Begging for Help! - 3 Years of Chronic Constipation
Guys, I'm looking for some really good advice. I've suffered from chronic constipation for three years now (2023). I was diagnosed with SIBO and it was cured with rifaximin and diet. Relief was initially colonics and that would provide me with relief but I would still get backed up and bloated even though I did them once a day. I went to a GI, and she gave prucalopride 2mg saying you'll definitely go now - that didn't work. She said the same when she then gave me linaclotide 290mcg - that didn't work either. Then she gave me both, saying this will WORK you will have diarrhea - that didn't work either. For the past year, I switched to dulcolax on top of the linaclotide and prucalopride. 2 pills initially provided good relief, but I worked my way up to 6 from Feb 25 to July 25. Now I have to take 8 to get good relief. I try to take them every 3-4 days, because I cannot go without anything else. I noticed when I went away to london the effects got a bit stronger and I had what I felt was complete emptying even the next day. I did seem to be walking lots more. I do also suffer with stress and anxiety and am on 10mg of lexapro since 2021. And I am now trialling 15mg. I have also been to a PFD, I am now able to relax my pelvic floor well, but I still have issues with the muscle being very painful to touch.
- Do you have the urge to go, but you cannot? Or do you have zero urge to go? (this is the most important question) I do get urges, but only let out a fart
- Do you have alternating diarrhea and constipation, or just constipation? just constipation
- Do you have nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, or early satiety (getting full really early into a meal)? no
- Have you had this issue since childhood, or did it begin in teen years/adulthood/after a major life event (surgery? divorce? car accident? mauled by bears?) 13ish september 2023, I also got really drunk one night a week before it happened and ended up on the street with not much memory, I ended up being safe and picked up, but it was a bit traumatising. I remember speaking about it with my therapist one day, and I pooped when I got home.
- Did you in the past or do you currently take any medications that could damage your intestines? The acne drug Accutane/Sotret/Claravis/many other names (isotretinoin) has been linked to serious conditions of the digestive tract. I am absolutely convinced that my large intestine was destroyed by this drug. Antibiotics are also a major culprit in ruining the small intestine microbiome and causing diarrhea/constipation disorders. Antidepressants can ruin the serotonin balance in the gut as well. isotretinoin Jan 23-Jun 23, stopped because it was making me really hot and red in the face, began 10mg again in late september
- Did you suffer sexual abuse as a child? There is a high degree of correlation between childhood sexual abuse and adult constipation disorders. Meaning, a lot of people with chronic constipation disorders in adulthood experienced trauma when they were young. This sort of thing must be investigated by both your doctor and a therapist in coordination. Do some Googling on this topic if you believe this might be your issue. Physical abuse yet, hit with the belt