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Advice please for slow transit constipation and controlling my thoughts

Posted , 3 users are following.

pat35683
pat35683

Hello,

?I'm a new member and I would welcome any help you can give me. I was born with an imperforate anus and had  reconstructive surgery as a baby. I've suffered from constipation all my life (I'm 69 now) which has worsened over the years. I've been diagnosed with slow transit constipation and I'm taking linaclotide on prescription. This doesn't "work" by itself so I combine it with 25 - 30 mg Dulcolax pico liquid and sometimes with 5 - 10 Dulcoease stool softeners as well.

Every second or third evening I take one 290 micrograms linaclotide tablet straight after dinner and the pico liquid about 2 hours later. This usually results in diarrhoea in the middle of the night which is very debilitating but at least something is happening. However, I'm writing this at 1am and nothing has happened and it's very frightening. I can't dispel the thought that my system has stopped completely and I'll never go again.

?These thoughts are always at the back of my mind and they surface at times like now. Already I'm fretting that tomorrow I'll have to take yet more stuff and what if that doesn't work etc .

I'm really not sure how long I can go on like this. It's controlling my life and I can never go away from home except an occasional overnight stay. Is  there any natural remedy for slow transit constipation I can try as I'm almost at the end of my tether. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you and all the best to everyone.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 pat35683

    Posted

    You could try regular enemas and electrical stimulation therapy.
    • pat35683
      pat35683 philippa61759

      Posted

      This is my second attempt to reply cos I don't think the first attempt was successful - I'm not very computer savvy!

      Thank you Philippa. I've tried Peristeen anal irrigation which didn't work  presumably as the waste has to be in the descending colon whereas my problem is getting it there! Coincidentally, I've come across a reference to sacral nerve stimulation (I think that's what you're referring to) and I'm going to mention this to my consultant in a couple of weeks. If you have any experience of this, I would welcome a further posting as personal experience is always helpful.

      ?Thank you again. Best wishes,

      Pat

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 pat35683

      Posted

      My mum had electronic stimulation for her bladder wall which was weak and it worked. She also was told to hold the urine in for a few minutes before passing it to tighten the sphincter which was also effective.
  • steven_33133
    steven_33133 pat35683

    Posted

    Hello there I'm reading your story and I'm crying I'm a 57 year old male and I have been diagnosed with IBS almost something similar to you I can't move anything through me and it's also working on my mind I see food everywhere and I can't eat it I'm losing weight every week I'm scared to death to eat anything so I can sympathize with you this is the worst thing I've ever dealt with and it seems like there's no help. Is it also caused me to have a severe bout of anxiety with panic attacks.

    • pat35683
      pat35683 steven_33133

      Posted

      Hello Steven,

      ?As with Philippa, this is my second attempt to reply to you.

      ?Firstly, you have all my sympathy - as you say, worry heightens the physical problems. I had a movement a couple of hours after my first post and it was such a relief. The fact that this is happening in the middle of the night seems to exacerbate the stress.

      ?I do hope you have a sympathetic doctor as I do. I've found linaclotide the best medication I've tried although I had to experiment with when to take it and the results are very loose. You may want to raise it with your doctor unless it's already been mentioned.  I think it's fairly new to this country. I've been taking it since March and the hospital pharmacy

      had to get permission to place the order as they had not heard of it

      before!

      ?Keep strong Steven and try to take comfort in knowing you are not alone in what you are going through. I think we are lucky to be living now and who knows what discoveries are around the corner.

      All the best,

      ?Pat

      ?I did have a movement a couple of hours after my first post which was such a relief. The fact that this is happening in the middle of the night seems to exacerbate the probem - or the mental aspect at least.

      ?I hope you have a sympathetic doctor. I'm lucky in that respect. I've found linaclotide the best m

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