New here, diagnosed with colonic inertia, what now?

Hi everyone,

I could not find a forum for colonic inertia and I am not sure how to create a new one so I figured this is the closest place to post.

I have tried every laxative, enema, herb, osmotic and suppository that exists as well as amitzia and Linzess and nothing helps!! I am SO tired of being SO bloated (the doctor at the ER thought I was7 months pregnant) and full and nauseous and disgusting all of the time. My GI has recommended a subtotal colectomy and has set me up with a colonoscopy and a consult with a surgeon but I'm not sure I want to go that route. Can inertia be reversed? Does anyone on here have inertia and either had the surgery or decided against it? Please share

Also I am a 24 year old female.

Thanks !!

I am also new to this forum so don't have all the experiences other have to answer questions, but we have dealt with similar issues to you. My son is 12 years old and has had horrible constipation since birth, he was diagnosed with slow transit constipation at 7 years old, which is the same as colonic inertia. We have tried many forms of laxatives and therapies over the years trying to find solutions but nothing has helped. It would just back up in his system and he would have to have frequent disempactions under anaesthetic. Last year we were told that he would need a hemicolectomy, and they removed a lot of his colon. They thought this would improve the transit time of his colon. His colon did not begin to work after the surgery and soon he was returning to theater for an emergency ileostomy. It was a scary time as an ileostomy was the thing we were trying so much to avoid.
But...
It really has been the best thing that has happened healthwise for him. Once he recovered from the surgery he was a new kid compared to how sick, bloated and lethargic he was before surgery. He now has lots of energy, he has a huge appetite and has finally started growing. He feels so much better, it's sad to think how it affected his life. He is now on no medication compared to the ridiculously large amounts of laxative he used to have to take and before his surgery.
So surgery is a possible answer if you are getting no results with different medications. I have seen the difference it makes in how he feels. All the best.

I feel your pain. I'm currently on Linzess, and a handful of other daily meds for this. Then once a week or so, I do the lots-of-laxatives thing combined with really tasty mag citrate and bowel prep. Can't leave the house for a day and a half, but it's necessary. Right now undergoing tests to get a better idea of exactly what parts work/don't work. Doc has already told me that almost certainly I will need surgery and some type of ostomy. Thinks that's the only way to improve my quality of life at this point. Just have to gather more info and try other treatments to be sure nothing else will help.

I hope someone has some good ideas for you! I am seriously falling asleep right now...will come back later and think some more.

There was one lady who was 18 when she had the surgery. I think she works at Disney World. She didn't have complications and was back to work quickly.
It seems everybody is different in dietary restrictions after surgery. I'm one who has more trouble than most. I know a woman who eats almost everything.

Sunny - It sounds like you are suffering much as I was before surgery. Other than the bowel incontinence. At least I didn't have that problem.

I had suffered with constipation all my life. In January 2010, when I was 57 years old, it was to the point that I could not have a bowel movement without taking a handful of laxatives. My gastro doctor had done several colonoscopies over a two year period. The only advice he had for me was to take more and more Miralax.

It wasn't until finding this forum in 2010 that I knew something could actually be done to heal a person of this problem. My gastro doctor did not want to deal with it but finally agreed to give me a Sitz marker test. All the markers were still in my colon after five days. He then gave me a referral to Cedar Sinai for motility studies. At Cedar Sinai they did a lactose breath test, balloon reflex test, and a gastric emptying study. With the results of the tests I went to see a local general surgeon who did a sub total colectomy. All the colon was taken except seven inches of the sigmoid.

The pathology test showed that there were no cilia.

Life now is wonderful in comparison. Like I posted earlier, I cannot eat fruits, most veggies, whole grains, nuts. But I can have meat and white flour products. For breakfast I have a protein bar. And I won't give up potatoes. I have adapted. My gp does tests periodically to make sure that I am getting all the nutrition I need. She also had me see a nutritionist for tips.

If you have any other questions, please let me know.