TMI: gut health

[onthemove]

Obviously this is going to be personal!

I have struggled with constipation for years. A component of it is definitely stress related. I have tried fiber pills, powders, and 2 weeks ago I started a magnesium powder. When this started in college I had a full GI work up, nothing found. For the most part I have kept it under control with the fiber until about 2 years ago.

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While I was pregnant I started using colace every daily (doctor didn’t care) and continued for 2 years. I felt like this wasn’t super healthy to do forever, and started to wean, with limited success. Of course my timing was horrible, this was all at the beginning of the pandemic. Cue stress.

So the magnesium powder seemed to start working, but not much happening the past 2 days. I’m getting to the point where I feel nauseous all the time and I’m sure it’s because of the back up going on!

I exercise, I eat fairly healthy, I try to eat my prunes and drink water. Those things help but this is bigger than that.

Does anyone have a similar story and something else to try? I have never taken a pro or prebiotic. There are so many. 2 billion to 100 billon colonies- I mean that is quite the spread! How do you choose!?

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Go to Target

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

[onthemove]

Jul 16, 2020 20:32:44 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

really TMI: I have a job that requires a lot of evaluations, the stress poops probably helps keep me regular! But now I don’t have those tests very often.

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Jul 16, 2020 20:37:05 GMT -5 onthemove said:

Jul 16, 2020 20:32:44 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

really TMI: I have a job that requires a lot of evaluations, the stress poops probably helps keep me regular! But now I don’t have those tests very often.

Your screen name fits this thread brilliantly

[onthemove]

Jul 16, 2020 20:45:34 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

Jul 16, 2020 20:37:05 GMT -5 onthemove said:

really TMI: I have a job that requires a lot of evaluations, the stress poops probably helps keep me regular! But now I don’t have those tests very often.

Your screen name fits this thread brilliantly

thank you for my first real laugh today!

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Jul 16, 2020 20:50:50 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jul 16, 2020 20:45:34 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

Your screen name fits this thread brilliantly

OMG, I almost said the same!! How does it feel to think like me, dick?

[bugandbibs]

Have you ever had an x-ray of your bowels to see what your stool burden is and if you colon is stretched? Likely the continual constipation has become a cyclical problem that has stretched your colon and created a pocket that holds poop.

I would talk with your doctor and figure out a diagnosis and a treatment plan. You need to treat the immediate symptoms and prevent them in the future. Perhaps look into IBS-C and see if that fits your symptoms.

[Jalapeñomel]

Jul 16, 2020 21:09:21 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Have you ever had an x-ray of your bowels to see what your stool burden is and if you colon is stretched? Likely the continual constipation has become a cyclical problem that has stretched your colon and created a pocket that holds poop.

I would talk with your doctor and figure out a diagnosis and a treatment plan. You need to treat the immediate symptoms and prevent them in the future. Perhaps look into IBS-C and see if that fits your symptoms.

Poop pocket

Things I never thought I’d hear anyone say/write for $100, Alex.

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Jul 16, 2020 21:24:57 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Jul 16, 2020 21:09:21 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Have you ever had an x-ray of your bowels to see what your stool burden is and if you colon is stretched? Likely the continual constipation has become a cyclical problem that has stretched your colon and created a pocket that holds poop.

I would talk with your doctor and figure out a diagnosis and a treatment plan. You need to treat the immediate symptoms and prevent them in the future. Perhaps look into IBS-C and see if that fits your symptoms.

Poop pocket

Things I never thought I’d hear anyone say/write for $100, Alex.

Neck and neck with "stool burden"

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

Jul 16, 2020 20:53:20 GMT -5 onthemove said:

Jul 16, 2020 20:45:34 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

Your screen name fits this thread brilliantly

thank you for my first real laugh today!

I am genuinely sorry, though. That sounds like a nightmare. Thanks for being a good sport. I hope you get some relief.

[gerder3]

I went to a specialist about this. They said to just take Metamucil everyday for the rest of my life lol. I started adding a tsp of psyllium husks to my morning smoothie once or twice a week and all has been right with my bowels.

[bugandbibs]

Jul 16, 2020 21:24:57 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Jul 16, 2020 21:09:21 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Have you ever had an x-ray of your bowels to see what your stool burden is and if you colon is stretched? Likely the continual constipation has become a cyclical problem that has stretched your colon and created a pocket that holds poop.

I would talk with your doctor and figure out a diagnosis and a treatment plan. You need to treat the immediate symptoms and prevent them in the future. Perhaps look into IBS-C and see if that fits your symptoms.

Poop pocket

Things I never thought I’d hear anyone say/write for $100, Alex.

hahaha! I’m a pediatric nurse. I can talk about poop all day long. You’d love my middle school health class

[meanie]

My daughter went through something similar, and while the root cause was probably different (she was holding it in) the effect was the same - she was in a cycle of not being able to poop which caused constipation. After over a year of trying everything under the sun her doctor had her take ex-lax....like, a lot of it for a week or so. Once she was cleaned out we used Miralax daily (again, full dose for a little kid...so a lot). After a few months we weaned off that too.

