Genital Herpes & Constipation?

Hi -

I'm sorry you're going through this.. it's not fun. Like I mentioned above.. I'm about 10 months in, still experiencing daily constipation. There's no real indication that this is permanent, at least from what I've read.

The GI doctors I saw weren't of much help. We ran through blood tests, stool samples, and a barrium enema - everything came back OK.

Drink plenty of water, increase the amount of fiber you're taking(through supplements), take magnesium tablets(increases water in the stool). While none of this is a fix, it will help prevent further complications such as an obstruction while you look for a permanent fix or reversal of this.

On top of that, I'd suggest looking into Smooth Move tea and trying to take prune juice as needed. I try to take Smooth Move tea every other night just before I go to bed. For the nights that I don't take it, I'll drink a glass of prune juice the next morning. It's not ideal, but it's what I found works for me. Hopefully it helps you the same so you can stay away from other laxatives/pills.

I'm scheduled to see a GI Motility doctor in a few months. It's unfortunately tough to see one here. I will keep you all updated as this progresses.

Feel free to keep in touch via PM. And most importantly, keep your head up! This is NOT the end of the world. There's just as good of a chance that you will not need to take laxatives for the rest of your life. It could run it's course, and progressivley get better til it's gone.

Thank you for your response. According to the Yale research, the virus KILLS the nerves, so even though their work was done on mice, I'm afraid it has the same effect in humans. I've increased fiber, along with taking supplemental fiber, increased water and have been taking Colace, to no real affect. Still feel backed up and only small hard marbles come out. Now I'm starting to feel as if I've developed a hemorrhoid because of all the pressure build-up. Today I tried a couple of tablespoons of cod liver oil, to no effect. The only thing that works is drinking magnesium sulfate, but that is like preparing for a colonoscopy! 

Are you on daily anti-viral medication? I have read that one side effect of Valtrex is constipation. I am on a 10 day course of treatment, so very soon I will know if this is long-term for me because my doctor suggested treatment only during an outbreak. Perhaps people on the daily dose have chronic constipation? 

Thank you for the natural remedy suggestions, I will get the tea and prune juice today. Are the magnesium pills pure magnesium? What dose do you use?

I'd like to hear the result of your test, as I have this same problem, and I'd like to know if the nerves can heal (if they are in fact dead).  I've had chronic constipation for 1 month despite a lifetime of perfect bowel movements, and it all started with a herpes outbreak.  Been married for 6 years and never new I had it...

I had my initial outbreak in Jan 2017, constipation started 4-5 afterwards. I went to Mayo Clinic in MN, for a full battery of tests in their Motility Disorder Clinic. I had anorectal manometry, motility tests with radioactive tracers (technetium and indium pellets), and MRI defecography. Unfortunately, there is no direct test for nerve damage.

The GI doctors I saw read the Yale study journal paper and believe herpes is responsible for my constipation. In fact, they believe viruses are at the root of many chronic GI problems, even IBS. But no matter what the virus, and there’s no telling which virus is the culprit, people have recovered sometimes within months, sometimes years. There simply hasn’t been any research that pays attention to this problem to know for sure if it ever goes away. Based on this thread alone, the spectrum ranges from people getting it prior to an outbreak, during an outbreak and since the initial outbreak. Obviously the response is very individual. One woman on this thread has had it for 15 years so we know it can linger a long time.

This is is what came out of the Mayo visit. Keep in mind this is specific for me.

1) take Miralax once in the morning. miralax is an osmotic laxative. Do not rely on saline laxatives. Even with Miralax, I am constantly dehydrated (my skin is flaky and sometimes I get dizzy) in spite of drinking whenever I can. If Miralax stops working or if I still have problems with a bowel movement, I can back it up with magnesium citrate. This is the stuff you buy in a small bottle.  It’s like preparing for a colonoscopy. It will purge you. So far, I use the MC maybe 2-3 times a month. All laxatives are not good when you take it every day but some people have to so it’s a delicate balance of having bowel movements and ensuring you don’t develop an electrolyte imbalance/dehydrated. I have lost 16 lbs since my first outbreak. Daily laxatives do not allow the full nutritional value of food to get absorbed.

2) physical therapy with biofeedback. My test results showed that Motility in my small intestine is abnormally slow and borderline slow in the large intestine (colon). In addition, the narrow stools indicate sphincter contraction is abnormal and pelvic floor muscles are also contracted too much, which affects expulsion of feces. So this virus got me in the gut, pelvic floor and sphincter. Physical therapy of sphincter and pelvic floor included massage with trigger point and myofacial release. The biofeedback part involves inserting a probe in the rectum and measuring electrical activity of the muscles. These measurements tell you how much you are “over contacting” the muscles. With specific exercises and proper abdominal breathingyou can reduce the electrical activity. For me, my problem is one of relaxing those muscles. One exercise is to squeeze the kegals quickly and then relax slowly. You are not trying to strengthen the muscle, that will worsen the problem, you want the emphasis on the relaxation part. Try it, you might realize that relaxation is hard to feel and do. I am still in therapy, going on 3 months now. It helps in many ways but it does NOT do anything to change your condition, it helps you manage.

3) Use a squatty  potty or step stool when you have a bowel movement. I use a step stool that is a little taller than the squatty potty. Lean forward during bowel movement and make sure your back is straight. This helps propulsion.

4) Do not strain. I developed a rectocile and cystocele because of this. It was detected at Mayo Fortunately it is not prolapsed but it does not go away. 

Sorry for for the long winded response, but wanted to get all this info out there. 

As Triton said, train your body and take care of it. I have accepted the possibility that I may have to live the rest of my life this way. I don’t anticipate an end and I have learned to accept what I cannot change. 

Thank you for this information. You are the only person I've read about with constipation ONLY during an outbreak. Everyone else, including myself, has suffered since the initial outbreak. This is encouraging to me because it implies that whatever neurological damage the virus is doing, it is reversible. 

I was infected in January and by day 4 or 5 after my diagnosis, I became constipated and have remained this way since. I sought treatment by a GI motility expert, who ordered anorectal manometry test to assess pelvic floor function. That came out normal. At end of May I go for the next test, a defecography, that involves swallowing tracer pellets and examining movement with X-rays. I believe that test will show where there might be a "dead" segment in the colon. 

Ive been miserable with this condition, so to know it's only during your outbreaks gives me some hope that my condition might improve or go away. 

Hi Nitelite007: I'm so sorry to hear about your problems with constipation since your out break. I've also been having difficulties with side effects from the acyclovir I use for treatment. I hope things turn around for you and you get relief soon.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Hi and thanks for posting! I've always thought I was the only one with constipation during and in the week before an outbreak . I am lucky to have a prescription for acyclovir filled and on hand to take at the first sign of the herpes. It really helps if you take it as early as poss. I've been lucky to have been spared from the pain that you suffer. I hope you get some relief and answers as to how to handle the issue. Keep us posted. Thank you! Lisa

i have the same symptoms how are you?

abit better then before but not like i used to be before this. how about you ? have you found any remedies that work ?