Comment from: Sheila, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: September 25
I am 43 years old and have suffered from severe constipation since I was a teenager. I am in need for what is the current treatment, other than, Amitiza. This medication does nothing to help with my chronic constipation. I have used everything new on the market and have found nothing to help. The one and only drug that every helped me was Zelnorm. Was told recently you could get it on a case by case study. Today, I found out that this study has been canceled.
Published: September 25
I have had chronic constipation for years. I took Zelnorm and it helped immensely. Now they have pulled it from market without any replacement and I am back to square one. Dietary supplements, fiber, and exercise was all implemented prior to the Zelnorm with no positive effect. I do not wish to be laxative dependent, but was hoping something safe is on horizon. I think Zelnorm should have been explained with side effects, and allow the patient to decide.
Comment from: Renny, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: August 21
I have good luck with prune juice for my constipation, but it is still a problem when I'm traveling. If I am checking luggage, I bring the little cans, but if I am carrying on luggage, they are not allowed.
Comment from: Montazer, 55-64 Male (Caregiver)Published: August 21
For me, large amounts of fluids and a high fiber diet has been very effective for my constipation. But I've found that when I get stressed, I get constipated. So I'm learning how to manage my stress better.
Published: August 12
Prune juice has never failed for me. I drink an 8 oz glass and a glass of water, and it takes care of the problem. Be careful though, one time I drank 16 oz thinking I needed a lot to help along with two glasses of water, and I ended up with watery stools!
Published: June 13
My eight year old daughter has suffered constipation since she was born. It gradually got worse. I tried many things that the doctor recommended but I find the most effective to be a regular (every couple of days) dose of Benefiber and if that doesn't work a nice warm bath can sometimes get things moving. I am concerned about the effects of long term use of Benefiber (for a child).
Published: June 11
Drinking warm salt water helps, but only do this as a last resort, on the spot treatment. Too much use of it will dehydrate you. It normally takes 10 to 25 minutes to work on me but for others it could take longer.
Published: May 29
Bananas seem to really help me a lot.
Published: May 27
I have suffered from IBS for many years and through these years I have been given a lot of medicines to relieve the constipation and the pain. Tegaserod has helped me a lot, but now they have taken it out of the market, leaving me with almost none meds to help relieve the constipation and the pain that goes along with it. I have tried natural meds and other anti-spasmodic meds with little effect.
I try to eat healthy foods including vegetables, fruits and foods with fiber. I cannot eat a lot of fiber because I feel like I have eaten a lot and cannot eat more, and a couple of hours later, I need to eat. So over the years I have tried to avoid foods that cause constipation or pain and I don't drink whole milk either. It's been hard, but as the doctor tells me, eat what your body tolerates and that's what I have done.
Comment from: leslee, 65-74 Male (Patient)Published: February 05
I have suddenly become constipated after I was told to take Actonel once a month and two tablets of Caltrate with Vitamin D. The information I have read to find answers to my sudden constipation is very informative and educational. I have scheduled a colonoscopy and will hopefully move on from there with the help of my doctor.
Comment from: Misrable Marla, 19-24 Female (Patient)Published: February 05
I am 22 years old and I have been suffering with constipation since I was 15. I have been to a few doctors and they all tell me the same thing, to eat more fruits and veggies but that just does not work for me. The only thing that i have found recently that does work is MiraLax but you have to drink it for a few days and then wait for it to work in your system. In the mean time you are left in discomfort and sluggish feelings cramped and bloated. I am glad I found MiraLax because it does help when everything else has failed but I don't want to be drinking medicine for the rest of my life. I just do know what to do any more.
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Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Rectal bleeding may be moderate to severe and most bleeding comes from the colon, rectum, or anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and more.
Hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein in the walls of the anus and sometimes around the
rectum, usually caused by untreated constipation, but occasionally associated
with chronic diarrhea. If untreated, hemorrhoids can
worsen, protruding from the anus. Also known as piles.
Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon. Diverticulitis symptoms include: abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Treatment methods include prescription medications, and in some cases, diverticulitis surgery.
Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the
rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain at the pituitary.
Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are
often subtle.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the skin lining of the anus. Pain and/or rectal bleeding during bowel movements are common symptoms of anal fissures. Treatment involves increasing liquid intake, using stool softeners and avoiding foods that may not be well-digested.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which progressively injures the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, reflected by alterations of virtually every sensory or motor function in the body. The cause of MS is primarily unknown. There are different types of MS including relapsing-remitting MS, primary-progressive MS, and secondary-progressive MS. Symptoms of MS rang from mild to severe and examples include visual disturbances, muscle weakness, spasm, and fatigue. Decreased concentration, memory loss, and impaired judgment. Treatment for MS is generally with medications.
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by markedly reduced appetite or total aversion to food. Anorexia is a serious psychological disorder and is a condition that goes well beyond out-of-control dieting. With anorexia, the drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and/or fears relating to one's body. There are psychological and behavioral symptoms as well as physical symptoms of anorexia including: depression, social withdrawal, fatigue, food obsession, heart and gastrointestinal complications, kidney function, flaky skin, brittle nails, and tooth loss (this list is not exhaustive).
