r/ColonicInertia

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

Hi all,

Thanks for taking a read.

Possible new ostomate in the future...depending on some things. Long story short, I had a sigmoidectomy 4+months ago. Was doing pretty well the first month of recovery, then all of a sudden the bowels decided to kind of turn off. It´s been a struggle since. Many Er visit, Gi doc appointments later I can only have a bowel movement around every 3 to 5 days, that´s with using something like bisacodyl or golytely. Daily bloating, nausea, pain, etc has left me wishing I never got the surgery (was for diverticulitis), as I literally feel worse now than prior.

Whatever the case...I´m still working with GI and some testing....Defecography, Anal mamomentry, etc. THough my surgeon , who has been great, has set aside a Sept. date for me to get a loop ileostomy If we decide it´s the best route.

Seems like I´m heading that way....I´ve tried prescription meds for the dysmotility...to no avail. One more to try. But honest.....If an ileostomy will give me even 50% of my life back I´d do it. My diet is terribe, I´ve lost weight, strength, etc. This whole ordeal has taken just about everything from me.

So, I guess I´m just looking for any advice, opinions, experiences with a loop ileostomy. I know it will be quite a change...but I´m looking for any solution.

Thanks!!!!

Hi, everyone, I have been a part of this subreddit for about 5/6 months currently. I am a person myself with Colonic Inertia, Sensorineural hearing loss and multiple other mental health issues. I will be studying the lived experiences of people with Disabilities in India particularly.

Does anyone here have any experience with long term use of Peristeen (or any other TAI system for that matter)? I have suffered with colonic inertia and chronic slow transit constipation for over half of my life. I was formally diagnosed about 15 years ago by a colonic transit time study, x-ray defecography and anorectal manometry. I have tried and failed prescription drugs and a wide variety of OTC laxatives. I am currently on a cocktail of bisacodyl tablets and Miralax, but that is hit or miss in terms of effectiveness. The next logical step in treatment, before resorting to surgery, would be a trans anal irrigation program.

I had a one-month trial of Peristeen a couple of years ago and found it effective in relieving my symptoms. Unfortunately, my health insurance declined coverage going forward for the consumable supplies. I did not feel that I could continue by paying out of pocket.

Over the past few years, the cost of the monthly consumables pack has come down considerably. I can now buy the 15 disposable catheters and water container for $234 US. I am willing to commit to Peristeen long term but was curious what other long-term users (more than a few months) have to say about their experience. In particular, I am interested in knowing whether the body builds up a tolerance, making the effectiveness wane over time. That has definitely happened to me with all manner of laxatives.