Constipation for fecking years

[Lazyguts23]

This might be a bit graphic! My apologies, I just don’t have the energy to try to make it any nicer. (I have name-changed for this too!)

I’ve been struggling with constipation for nearly 6 years. I’ve had tests, and they’ve found slow transit in my sigmoid, grade 4 rectoanal intussusception and a 3 cm rectocele. I’ve tried lots of diet-related changes, medications, and irrigation and none have helped. I’m stuck taking a large ish dose of sodium picosulfate once or twice a week - this then gives me diarrhoea the following day, which clears me out. If I don’t take it, the pain just gets worse and nothing will come out. When I do take it, I’m stuck in the house the following day on & off the loo, in pain from cramping and feeling woozy and drained.

I can’t carry on like this. I feel terrible most of the time, and my life, and that of my children, is restricted as I need one weekend day at home. I’ve managed to negotiate a day in the week wfh, but that means I’m stuck in this job.

My consultant now sees me annually and just tells me that lots of people have constipation and there’s nothing more he can do at my age.

I’m 39 now and feel like I’m losing so much, this has blighted my 30s.

Has anyone had similar? Is there anything else I can do or try? Or anyone else I can see? Any advice or words appreciated.

How are your exercise levels?

Ok I think. When I’m on-site (4 days a week) I walk approx 3 miles a day. I usually run 2-4 times a week too.

Nothing upsets me more as a fellow sufferer as when someone asks if I drink enough/move enough/eat the right things! No advice really - sorry but solidarity!

Are you in a hard or soft water area?

Thank you!
Honestly I have tried high-fibre, low-fibre, soft diets, elimination diets, a frankly insane amount of prunes, lactulose, movicol, laxido, senna, linaclotide, prucalopride… I drink minimum of 2 litres a day, I don’t drink alcohol or caffeine, I’m a healthy BMI and keep as active as I’m able.
I have done all the things and I am still struggling and am at my wits end with this. It hits my sigmoid and just gets stuck unless liquid!

sounds rough. what about friendly bacteria - have you tried that approach?

Ex DH was a sufferer of chronic constipation and went through similar. He has overcome it completely by eating avocados. He was on one every day but ended up having to cut back to 4 or 5 days a week.

I've also heard good things about magnesium citrate.

I'm sure you are already doing all the normal things such as high fibre, lots of water etc.

I’ve just googled and my water company says “soft to slightly hard water”

Just posted in another thread, Prune juice works wonders.

Have you ever tried totally cutting out dairy?

Dairy intolerance and chronic constipation can go hand in hand.

Might be a long shot, but equally a relatively straight forward 3 week trial.

I’ve spent a fortune on Bio-Kult, and actimel etc.
At this point I’m thinking it’s structural somehow, but I’m just getting no help from my doctor, he just keeps repeating that lots of people have constipation and there’s nothing he can do at my age. I don’t even know what that means - why my age has anything to do with this - but he won’t explain further.

Maybe coincidence, but I was always constipated as a child when we lived in Devon - soft water - until we moved to an area with very hard water and I was absolutely OK after that. Similarly some friends who used to visit regularly from a soft water area (and had to use laxatives) said their digestion was fine after a couple of days with us.
Also, many years ago we stayed a few days in Death Valley in the USA. There was a notice saying the tap water was drinkable - germfree - but the high mineral content would give you diarrhoea.
So maybe drinking bottled mineral water which is high in calcium could be a little help?

I am grateful for the suggestions! I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or rude, but over the years I have honestly tried so much. I’ve tried to be proactive and look after myself, but I’ve just reached the limit with it.

Apologies if this is all over the place, I’m having a terrible day with cramping, nausea and being on & off the loo, and I’ve missed my son’s sports competition today because I have a different family thing tomorrow & have to be on site all week, so if I don’t go today it’ll be next Sunday that I next get the chance - which would be 11 days. As it is I’m going to be suffering from around Thurs anyway. I’m just sick of it.

Oh, I’ve tried dairy elimination diet, and magnesium & calcium supplements.

I feel terrible that I’m shooting down everyone’s ideas 😳

OP, what kind of consultant is it? Colo-rectal?

