my bowel movements have stopped completely

[Larrie12]

I can only have a bowel movement by inserting Dulcolax rectally. This condition is killing me mentally and physically. This is the worst torture possible. Any help

Larry

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Larrie12

Do you have a thyroid condition which you are treated for? If so are you optimally treated? Underactive thyroid can cause constipation.

If not then this is a thyroid forum to help patients with a thyroid condition and your doctor is better placed to help with your problem.

[Larrie12 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I don’t know what condition my thyroid is in. I believe I have gluten intolerance. I have been taking medication for anxiety.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Larrie12]

So if you don't have a diagnosed thyroid condition we can't help, there are no medical professionals here, we are all thyroid patients sharing our experiences of thyroid disease.

There are some bowel related forums here on HealthUnlocked which you might want to check out to see if they can help:

healthunlocked.com/search/c...

If you think you have gluten intolerance then presumably you are doing something about that and you could check out the gluten free forum here:

healthunlocked.com/search/c...

Other than that you should discuss with your doctor.

[Larrie12 in reply to SeasideSusie]

OK Thanks ?

[Sparklingsunshine]

Are you taking antidepressants for anxiety? Constipation can be a side effect of numerous antidepressants, as well as plenty of other medications. You need to consult your doctor.

[Larrie12 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes, I am: Doxepin. The Veteran doctors don’t know what is going on. It’s over their heads. If I knew which medication to stop I would.

Larry

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Larrie12]

How long have you been taking the Doxepin? Its a tricyclic antidepressant and constipation is a known side effect with those. However you shouldn't suddenly stop them as it can gie you very unpleasant side effects. You would need to either taper down gradually or possibly switch to an alternative. Either way you need to see a doctor.

[Larrie12 in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I’ve been taking Doxepin for over a year. My doctors aren’t helping, believe me. They are all Affirmative Action VA hiring for lack of a better term.

[greygoose]

Depression and constipation are both symptoms of thyroid problems. So, if I were you, I'd get my thyroid checked out.

However, here are one or two things to consider when constipated:

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?

2. Are you drinking enough water? 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.

Hope that helps.

[Larrie12 in reply to greygoose]

I get tons of water. The meals I get in this retirement home are terrible. My blood test don’t show any real signs of Calcium abnormalities. Low stomach acid I don’t know. I didn’t take a test for it. Magnesium Citrate doesn’t work. I have to take Dulcolax suppositories to have a bowel movement. I’ll save your suggestions to give to my doctor. Thanks for your help!

[Larrie12 in reply to Larrie12]

Oh yes, I will have my thyroid checked out!!

[greygoose in reply to Larrie12]

OK, but don't be surprised if your doctor pooh-poohs the whole thing. For a start, they don't seem to believe in low stomach acid, and they don't know about the salt-stomach acid connection. And, in the words of one of my doctors, B12 is 'JUST' a vitamin!

Mostly, people have to do a home test for stomach acid levels, because the doctor tests are expensive, so most of them won't do these tests.

How much magnesium citrate have you tried taking? You have to take enough of it for it to work. Have you tried high doses of vit C?

[Arkenstone in reply to Larrie12]

Stewed prunes help constipation. You may need to start taking a few spoons at a time and slowly trying a little more. Increase your probiotic intake. Symprove has helped me a lot.

[Larrie12 in reply to Arkenstone]

it’s not constipation per se my intestine never is not working

[Arkenstone in reply to Larrie12]

Get to an gastroenterologist as soon as possible.

[Larrie12 in reply to Arkenstone]

My intestines have shut down completely. Nothing works anymore not even suppositories. I can’t have a BM anymore. I have to call my doctor first thing in the morning!!!!

[GerbilsinSpace_77]

Have you considered taking mineral oil orally or drinking lots of water??? Watermelon has been known to produce bowel movement. How about drinking several cups of coffee? Caffeine stimulates the bowel material.

Consider taking a few tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil by mouth until you get steady relief and/or rubbing them into your abdominal region. This can help lubricate the bowels.

Don't forget to google "natural treatments for constipation".

If anything gets worse don't hesitate to go to the ER or call 911.

[Arkenstone in reply to GerbilsinSpace_77]

Papayas are used in South East Asia to improve bowel movement. It does work.

