FOS and linzess

[GKT1969]

hello, my BAM results were negative but for the first time my doctors acknowledged that my pain and cramping was because my intestines are completely full of stool. All the way from top to bottom. It’s what I’ve been saying for months but all,I was told was there was a moderate stool load. The enterography clearly shows the stool and the suggestion now is my diarrhea is due to the fecal load pushing the stool out. I have been prescribed linzess so wanted to ask if anyone with severe constipation had taken this medication and could comment on its efficacy and side effects. Where all the stool is coming from remains the big unanswered question considering I hardly eat but I would welcome relief from this stool buildup, even for one day

thank you

[Bluemon75]

I've been taking it(in UK brand is Constella) for a week now and can't tell any difference so far. Maybe early to say! I do hope it works for you.

[Krisbetty in reply to Bluemon75]

It took about a month for me

[xjrs]

I have been on UK brand Constella (Linactlotide) - the same thing as Linzess for some time now. After a couple of weeks of adjustment and trying different times of taking it, I found it beneficial for me. The full pain relieving effects are felt after 10 weeks. For me, it reduced my pain by 50% to 60%. Unfortunately, it didn't help with my BMs - I use dietary methods for that instead. However, I understand that it has been helpful in this regard for other people. When I added in Alflorex probiotic on top of the Linaclotide, this reduced my pain to zero and it only comes back when I am challenging with new foods, until my body gets used to them or I need to continue to avoid them. With both the Linaclotide and Alflorex I have been able to tolerate a much wider diet, though. I'd say it is worth a go.

I see in the title you also mention FOS. Did you mean the prebiotic FOS? If so, I've didn't got on with this and it used to cause me a lot of gas. However, if you have a gut bacterial imbalance, FOS may make symptoms worse. Alflorex can help with imbalances, though.

[edwangy]

I take it every morning. We can only get 290 micrograms here in UK and I find that far too harsh so I empty the capsule and take a qtr, this take a few hours to work for me , it gives me diarrea, I go about 3 times after taking it but does empty me out., you need to take it at least 30 mins before food, once you start to eat it will start to work. Doesn't help at all with pain though

[Krisbetty]

I found it helped with pain and i actually now sleep all night. It sometimes helps with my BM and sometimes not so i will take dulclax laxative if i feel iam backing up.

[Kulbir108]

Have you tried colonics ???

[GKT1969]

thanks for everyone’s response I will give the linzess a try. This is not hard impacted stool but loose, wet sticky stool that builds up. I have had a colonic and taken laxatives but my colon quickly fills up again with this stuff and I’m back to square one. It’s relentless and very very depressing, I simply never feel any relief

[Rumours]

Hi GKT I completely empathise with you as I have IBSC and slow transit colon and agree the constant back up of stool is very uncomfortable. I’ve tried every laxative going including constella (linzess) but all that did was bloat me terribly I tried for 3 months and then gave up. I’m currently taking prucalopride and Dulcolax which is still not great but best I’ve tried so far. Also Alflorex does seem helpful particularly with bloating but it is quite expensive. Everyone’s different what works for some doesn’t work for others but I wish you well try it and see best wishes