Can't poo!!!

[moowens]

I havent taken NDT in about 2 years, when i did i feel it worked brilliantly. I tried it again about 6 months ago but it wasn't giving me the same positive results especially re bowel movements, as it once did, prior to second baby. nowadays, my bowels will not move unless i do a water enema. i am 37! wtf!!?? i am on the 3 year waiting list to see a gastroent. Recent xray showed severe compaction of faeces. My bloods are always borderline hypo but because i am currently breastfeeding my naturopath advises the numbers wont be accurate at the minute anyway. i am doing most of the right things to heal adrenals post birth etc but this bowel situation is scaring me!! i am vegan and although my diet isnt perfect, its far from the worst. please help. naturopath has tried most options with me, but reluctant to try a lot of things while im feeding.

[greygoose]

Constipation is something a lot of us get. The best things to help are magnesium citrate and large doses of vit C.

Four things to think about with constipation:

1. Are you getting enough fibre? You need fibre for your transit, BUT you don't want too much fibre because it could affect the absorption of your levo, making you more hypo, and therefore possibly more constipated. It's a matter of finding the right balance.

2. Are you drinking enough water - especially in this heat wave. Your body needs a constant supply of water, and if it's not getting enough, it will suck your poo dry (sorry for that image!) to get the water, leaving you more constipated and unable to 'go'.

3. Do you have low stomach acid? Low stomach acid can be caused by being hypo, but also by low-salt diets and B12 deficiency (also old age, but not much you can do about that). Low stomach acid will cause constipation. So, you need to check your nutrients, and your stomach acid level (bicarb test), and if either are low, you need to raise them.

4. Do you, by any chance, have high levels of calcium? Because that, too, can cause constipation. So, that’s another thing that wants testing.

I would add that getting your nutrients tested: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin - will give you a clue as to your stomach acid level. If they are low, then your stomach acid will also be low.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Constipation is common hypothyroid symptom

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

A vegan with hypothyroidism is going to need to take a lot of supplements and test thyroid and vitamin levels, including full iron panel test regularly

Presumably you taking B12 supplements daily

What about iron and ferritin levels?

Optimal vitamin levels are

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Serum B12 at least over 500

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or NDT

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

On T3 or NDT - day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last 1/3rd of daily dose 8-12 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Please add most recent results

Or come back with new post once you get results

[heathermr]

Have you tried apple cider vinegar capsules (with The Mother)? They are brilliant at getting the bowel moving and stopping bloating and constipation. They are brilliant, reasonably priced and available widely.

[radd]

moowens,

I recently became constipated from codeine based pain killers after shoulder surgery. I ate loads of figs, prunes, grapes, etc and it worked.

Constipation can be a sign of thyroid meds under medication.

[humanbean]

I have problems with constipation. I use the following to help get things moving :

1) Magnesium citrate powder (Food Grade or Pharmaceutical Grade)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magne...

I bought 1 kg of this, cheap as chips, from Ebay. I use a level quarter teaspoon at a time in orange juice - it tastes vile so drinking it in water is not really a good idea, it has to be something like OJ to disguise the taste. My dose is a cautious one, and most products which specify a dose suggest half to one level teaspoon, but you'd have to experiment. The bag I bought will probably last me years, so I suggest buying a much smaller bag.

2) Potassium bicarbonate (Food Grade or Pharmaceutical Grade)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potas...

I bought 1kg of this form Ebay too. I use the same dose as I do for magnesium citrate. Same comments apply too.

3) Sodium picosulfate, also comes as a branded product with the name Dulcolax Pico Liquid - only available in pharmacies, and the non-branded product will be cheaper.

Some of the things I discovered when my constipation is/was really bad :

1) Don't expect just one product to solve everything. I have to take 1 and 2 above most days (which is why I keep my dose low, but it still helps), and when things are bad I take suggestion 3 at maximum dose for a couple of days. The second day things can get a bit... runny.

2) Sometimes - how can I put this... the exit gets blocked. When that happens, nothing else will work until I get rid of the blockage.

I use either this :

chemistbeauty.com.au/wp-con...

or this :

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...

Other options are glycerine suppositories but I've never liked them. If you use them, make sure to unwrap them!

None of the things I've mentioned above need a prescription.

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

Some other useful links on magnesium and potassium :

drmalcolmkendrick.org/2013/...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/231...

Be aware that magnesium could be a problem in people with very poor kidney function and in such people should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor - if you can find one who knows anything about it :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/291...