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Hoping someone out there can help!
I have been seeing my current gatro. doctor for the past six months, after seeing three others before him.
I am a 29 year old female who has chronic constipation. I have been like this for as long as i could remember and the only reasons I've started seeing a doctor about it was because I have been having pains in my lower left side of my abdomen.
After seeing a gyno., I have learned it is not a gynocological problem and was referred to a gastro.
I was prescribed miralax which didnt work, citrucel, which didnt work, metamucil, castor oil, nothing
I did takemineral oil for a while and it did seem to work, but doctor says shouldnt take it too long.
I was given a barium enema, which showed no obstructions and came up normal.
I was oe precribed Kristalose (lactulose) and hope it will work, but I am at the end of my rope.
Any other long term suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
My eating habits are normal, I do eat a high fiber diet and eat lots of veggies and fruit and rarely eat red meat.
looking for some other advisements.
Thank you
Maryann
In Reply to: constipated 29 year old!Help!! posted by Maryann on September 06, 2001 at 17:34:04:
Hi. First, I'm not an expert although there are several on this board.
I have suffered from this for years and from what I've read it can be caused by many things. Since you are evidently ingesting adequate fiber and lots of water, just wanted to throw out two common causes: hypothyroidism and candidiasis.
Hope this helps you. Take care, Joan in AZ
In Reply to: constipated 29 year old!Help!! posted by Maryann on September 06, 2001 at 17:34:04:
I agree with Joan. Hypothyroidism WILL cause constipation. have your TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 levels checked. Are you SURE your water intake is good?
Also, you need to do some daily relaxation and exercise. Relaxation will help blood flow return to the GI tract and exercise will help push along stool.
Magnesium deficiency can also cause constipation.
In Reply to: Re: constipated 29 year old!Help!! posted by helping you on September 06, 2001 at 19:22:17:
I too have suffered from this. And I have tried everything. Psyllium husks actually make me constipated, even if I drink a ton of water, so I understand your plight.
About 3 years ago I started taking magnesium on advisement from my doctor for my constipation. It was literally one of the best things that ever happened to me. Not only did it relieve the constipation, the gas pains (which is what you have) went away too. It also made me feel so much better in general. It was obvious I had a deficiency.
I took magnesium oxide, which is one of the less abosorbed, but it worked wonders for me and is very good for loosening the bowels. This is the info I have passed on to many people over time:
1)DO NOT take tablets. Use capsules only (you have trouble breaking food down, that's why you are constipated, never take a tablet). I took Twinlabs capsules, they worked for me.
2) Start with one a day as the last thing you take at night, right before you turn off the light.
3) Take one capsule a day for two days, if it isn't working, up the capsules to two for another two days. Wait two days to up the capsules to three, and on and on. I have found that it takes two days for right dosage to work, and if your right dosage is only one capsule, and you up the dosage too quickly, you will end up with diarrhea (which, if you're like me, was often a welcome blessing).
4) It should just make you regular at the right dose. First thing in the am you will have a bm every day. My perfect dose was 1600 mgs a day (four capsules).
Even if the problem is thyroid related, this will give you some immediate relief.
I am currently no longer taking the magnesium oxide for constipation, I take magnesium glycinate as a supplement. I am taking some chinese herbs that have totally changed my bowels and I'm amazed. If you feel like checking out their page to see if it applies to you, the link is below.
Good luck! And I hope you're feeling better soon!!
In Reply to: Chronic constipation... posted by beth on September 06, 2001 at 20:39:43:
Beth,
Thanks for the info. Will try the magnesium soon.
Assume you mean to take it on an empty stomach?
Really tired of taking herbal laxatives. Was it
a liver cleanse that got you to the point that you
didn't need the magnesium any longer? What a
blessing it must be to not be constipated any longer.
Been fighting this for 20+ years.
Thanks for you help
In Reply to: constipated 29 year old!Help!! posted by Maryann on September 06, 2001 at 17:34:04:
Hi again gang!
Thanks so much for your responses. I do drink alot of water, at leat 5 16oz a day. I have had all my blood work done, so I know its not my thyroid. I do practive the relaxation mode every morning.
I will consult with my doctor about the magnesium oxide and see what he says about it all.
I was prescribed the lactulose. It has worked immediately, which is a wonderful feeling!, but just worried because these things never work for too long. Its almost as if my body adapts to the changes.
Thanks all for your advice!
Maryann
In Reply to: Chronic constipation... posted by beth on September 06, 2001 at 20:39:43:
Hi Jill,
I laughed when i read your line that diarrhea is often a blessing. Yoou also hit it on the mark about the tablets, which I have just discovered! Was taking a painkiller for my finger recently and passed the whole pill through with some pain. YOU DO KNOW HOW IT FEELS!
Its good to know Im not the only one out there. Im at the end of my rope and hope your advise works. Will let you know!
How long have you ben taking the magnesium and is it ok to take longterm?? Also, we are planning to get pregnant soon, I know to consult the doctor about all this goop ive been taking, but do you know of any effects?
Thanks again
Maryann
you can email me directly if you would like
mar121700@hotmail.com
In Reply to: Re: Chronic constipation... posted by Jill on September 07, 2001 at 08:32:47:
It doesn't have to be on an empty stomach, it just has to be after you have finished eating, taking meds before bed, etc. It seems to push everything along better that way. I found that if I took my nighttime meds after the magnesium, it didn't work as well. Just some pragmatic advice.
I haven't done a liver cleanse yet. I'm just taking some herbs that are supposed to get the liver and gallbladder moving and stimulate bile production. Given my history (birth control pills for 10 years, prescription med abuse for 5) it was obvious that I had a sluggish liver. I also have hormone problems very similar to the ones Julia talks about on her site. Saw a TCM doctor who helped a little, but these herbs are working better for me. I do plan to do a liver/gallbladder cleanse in about 4 months.
And as soon as I started using magnesium, I stopped feeling constipated any more, so you could be there soon too if it works for you.
In Reply to: Chronic constipation... posted by beth on September 06, 2001 at 20:39:43:
Sorry Beth, I originally thought it was Jill that had sent the info. The Message For Jill is really for you!
In Reply to: For Jill:Re: Chronic constipation... posted by Maryann on September 07, 2001 at 11:46:09:
I know of no side effects except that it has made me feel better in general. Eventually you want to get to the root of your problem instead of just taking magnesium, which helps but is probably not the *only* cause (though I think magnesium deficiency is part of the problem).
I also avoid white flour and dairy products (Includes pasta), that's an additional thing that's helped.
In Reply to: constipated 29 year old!Help!! posted by Maryann on September 06, 2001 at 17:34:04:
Hi, Maryann.
At this age, this can ONLY be LGS. Have you seen the archives and home page about constipation? It matters little WHAT you take but HOW you take it. It is IMPOSSIBLE for the combination of fiber and MO not to work. That is like saying that when you turn on your garden hose nothing comes out.
Let us know what you learn about LGS and constipation.
Walt
In Reply to: Chronic constipation... posted by beth on September 06, 2001 at 20:39:43:
Thanks, Beth.
Magnesium oxide is a laxative since it is not absorbed. I am glad that you did not stop with that and that now you are taking the glycinate which will actually promote normal peristalsis from within the muscle cell and not just from the irritation of not absorbed magnesium.
Namaste`
Walt
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