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Constipation after nearly five years of persistent D!!!

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Posted 11/10/2011 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
For 29 years, I have suffered from severe constipation that lasted for 10 or 14 days and at that time I exhausted all types of laxatives but in vain. However, 4.5 years ago, this C switched into persistent D. I had to take Lomotil every day throughout these years. Five days ago, I became constipated again. I always have the urge to have a bowel movement, I rush to the toilet but cannot pass anything. I know it's not obstruction, as there are slight gases. But something is wrong. It seems that D is better for me. I did not change diet nor meds. The only thing I did was that I increased Pentasa to 3g instead of 2g as I was suffering from severe abdominal pain and felt that I would start a new flare up. Pentasa can cause D but not C. This C is really annoying, I have nausea in addition to that of MTX and a headache as if I have been constipated for 10 days.
Any advice?
Your replies are highly appreciated.
___________________________
Current meds:
Pred (7.5mg, can't go lower), Methotrexate 25mg im inj/week, budesonide enema (before bedtime for proctitis), Pentasa tablets now 3g, Nexium 80, an anti-ulcer drug, Zofran inj w/MTX, Folic acid 2mg, and a Multivitamin.
Posted 11/10/2011 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
You can try laxatives again, I guess.  I used sennakot in Sept/Oct and it worked well.  I'm now trying Miralax and it's doing alright, but not as predictable as senna.

Sorry this happened to you.  I think you did the right thing by increasing the Pentasa.

Posted 11/10/2011 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
I think you can have "slight" gases with partial obstructions. When I was obstructed, I didn't always have a severe one, sometimes they were milder and went through quicker along with gas, and it was a lot of d too, because the bowel was working so hard to push the stool through my stricture.
When was your last scope or bowel xrays?
Posted 11/10/2011 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm struggling big time with C and I'm in a flare right now. It's amazing how much Senokot I have been needing lately! I'm also on increased Pentasa and Entocort. My GI doc advised me not to worry about over-using Senokot for now, until the entocort can kick in and control the inflammation. I usually take 6 fiber pills a day. I tried stopping them, but that only made things worse. Definitely call your doctor. C can be as troublesome as D!
Posted 11/10/2011 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Kazbern, Roni and Gumby44,
Thank you very much. My regular doc never prescribed me laxatives before as I never suffered from severe C when I was following up with him. The only laxative I know of is glycerine suppositories but I don't think it's right to take suppositories with proctitis.
@Roni, my last colonscope was in 2009. But I had an enteroscope and a proctosigmoidscopy. I had two CTs in 2011 but they did not show anything though I have chronic proctitis.
Take care!
Posted 11/11/2011 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
I suffer with more constipation than diarrhea and use stool softners nightly in order to keep things softer and easier to pass. You might try those instead of a laxative. Hugs!
Posted 11/11/2011 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Senokot S worked great for me for the most part but in my quest to reduce number of pills, whether prescribed or over the counter, I found that eating 1 TBS of finely ground flax seed every other day in Activia yogurt works the best for me... At first I tried eating it every day but was pretty miserable.
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