'll be sure to try it when i do find them in any stores. I haven't considered a deficiency in magnesium but i will see if i am deficient in it.
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1 ReactionThank you,i'll ask my pediatrician about seeing a pediatrician endocrinologist
So you take two supplements,OptiMag and K2+ Potassium and soaked chia seeds and flax seeds in prun juice to manage your constipation ?.
Do you know if i can get a GI map test done by a GI doctor instead of ordering the test since it's so expensive.
Hi everyone,i know i should not be seeking medical advice openly from unqualified people but i'll trust your judgement since most of you are more experienced with having Chronic constipation . So do you guys think i should stop taking the colace at this point.I have been taking it for 5 weeks and 6 days now(started taking it april 20th).Again i have stated that the colace is inconsistent it softens my stools sometimes but i still strain but not as much as i used to,sometimes the stool is softer and comes out smoothly and other days i have to strain a bit. My pediatrician prescribed a second bottle of colace pediatrician said to take it for about 3 weeks after my first bottle was empty .i started last week with the second one this is the second week and the next week will be my 3rd week taking the second colace prescription.And i honestly have mixed emotions right now my mom wants me to stop taking it because it's not permanently getting rid of the constipation.A few of you in the comments have shown opposition against taking it as well and I have been debating if i should stop taking it starting tomarrow ,or for a couple days to see how it goes,and go back to taking colace if my stools get harder again .because i took it today and i pooped which is great but, i don't know i just want to see if most of you would recommend i stop taking it or not,or if i should stop taking it for a while to see how my stools will are .
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1 ReactionOh and i think the smelly gas has been coming back gradually because it's been a bit funkier and foul lately,but i haven't really been too gassy though.