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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Thank you Joe. I am still grieving and probably will be for a while. Whether or not his passing is connected to my GI problems is uncertain. Yes, it is frustrating not knowing what causes this problem when other people never have to worry about it. Thanks again.
Yes ! You cannot stop living just because your GI doesn't work right. I agree with you! Just get on with your life.
Just dropped by to report something funny. So, background….after 2 years of chronic constipation….multiple medical visits, tests, Miralax, prescription meds, etc. with not much luck except I did go everyday if I took daily Miralax. (Hated that.) so I started my own regimen that was working really well. Includes large garden salad at lunch greens, beets, cucumbers, carrots, etc., veggies at dinner, fresh fruit apple or pear and fresh cherries. As well as health fats and whole grains. So, I was going pretty well, almost daily with no Miralax. Then I hit a set back…..nothing for several days…..hmmm….so Sunday I ate nothing but white carbs and meat. Not lean meat either. No fruit, no raw veggies, no whole grains…… Had normal BM next morning effortlessly. Lol. Go figure. Makes me rethink my diet.
I've wondered about what is "recommended" and what actually works for each of us. I've eaten very healthily for 15 yrs. With onset of diabetes in my husband, we changed our diet around to high fiber and lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, hardly any meat, almost Mediterranean I guess. But then out of the blue bowel issues (dumping syndrome first and now constipation) started for me (he is still doing well). I noticed also if I eat some meat with fat I will have BM without much effort. Such a gift! Not sure what that would do to cholesterol levels long term? But at this point willing to give it a try I think? Thank you for sharing your experience!
I’m seriously reconsidering my diet. My diet has been pretty tight, I’ve even consulted with 2 nutritionists. One in Endocrinology and the other gastroenterology. I’ve included what I thought were healthy fats. Idk. One more thing to deal with. Lol.
Don't underestimate the importance of fat. Fat combined with green beans and/or asparagus can do wonders. When I was eating lean meats, eggs and high protein drinks I experience terrible blocked colon. Rock hard.
I switched to meat with fat, stopped the protein drinks and switched to whole milk for additional fat. Once in a while I use a cap of Miralax in 4 ozs. of warmed PJ but seldom necessary now.
The high protein drinks, 30gm, can cause serious constipation. ER for a $90 enema.
Good luck.
Tadueo
Thank you Lisa, I'd greatly appreciate any non medical advise that has helped other people suffering from constipation. For a period of time prunes helped. Then for a long period of time steamed beets helped. Then becoming vegetarian helped. Then for a short while one tablespoon of chia seeds helped. Then for a short while one tablespoon of flax seeds helped. I'm out of ideas.
Yeah, I foolishly binged on protein drinks many years ago and ended up with a terribly inflamed hemorrhoid. Ouch! Learned to avoid protein drinks.
My sluggishness seems to be a matter of lack of motility. The texture and consistency is normal. So apparently I drink enough water. It just seems lethargic. Usually, if I just try to go, I will. It’s there and waiting. Just doesn’t let me know.
A doctor told me those High Protein drinks were guaranteed to cause constipation.
For reluctant colon you'll find Mirralax, 1 cap in 4 ozs. of warm PJ, an excellent influencer. I've never had any harmful effects in that it is quite mild. I may use it once or twice a week at the most.
Tadueo
Maybe the key is using it only a couple of times a week. Daily use gave me jello. I didn’t like that.