[GerbilsinSpace_77 in reply to Arkenstone]

Oh yeah. I don't doubt it. Must be something in the citrus.

[JennaShi]

Hi Larrie12,

I’m so sorry to hear that your having such serious issues with your bowels and want you to know you’re not alone. I saw you mentioned that you’re drinking alot of water and the meals are not very good. You also mentioned that your Drs don’t know what’s going on. Are they willing to check out things such as your thyroid levels (full thyroid panel, B12, Homocysteine, MMA? As someone with bowel issues myself, I want to add a few suggestions in hopes that maybe we can help you get things moving and maybe rule out some more issues in the process. 1. Have they talked to you about IBS-C? This often is a secondary disease to name a few, thyroid problems, Fibromyalgia, and could also be related to autonomic neuropathy)I’m sure there’s more). So it would be awesome and interesting if your VA drs were open to do some more blood work to see if something can be narrowed down.

2. I’m not sure where you’re from but have you ever heard of Puerh tea or Colon Max? Both are excellent options to help you get things going. I think I was able to get both on Amazon. Just a heads up, Colon Max is different for everyone, for me personally it has been a bit more brutal. But it is alot less messy than Miralax which is what my Gastroenterologist recommended on a daily basis.

I’ve been diagnosed with Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis. If you aren’t aware: it’s an autoimmune disease that attacks the parietal cells in my stomach. Parietal Cells are responsible for making stomach acid and for Intrinsic Factor. Intrinsic factor is responsible for absorbing b12 in your food. Besides taking things like PPis and H. Pylori causing gastritis, the immune system can attack your intrinsic factor and your Parietal cells causing a lack of absorption and low stomach acid (tagging on to what Greygoose mentioned). Both IBS, Celiac, and Gastritis issues would definitely be a Gatroenterologist’s department, just make sure to mention and ask about these things because they don’t always check. I think anyone of your Drs can check b12, MMA, and Homocysteine, but knowing what’s going on on the inside may be really helpful too.

[Larrie12 in reply to JennaShi]

Thanks for you detailed response. I will save your message to forward to my doctor. Nothing seems to work. Just for your information once, just once I drank a pint of wine and 6 cups of coffee and that stimulated a bowel movement. I feel hopeless lately nothing seems to work and blood test reveal nothing. Thanks again!!

Larry

[JennaShi]

I hope this helps; please feel free to ask any questions or reach out if you’d like. I will do my best to help.

[Brightness14]

I could suggest having colonic irrigation that could help kick start your bowel movements again. After I had my gallbladder removed I had the same problem but after a couple of colonic's it sorted itself out. I still have to take Lactoluse sometimes.

[Persevere99]

Hi Larrie

Sorry to hear about your bowel not working.

Some general health queries -

- what’s your weight and height

- how much exercise do you do

- are you getting plenty of fibre in your diet

I am on a vegan diet and eat a lot of fibre - banana and mango skins, Inulin, bran etc - and this makes me very regular

All the best!

Persevere99

[Larrie12 in reply to Persevere99]

I do exercise, eat fiber but the signal that produces a wave in my intestines has stopped unless I take a suppository. The doctors know nothing.

[pauluk60 in reply to Larrie12]

hi larrie that sounds like gastroenteritis which means a whole different ball game with eating you need to find to find out if its the vagus nerve not working due to some reason normally diabetes for now dont be eating HEAVY MEALS I HAVE IT if you have no motility in gut all sorts of troubles but how did you know about problem larrie because it should have been followed up on its surprising but a lot of young nurses/dietitians dont know about in uk sorry to say BUT LARRIE IT GOT TO CHECKED AND CORRECT DIET FOLLOWED IF IT IS G/P it not a killer so dont be getting in a state but can make you very unwell just google it and see if symptoms are similar but for now keep things lite for your own comfort sorry to go on but thats life for me let me know how if you want hope all that helps byeeeeeeeeeee ps larrie i am going to upset a lots of peeps here but until proper diagnosis please be wary of some advice here sorry folks theirs a lot i dont knowabout you age weight work other probs you may have YOU NEED GASTRO TO TELL YOU PROPER

[Larrie12 in reply to Persevere99]

Thanks for the info. I believe it’s the Doxepin medication that’s causing my constipation.

