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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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I take the 3 OptiMag and 1 K2+ Potassium at bedtime with water + lots of water during the day. I don't take too much Calcium especially before bed because it can constipate. During the night 1 Optimag and 1 K2+ Potassium. First thing in the morning put water on to make I quart of hot water + eat half of the refrigerated overnight mix of scant T of chia and T of flax seeds ground in a coffee grinder. I prep the next days mix using organic prune juice stirred into the ground seeds to make a sloppy mixture. It gels up. Each morning before breakfast along with the prune juice mix I eat one or a combo of the following: cooked cold squash, pumpkin or sweet potatoes; T of tahini; 1/2 cut rhubarb cooked, fresh plums or 6 dried prunes. If I am stressed, worried it won't work for the rest of my life, etc I drink 1 -2 fairly strong coffee. I don't like coffee so most the time I can do without. I resort to smooth move that evening if I wasn't regular. After I knew last Dec. I had a redundant colon, got ideas from my Naturopath, and on line + it's physical it took me trial and error for about 4 months but now I can pretty much count on being regular with my "formula." Avoid sugar, too much starch, eat organic, drink lots of water and avoid processed food. If we grave something often that is something that does our health no good. Thing is I also use a stool to put my feet up on for better posture. When I breath in I fill with air and then gently feel the bowel release if all is good. I started the first month on various laxatives and they just weren't worth the inconsistency and how they effected me. Does that help Ann? Let me know if you get a chance. Trial and error but it is exciting when it starts to really work, what a relief. Take notes each day, time, what you're testing, etc @farmersmith
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1 ReactionI would say yes, but call a GI clinic and ask. It may be covered by insurance that way. Or atleast they can prescribe the test kit for in home and they receive the results.
I was seeing a holistic Doctor who doesn’t take insurance, but he carries them in his in house pharmacy and I got a slight discount. He treated me with probiotics but recommended I see my Primary Doc with the sepsis results. He did bloodwork and the sepsis had escaped my gut and into my blood stream! It caused very nasty skin lesions on my feet and buttocks. So yes, the test was expensive but probably saved my life (and corrected the constipation. )And general health.
I forgot to mention in my first post that bad gut biome was found in longcovid cadavers initially. Then others like me also found scary bacteria.
It was my first real step in improving my LC health.
Gut biome testing has recently gotten a lot of positive attention.
Good luck!
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4 Reactionshappy
Thanks for the info.
Tip: taking your laxative immediately on getting up gives your stomach all night to digest what's in it making it easier for your lax to do its job.
tadueo
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1 ReactionI have heard of the kiwi, and best if you scrub the fuzz off the skin and eat the skin too. I am too afraid of the teeny seeds. I know the seeds can cause awful trouble for diverticulitis, my dad had it. With my CIC and GI issues, I figure the seeds will get somewhere and get stuck. If you want to try chia seeds, soak, soak them vey well. Flax seeds I don't even remember if I used them. But if you use either, any fiber at all, if it were me, I would double or triple up on miralax, along with the fiber.
I just wanted to drop by and add a bit to this thread. After posting about my 2 year ordeal with constant constipation, I believe I found some answers. It’s worth checking out. I wish I had known to do that several years ago. It turns out I have Vitamin B12 deficiency. I thought I had adequately treated it last year, but my new neurologist says it takes a long time to restore the body. I should have stayed on a large dose. I’m now on mega doses and finding I have issues throughout my body. It’s very upsetting, but at least now I know. Please get your vitamin levels checked, before you start any supplements.
Oh, after starting the large daily B12 regimen , per my doctor’s orders, I have BM daily without taking any products like Miralax. It’s bizarre.
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4 ReactionsGood for you for discovering that! I personally, had too much B12 in my system and just had to eliminate the supplemental vitamin I was taking. Still have issues though..
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4 ReactionsGlad yours is good. I thought mine was high too after I took treatment, but it was a false report. I’d discuss any B12 tests results with a specialist. I discovered through him that a b12 blood test may only reflect was in the blood, but not what’s in the body. So, after taking the vitamin, he says subsequent tests aren’t of value. It’s the original number. I let my guard down too early.
I sure hope you find help. Keep trying.
Hi everyone,i know i havn't been tuning in for a while but im just here to give an update on my chronic constipation.I finally stopped taking colace june 18 and started doing this stretching excercise on youtube 6 days a week every morning. And have been eating probiotic yogurt as well and i have been passing decent stools more frequently on most mornings. I have little to no straining which is good but i'm still seeing a GI on the 16th of july just to do some examinations and possibly find out what caused the chronic constipation.
The video to the stretching excercise is linked below for anyone incase it might be of any help, And to those of you still dealing with chronic constipation im wishing you guys the best of luck and pray for your releif.
"7 Min Stretching Exercises To Help With Bloating, Indigestion, Constipation & IBS | Morning & Night"
BY:Daniela Suarez
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2 ReactionsI have chronic constipation which has increased. I have had two tests: Defography and Manometry and a diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction with a rectocele. The rectocele is a pouch and holds stool.
I have gone throug every OTC constipation med which worked for a brief time. Last prescription med which worked in the beginning and now hit and miss is Linzess. I am very concerned. My Dr. told me I will have to take a med to be able to go. I had a SITZ marker test which also showed slow transit. I am in contact with a gastroenterologist.
I began constipation as a child.
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3 ReactionsAlso, due to precancerous polyps removed 4 years ago and they can grow
back, I was supposed to have a repeat colonoscopy in 3 years. It's now
been four. I can't keep putting it off so scheduled Aug. 6. I was given
GoLytely as a prep. Can only mix it with water. Other instructions a week
beforehand also. Prayers please.
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3 Reactions