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is a common gastrointestinal disorder involving abnormal gut contractions (motility) characterized by abdominal pain,
bloating, mucous in stools, and irregular bowel habits with alternating diarrhea
and constipation, symptoms that tend to be chronic and to wax and wane over the
years. Treatment options include medication and lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and stress management to control symptoms. Also called spastic colitis, mucus colitis, nervous colon syndrome.
Stool color is generally brown. When stool color changes, often, an individual becomes concerned. The presence of the bilirubin in bile is generally responsible for stool color. Bilirubin concentration can vary bile color from light yellow to almost black in color. Changes in bilirubin can cause stool to turn green, gray, or clay-like in color. Intestinal bleeding may turn stool black, tarry, red, maroon, or smelly stool. Medication and food may also affect stool color.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per ml of fluid) are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestine. There are many conditions associated with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, to include: diabetes, scleroderma, Crohn's disease, and others. There is a striking similarity between the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and SIBO. It has been theorized that SIBO may be responsible for the symptoms of at least some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of SIBO include: excess gas, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that develops in plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. Symptoms include bone pain, weakness, extreme thirst, nausea, frequent urination, and broken bones. Treatment of multiple myeloma depends upon the staging and symptoms of the disease.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. It is characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of the body, leading to thickness and firmness of involved areas. Scleroderma is also referred to as systemic sclerosis, and the cause is unknown. Treatment of scleroderma is directed toward the individual features that are most troubling to the patient.
Huntington's disease is the result of degeneration of neurons in areas of the brain. Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder. Early symptoms include mood swings, apathy, depression, and anger uncharacteristic of the individual. Judgement, memory, and other cognitive functions may become impaired. Presymptomatic testing is available for individuals who have a family history of Huntington's disease. Treatment includes medication and therapy for symptoms.
Jet lag (desynchonosis) is a temporary disorder that results from travel across time zones. Symptoms include anxiety, constipation, headache, nausea, dehydration, diarrhea, confusion, sweating, irritability, and even memory loss.
Laxatives for treatment of constipation include over-the-counter preparations such as bulk-forming laxatives, stool softeners, lubricant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline laxatives, enemas and suppositories. Some over-the-counter laxatives are not recommended for patients with specific diseases or conditions. Some laxatives may have negative adverse effects if taken over long periods of time.
Hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid glands. There are two types of hyperparathyroidism, primary and secondary. When the parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, hyperparathyroidism is the resulting condition. Most cases of hyperparathyroidism have no evident cause. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or confusion. Increased calcium and phosphorous excretion may cause kidney stones. The main treatment of hyperparathyroidism is parathyroidectomy.
Hypercalcemia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood are elevated. Hypercalcemia is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney failure, and elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney stones, to name a few. Treatment depends on the cause of hypercalcemia.
Patients with celiac disease are required to eat a gluten-free diet. Gluten is found in rye, barley, and wheat. Gluten damages the intestine in patients with celiac disease. Some mediations contain gluten, so careful monitoring of products consumed is imperative. Patients with celiac disease are also at risk for developing nutritional deficiencies. The information in this article contains both foods that contain gluten, and foods that do not contain gluten.
Menstruation (menstrual cycle) is also referred to as a "period." When a woman menstruates, the lining of the uterus is shed. This shedding of the uterine linking is the menstrual blood flow. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. There can be problems with a woman's period, including heavy bleeding, pain, or skipped periods. Causes of these problems may be amenorrhea (lack fo a period), menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), or abnormal vaginal or uterine bleeding. There are a variety of situations in which a girl or woman should see a doctor about her menstrual cycle.
Urinary retention (inability to urinate) may be caused by nerve disease, spinal cord injury, prostate enlargement, infection, surgery, medication, bladder stone, constipation, cystocele, rectocele, or urethral stricture. Symptoms include discomfort and pain. Treatment depends upon the cause of urinary retention.
Hirschsprung's disease (Hirschsprung), is a disease of the nerve cells of of the large intestine. The primary symptom of Hirschsprung's disease is constipation. Hirschsprung's disease is diagnosed through barium enema, and treatment is surgery.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Abdominal adhesions (scar tissue) bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal organs and tissues. Symptoms of abdominal adhesions are pelvic or abdominal pain. Abdominal adhesions on the intestines can cause bowel obstruction, which is a medical emergency. Treatment for abdominal adhesions is generally surgery to cut the adhesions away from the internal tissues and organs. There is no way to prevent abdominal adhesions.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Chagas disease is an infection caused by the T. cruzi parasite. Symptoms of Chagas disease include rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and the Romaña sign. An ELISA test is used to diagnose Chagas disease. Treatment depends upon the phase of the disease and the patient's age.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I am 43 years old and have suffered from severe constipation since I was a teenager. I am in need for what is the current treatment, other than, Amitiza. This medication does nothing to help with my chronic constipation. I have used everything new on the market and have found nothing to help. The one and only drug that every helped me was Zelnorm. Was told recently you could get it on a case by case study. Today, I found out that this study has been canceled.