Do you think it would help to get the rectocele sorted out?

Can you afford private?

Have you had a proctogram?

Oh come on! Every idiot knows prune juice is good for constipation.

Next you're going to suggest that chronic migraine sufferers might try taking an Aspirin.

I have slow transit in my large bowel caused by a small anatomical abnormality confirmed by colonoscopy. I have had this since childhood, but only confirmed relatively recently - I am now in my 60s. I absolutely sympathise OP because I have had all those interventions and medications, various tests and 2 lots of surgery for severe thrombosed piles. Also have a degree of prolapse following childbirth. As a child I was given dulcolax, suppositories, enemas. It was awful.
All I can offer is to share what works for me currently, I have to stick to this rigidly.
Breakfast is porridge made with traditional oats, not the quick variety. Made with skimmed milk. Added chopped prunes and figs and a dessert spoonful of mixed seeds, small amount of brown sugar. 3 mugs of tea or coffee. 15 mls of lactulose every morning. Make time to go to the loo every morning, even if you have to get up half an hour early.
Either home made soup or salad at one meal daily. Soup made with onions, leeks, carrots, lentils. Salad with lots of leaves, avocado and a dessert spoonful of mixed seeds.
Lots of cooked veg of any sort with dinner, eat early, before 7 pm. Fruit. Fresh pineapple is brilliant. Cooked fruit is good too.
Don't eat dinner late, because it just sits in your gut. You need to be walking around after meals.
Lots of fluids.
I avoid bran because it is too bulky and just gets stuck.
It is boring, but my quality of life is better.
I have been following this for about 18 months since my last surgery and so far so good. My surgeon told me to avoid other types of laxatives and so far I have done that.

Rub castor oil into your belly button before you go to bed. It's greasy so be careful of bed linen and nightwear.

Like a lot of simple remedies that are effective you will read that there is no scientific data to confirm it works but we all know now that they if something is cheap then they won't recommend it.

That’s the problem with looking for medical advice on a forum.
I would push my GP for a consultant appointment.
I find I get constipated if I miss eating my large apple and pear every day.
I eat the entire fruits save stalk and pips.

Yes, it’s a colorectal consultant.
I’m not sure whether sorting the rectocele would help or not - at this point it’s not getting far enough down to even try to push - that’s why irrigation didn’t do anything.

I had a defecating proctogram - they said all my muscles and actions were good, but 3 cm rectocele and grade 4 intussusception.
I also had a transit study and the markers were all just stuck in my sigmoid.

I could potentially try private, I just don’t know where to start. I did once ask my consultant whether there was anything private I could do and instantly regretted it! He just went on a rant about how private doctors will just take as much money as possible without regard for what’s best clinically - which has made me a bit scared of trying private tbh.

He's talking absolute bollocks! My gynae consultant is very conservative indeed and had pushed back on a couple of things, but he was also concerned about my quality of life, which your consultant should be.

I did get my grade three rectocele fixed. It has completely reduced my constant backache and my stomach feels better because of it. However it was a tricky few weeks post op and I basically lived on sennakot max and lactulose, so you would really struggle.

I think you need a referral to a good private consultant. You can choose who you want to see, ask around for recommendations. I went to my gynae after seeing someone else and not liking them, this was for a second opinion.

They treat you with respect, they listen properly. They will also be able to access your NHS results.

Tell them you need a quality of life back.

I agree with this, but I thought that you could ask your GP to refer you for a second opinion via the NHS. I don't think you should have to go private.

@CarpetShampoo no she shouldn't have to, but equally every week that goes past on a waiting list is another week of her life that is wasted.

If you do decide to go private, write down everything before you go. It's a much easier way to communicate it. I did mine verbally and forgot a ton of stuff. I should have emailed a list to his secretary in advance.

You poor poor thing!!

grade 4 rectoanal intussusception and a 3 cm rectocele

what are they doing about this? An intussuseption can be fixed, potentially during a colonoscopy.

In that case it is shameful that this hasn't been offered. Rectal surgery is no picnic, but worth it in the long run. It took me almost a year to get over my last op, but I am much better as long as I stick to my diet.