Newbie With Chronic Constipation

[hopefull799]

I was just Diagnosed with celiac disease. I have chronic constipation. I have tried adding fiber & miralax. I Can only go using laxatives but who wants to do that all the time. Any suggestions?

[IrishHeart]

Probiotics,

ground flaxseed in a big glass of water,

more veggies and fruits,

more glasses of water (we need to stay hydrated),

yoga,

and

time. 

Time for the gut to heal.

 

If it continues, maybe ask for a thyroid panel. Sometimes hypothroidism causes big C (we just use that for constipation on here--we get lazy writing that out all the time  )

 

Welcome to the forum!

Hope you get it resolved soon.

[nvsmom]

Ditto IrishHeart. My chronic C started to go after about 4 months once I began thyroid medication for hypothyroidism. At 11 months gluten-free, and 9 months on thyroid meds, it is pretty much better. I found patience was really helpful... And that is all that was helpful. Lol. I hope it is fixed for you soon.

[pricklypear1971]

Thyroid meds helped some (thyroid dx was years before celiac).

It takes time for gluten-free to help with celiac d - or it did for me.

Exercise helps, so yoga like IH suggested or walking...

Sugar would make me a bit c'd. Dehydration. I needed LOTS of veggies to keep things steady. Not as sensitive now - coming up on 2 years.

[hopefull799]

Thanks everyone. I have added psyllium and flax seed oil also. Will see if that helps. This is all so overwhelming. Ever other disease has medicine u can take but celiac.

[pricklypear1971]

  On 5/18/2013 at 12:54 PM, hopefull799 said:

Thanks everyone. I have added psyllium and flax seed oil also. Will see if that helps. This is all so overwhelming. Ever other disease has medicine u can take but celiac.

And medications have their problems. I take the meds for thyroid. It isn't a magic pill. I don't eat gluten-it's closer to magical.

You'll get there.

[IrishHeart]

  On 5/18/2013 at 12:54 PM, hopefull799 said:

Thanks everyone. I have added psyllium and flax seed oil also. Will see if that helps. This is all so overwhelming. Ever other disease has medicine u can take but celiac.

 

No medicine is a very good thing, you will come to see this when you feel better.

 

Use ground flax seed meal hon, not the flax  oil for getting the pipes to flow. Drink lots of water with this and the psyllium or you'll just get bound up.

 

Lack of enough water is often the reason so many people have C. 

 

Hang in there. Try to be patient--and get walking. You need to move...well, to "move". 

 

[cap6]

I am 3 1/2 years gluten-free and still struggle with constipation, although it is getting better.  Healing takes time and can take longer depending on your age, how long you have been sick and so on.   That doesn't help tho when dealing with C.!! 

I have used all of the suggestions given (water, water, water is a biggie) and walking.  That really helps as well.  I also drink a herbal tea called Smooth Move and it has really been a life saver for me.  Altho we would prefer things to be natural, sometimes it just doesn't work that way and our body needs a little help.  I started out taking the tea every night and did that for about 6 months (that's how long it took for me personally to get on track but everyone is different), then I went to every other night and now I am at every third night.  I know that my body is healing as there are days when I can go without any "help".    

[dani nero]

The reason some celiacs get constipated is that their damaged small intenstines don't process the food completely, which leads to the continuous absorbtion of the moisture in the food instead of the nutrients (since the food isn't comletely processed), until the food (then in stool form) has become extremely dry by the time it reaches the large intestines. That's why fibers alone don't help. You need water, and a lot of it + probiotics to help the intestines regulate and heal faster. The problem with chronic constipation is that it can cause the large intestines to get larger, and in turn not be able to feel when you need to go.. I think.. I'm not sure.. which is why you might be needing laxatives. I think that when I read about that I also read that they can go back to their original size after you've healed.

 

I was so reluctant and bummed about using probiotics in the beginning until everyone here convinced me to use them. They've done wonders!

[dani nero]

By the way I am curious, since I also suffered from chronic constipation, what other symptoms did you experience beside the constipation? If you had cramps, what type? Do you have a rash, mood swings, depression and so on?

[hopefull799]

I had bloating, cramping, sides hurt, nausea, vomiting, tired all the time.

[rustycat]

I don't know if it will work for you, but I take a lot of magnesium every day and it has worked wonders - relaxes me, too! Just be careful to start slowly, if you take too much, you'll have the opposite problem.