[thyroidquest]

Try movicol and magnesium supplements, but make sure it's nothing more serious so go and see your doctor

[Larrie12 in reply to thyroidquest]

Thanks for the info. I believe it’s the Doxepin medication that’s causing my constipation.

[Batty1]

drugs.com/cdi/doxepin-table...

You need to talk to your doctor about your issue and read this information I posted.

[HMBradley53]

try magnesium it works like a charm have you been to a Dr for this problem to figure out whats going on?

[Larrie12 in reply to HMBradley53]

Going to see my doctor. Thanks! Larry

[Blearyeyed]

Are the doctors guiding you in having a Dulcolax suppository?It sounds like an extreme measure to me , and I suffer from IBS Constipation from Gut Dysmotility.

One problem you could have is dehydration , which dealing with the constipation will make worse so drinking the recommended amount of fluids each day will help.

You may also be becoming vitamin deficient if this has been happening for some time , as constipation and stomach inflammation with dehydration stops you absorbing vitamins and minerals that are important in helping your digestive and nervous system to work correctly to have bowel movements. This won't be helped if you don't get nourishing meals or have lost your appetite. Without certain vitamins , including Vitamin B 12 , Folates , Vitamin D , Vitamin K2 and Magnesium at the right levels constipation and digestion can get much worse.

Your GP should do a range of tests including B12 , full Ferritin panel / Iron, Vitamin D and Magnesium , plus a Kidney function and Liver function test. This can check for any deficiencies that may be adding to the problem , and making symptoms from other health issues worse so you can get single supplements in bigger doses to treat it.

You should also be given a combined vitamin and mineral supplement every day after the meal with the most fat in to keep your nutrients balanced.

Getting a supplement containing soluble fibre , like Fibrogel or IRS equivalent and reducing saturated fat foods and insoluble fibre foods can help clear the problem with less laxatives. Buscopan can help ease the pain but it can also mean that your bowel muscles are more relaxed .

An added issue can be the type of medication you are on. If you take certain antidepressants or muscle relaxants they can make it harder for the muscles that move your bowel to help push the movements through. Constipation can also reduce how much of the drugs you need you are getting so you might need to look at the doses you are on until the constipation improves.

With certain relaxant medications the bowel muscles can react less well and if the muscles themselves are weaker you can push to help. Doing Bowel exercises called Kegle exercises through the day can bring some strength back . These exercises are specific to Men or Women , an actually all people should do them . You can get an online PDF free from the NHS website by writing Kegle exercises into the search engine. You literally do them while in a chair or standing up and nobody can see you exercising.

If it continues you could have IBS-C connected to your other health issues but it could be some other sort of inflammation or growth that causes it higher up and you should see a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. These aren't just to look for cancer's but inflammation from all sorts of intestine complaints. If you haven't had any yet bowel nerve conduction tests may find the problem and you could get stimulation, medication or a nerve modulation system to help it.

If it continues you may need to discuss changes in other medications to types that help your health issues but have less effect on your bowel movements.

All the doctors that you see for different things , either physical or mental may need to discuss what's happening to give you a more comprehensive full body care approach.

I suggest you join the IBS network forum on HU. They are a lovely group and can give you lots of helpful advice to pass on to your doctor , or the home about your diet needs as well as an understanding when it gets frustrating or causes you more stress as they have been there too. Take care .

[grumpyold]

All good advice but one additional thing to consider is, visceral manipulation.My SIBO practitioner recommended I try it, but my constipation has resolved with taking 6 Atrantil a day and Alflorex chewable Pro biotics. Also, 2 litres of boiled water each day.

I hope you find some relief, chronic constipation is SO grim. x

[BonnieG123]

hi, Larry. This happened to me after my knee surgery. Three days in hospital and then shipped to rehab where they said “you have to go.” They gave me Senna, in pill form. They said I’d go in about 20 minutes and I did. It worked great while I needed it. Got it over the counter from the drug store when I got home in case I’d need it again. Recently had to throw it away as it expired without my needing them again. Give it a try.

[Larrie12]

Already tried senna docusate

[GerbilsinSpace_77]

Have you yet experienced any relief?

[Larrie12]

I'm at the VA West Haven, CT for my gastrointestinal problem. I can't get in till 1:00 PM. My whole intestines shut down. No relief yet! No more BMs