Basically if you are constipated for a long time your colon becomes less effective and it is more difficult to fully empty your bowels, it's a never ending cycle. You need to get things moving and let your pooping muscles strengthen over time

Definitely get an xray to check for obstructions, we did at the beginning and the diagnosis was that she was full of shit...

[icedcoffee]

I’d push a GI Doctor for xrays. I’m sorry. That sounds really frustrating.

[rooster222]

Have you tried eliminating dairy? No experience with this but I've read that dairy can cause these issues. Good luck!

[CurlyQ284]

The only thing I can really answer is the probiotic stuff. I take Pearls, I get them on Amazon and take one before bed. An article came out not long ago that said probiotics don't really help you but for me theres a noticeable difference if I go a few days before the new package of them arrives.

I give DS a kid vitamin with probiotics too and we both notice a difference with him as well.

About 5 years ago SD had a partial obstruction and her doc said if she didn't clear it on her own we would have to consider more invasive options. She had a really bad diet at the time. She was on metamucil for a while and it didn't help. We picked her up from her moms and had her for a few weeks in a row so during that time I gave her my probiotics every day, we got out the juicer and made her drink a big glass of fruit/veggie juice every day and hounded her about water and she cleared it. I think it helps a lot but I think the others are smart about asking for xrays so you know what you're working with.

Good luck!

[calamity]

All I can say is stay on top of it. I started taking a new medication that completely constipated me. And I didn't poop for... a really long time and ended up in the hospital for a week. What finally worked is the prep for a colonoscopy but I literally had to drink a gallon of that stuff. It was so awful.

I agree with seeing a doctor sooner rather than later if this is an ongoing issue. Good luck!

[Aloe Vera]

I am the same, I have been constipated my whole life despite trying everything under the sun. I now take Miralax everyday and things are normal again. My doctor wasn't concerned at all. I could get more testing done to determine the root cause but Miralax is working so I just go with that for now.

[onthemove]

Thanks everyone for the push to get back to the doctors. I am leaving for two weeks vacation (with family, so we will see if my stress is up or down!) when I get back I’ll get in for my annual physical.

In the mean time I will start back on the colace and bring my miralax for when I get to my destination - not worth starting now before I get in the car for 9 hours just in case it works right away, then I really will be on the move

[skidunks]

I take a probiotic every night and I have noticed My gut seems a lot healthier. I take Align and I get it from Costco. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well! It sucks to consistently few like crap.

[tarzanswife]

I have suffered from IBS-C most of my life. I suffered thru a fistula and 5 days in the hospital requiring surgery. (Don't google fistula if you don't know what it is). My problem was I had soo much bulk that I couldn't pass it and I would have problems, hence the fistula. I had to make tons of dietary changes and lifestyle changes to really get it under control. I used to have to go see my GI doctor monthly. Now I have things under control. I've taken Colace, Miralax, metamucil, etc..

The things that work for me best are:

1) Gave up all dairy products
2) Drink lots of water - I try for 80 oz a day
3) 30 minutes of walking daily (minimum)
4) Lost of vegetables in my diet. 
5) Limited animal proteins.
6) Probiotic daily


Here is the probiotic I take: Probiotic

[Deleted]

I suffered with this for many years and tried all kinds of remedies without much success. A couple of hindsight thoughts:

I was always big on taking vitamins (multi, calcium, etc, etc). I stopped it all. I eat pretty healthy and now only take Vit D per my bloodwork.

I limit dairy.

My hormones I really think played a major role. I think I was estrogen dominant for years which has caused all kinds of problems including that. I'm late peri-meno now and things are leveling out

Here's my now go-to tip when I have issues (typically when I travel): a Tbsp of EVOO in the morning (I mix it into a little grape juice). It works for me within about 30 minutes. I wish I'd known about this long ago.

[NomadicMama]

I had leaky gut syndrome and other health issues (ultimately diagnosed with fibromyalgia). I started taking a mineral based gut health supplement about 18 months ago. It has helped me in several ways, but the two most significant are improved sleep and improved BMs. It’s not inexpensive, but I tried to do without it and lasted about three days. This is the link: ionbiome.com/

[fumbalina]

I did have some trouble with this last year. I saw so many doctors last year, I can not remember if it was the hematologist, the gastro, my pcp, or who but they had recommended I start taking Vitamin E. It had an almost immediate effect on my bowels and stabilized them significantly.

[gault]

I've had bariatric surgery and will have trouble pooping for thr rest of my life. I take miralax every other day and it helps immensely.

Good luck to you, this shit is the worst.