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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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Farmersmith,
I am going to get the book. It sounds like it is using the same ideas that are used in chronic pain management. Your leg pain sounds awful. Unfortunately, the phrase "accidents happen " when it is our body it is "shit happens ". I had 2 recreational accidents in 2005, rogue wave threw me onto a lava rock and then a second wave hit me and I summersaulted; then in the snow, hit a divet, whiplashed my head twice, I truly thought it would fall off my body. These two events permanently damaged my body and destroyed the life I was having. Hey, I have a redundant splenic flexure, which side is yours on? I've learned that 99% of redundant flexures are congenital , yet after all the testing and imaging no dr. ever told me, I found out by discovering it on the radiological report of a CT scan just last year. How did you find out about yours? What part does it play in your medical issues? I'm so glad I found it, my daughter was getting a colonoscopy soon, so she was able to tell the doctor to find out, she did have it, too. All I could do was say I was sorry she inherited my good and my bad genes. You have a much better outlook than I do. I am so 👿💩👿 worn down by some real biggie stuff, medically, that I'm not even really living, I just exist. Shelley
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1 ReactionI have what I was told atonic bowel which could be the same as you. I have been taking OTC laxatives since I was about 10 yrs.old. My colonoscopies never showed much.My G.I.doc. Tried me on all sorts of laxatives by script. Either they didn’t work or I had bad reactions. Finally in 2014 I was diagnosed with gastroparesis after being in & out of the hospital so,so many times. I needed TPN and was in a nursing home for one month on TPN because I had lost so much weight. I have been taking Miralax twice daily since 2017 & depending on your diet depends on how it works. I have very .very bowel movements, no cramping. You need to find the right dosage for you but it’s been the best for me. I’m 78. What about you?
Shelley,
Did your doctor recommend the doses of Miralax and Metamucil you are taking? Just wondering as I have chronic constipation and use both of those( at lower doses) as well as Linzess. I still have issues 🥹
razelrosey Right on you can be on your side. Keep breathing easy and feel your value and keep your head up! Beets and Beessings,
@farmersmith
Try the Goddess collection teas. They work for Chronic constipation. DIGESTIVE RELIEF or PARASITE PUNISHER are good ones.
https://thealkalinegoddess.com/
I have had chronic constpation since I was about 10 years old.By the time I was 30 I had taken every laxative & softener on the market.I finally saw a GI doc. & he started me on Linzess but I was allergic to that & all the other ones he tried.In 2014 I was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis ( the reason for chronic constpation ) and now I take Align for older women. CVS probiotic with 24 billon CFU and miralax 1 scoop twice daily. They don’t always work.Have any of you been diagnosed with gastroparesis or tested for it?
I have not. I seem to be doing ok with everything that I am taking. I hope my good luck continues
Misssuezq, My GI did recommend the extra dose of miralax, but he wanted me to stop the Metamucil, too much fiber he said. Well, by that time my GI had lost interest in helping me. He was with Kaiser. I had to leave Kaiser 3/29 of this year, cuz i turned 65 and live out of their territory, so he is my ex-GI. So I'm on my own now. I a on Trulance, a cheaper version of Linzess still. So, I take what I need to take to not be constipated or both bowels potential for partial obstruction or blockage. I have found that when I drink the miralax over a short period of time, rather than chug it, it is better for me, same with the Metamucil gummies (I take 5). With the Metamucil powder you have to chug it or it gets too thick. I drink lots of water around the same time. Does the smaller dose work for you? Do you know the reason for your constipation? Mine is probably related to: total lack of energy to exercise, I use a pedal machine, two accidents in 2005, a redundant splenic flexure, and elevated calcium levels with HPTH. I am having 3 1/2 of the 4 glands and adenomas removed in about 3 weeks, I am praying that this will help immensely with several problems. My smooth muscles needed to push out the poop, seem completely dead. All that comes out of me is by explosive air pressure and diarrhea that I never know if it will be all liquid or have some sort of semi solids. I have been told by other people that I am dad wrong to use so much of both; I have had a few drs raise their eyebrows at it, but say if that's what it takes to move the poop out, it is fine. Shelley
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6 ReactionsShayln4, for me I use 2-3 capfuls of miralax , 1-3x day and 5 Metamucil gummies per day. Like you, I have been on all the medications. I also take 6 500mg tablets of Magnesium carbonate daily, I honestly don't know if it helps but it also supposedly helps with sleep, so I figure it can't hurt.
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4 ReactionsThank you for letting me know. I have CIC probably from a redundant colon and several medications I’m on. Also I had bariatric surgery and have to eat protein first and am not able to eat much so the protein is my main source which can be constipating. I’m going to try the Metamucil gummies the powder is so gross. The dose of Miralax I’m on works for the most part but there are times I haven’t gone for 3-5 days and it is extremely painful so increasing dose temporarily may help. My doctor wrote a prescription for Miralax and I’ve met my out of pocket so I don’t pay anything for it right now. Obviously everyone has different medical insurance etc. but thought I would mention it to you. Praying your surgery is a great success!