Help!!! Going through Menopause and am having severe constipation

[blnewsome]

I am a 52 year old woman going through menopause with my hormones all out of wack. I also have Hypothyroidism. I am having severe problems with constipation. All the stuff that I read about this says that laxitives, enemas, and taking fiber (stuff that you normally would use for this) doesn't work. I am wondering what else could be used or what else could be done to help me with this problem, or is it something that I will always have to deal with?  I am worried that something else may be wrong.

[horse1]

i take 2 tbs of flax & 4 prunes soaked in a cup of water overnight every AM & try to chew some of the flax...(i'm 50 yo). it may not taste great, but it is a healthy alternative to OTC laxatives etc. it has phytoestrogens & anti-viral, anti-fungal properties to name a few, and has the EFAs that are so important..may take a few days for it to "kick in", but give it a try..it has helped my skin & hair a lot too.

[waitandsee]

I am in peri and have the same problem
2 years ago I missed my first period, but suffered severe constipation for 9 months. I was tested for ovarian cancer with vag. ultra sound, had barium enema, and ct. all showed nothing and it resolved on its own.Nothing I did worked.

I am having the probems again, missed 2 periods, last being Jan. and am having severe constipation. Am on motility drugs, lots of benefibre, magnesium and flax, veggies etc.Taking senna but the only thing that brings me back to soft tummy and normal weight is castor oil, which  I resort to when I have the time to stay home and go all day. It feels like I go by gravity alone once I am so full, small amounts and soft.No urgency,have to strain.

I do not want to suffer 9 months like last time, (so bad it causes urinary incontinence if I run,back aches etc)and hope I solve it once and for all. I am sick of people telling me to take more fibre. I am thin and pretty active.

If you sound similiar, let me know as no site talks about hormones causing this bad constipation. I am going to repeat some of the tests , but am not hopeful for an answer. I don't want to become a bowel obsessed old lady.(I.m 48). I want to get a prescription for natural prednisone cream, as this is probable what I am lowest in.

I'll share what  I learn, and it won't be drink more water, excercise and fibre. No one asks for help without trying those things first.

[gjygtjug]

Hi waitandsee,

I am 27 now and I'm not having menstrual periods since past 3.5 years. I had periods only when I use contraceptive pills but I stop taking them again the problem is same, i.;e no periods. In addition to this I have got severe constipation problem also. No regular bowel movement at all and no complete evacuation all the time. I've tried all means like taking more and more fiber and I drink 4 liters of water per day. Have increased eating veggies a lot. But still there is no change. Could you please please help me in this regard? Thank you.

[jdtm]

The thing that worked best for me was to take a 30-45 minute walk in the morning.  Usually, I had to hurry back in order to reach the bathroom on time.  By the way, I ate my "fibre" cereal before venturing outside.

[hope_for_more]

I guess everyone is different.  I am perimenopausal and have been for several years.  I do walk daily and eat well but the thing that helps me the most with constipation is a magnesium supplement.  It helps my muscle cramps and aches as well.  (of course I'm taking other supplements too.)

[drmaegan]

There are such a multitude of symptoms that go on with imbalanced hormones, including menopause symptoms and hypothyroid because all the glands - gonads, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, hypothalamus work together as the Endrocrine System.  In order to achieve the best of health, it's important to find out where the imbalance lies and correct it at cellular level.  I do saliva testing and hair analysis, which you can do at home, to determine all the hormone levels in the Endocrine System, find out where the imbalance is and correct it with the use of whole food supplements, herbs and bioidentical hormones.  Check out my website for more information:  www.****.com  Yours in Health, Dr. Maegan

[petitejayna]

Hi: Have you ever tried to add more saturated fat to your diet?  I realize this is not the standard medical norm being preached today but it's something to consider looking into with a naturopathic practitioner. Drinking lots of water and adding more fiber doesn't always help.  In fact, more fiber can sometimes make the problem worse.  Try adding more essential fatty acids to your diet.  Buy a can of regular, full fat (not the light variety) coconut milk. You can find 14oz cans of coconut milk in the grocery store or in a natural food market.  Try to get the highest saturated fat content you can find. Mix the contents of the can of coconut milk with 1-1/4 cups of filtered water, a little sea salt (about 1/4 tsp or so -- maybe a 1/2 tsp for taste), one tablespoon of raw honey or maple syrup.  Blend this mixture in a blender.  This makes about a quart.  The mixture will store in the refrigerator about 3 days.  I make a smoothie with this in the morning adding a piece of fresh orange and some pineapple.  The orange contains potassium which is good for constipation.  I use about 4 oz. to about 6 oz. of this blended milk for my smoothie.  You can drink less in case you are not used to the taste. I also use this mixture as a coffee creamer, too, and add it to my cereal. I drink coconut milk drinks twice a day regularly -- but that's just for me and I'm not recommending it to everyone.  All bodies react differently and we are all not made the same!

A word about fiber....eating lots of fiber or taking fiber supplements at the same time as you would eat your fats like flax seed oil, fish oils or coconut milk is not advisable.  The fiber will absorb the fat and your intestines won't get the essential fatty acids.  Oatmeal and other high fiber foods act like a sponge and soak up fats from the body and remove them.  It will also absorb the fat from your good fats like fish oils, etc.  

You can also cook some greens in a little bit of coconut milk and eat them.  As we age our bodies sometimes can't handle the same foods we ate when we were younger.  Dairy products always bind me up.  Calcium supplements do the same for me as well.  The coconut milk helped me when I had a bit of constipation.  Even though the current diet mantra is low fat or no fat, when we enter the menopause phase we need more natural saturated fats. No trans fats or man-made vegetable oils like cottonseed or soybean. Our bodies don't digest these fake fats. Women need natural saturated fat from animals that are traditionally pasture-fed and raised on grass.

Constipation that goes on and on is miserable.  I know how it feels.  I hope you get some relief soon.  Take care of yourself.

Petitejayna

[hotrodgirl]

There is a product that you can buy at wal-mart that works very well.  When I had a colonoscopy I asked my gastro doc about it and he said it was safe to use everyday if need be.

For the life of me I can't remember the name.  I have some in my pantry at home, I'll look tonight and come back and tell you what it is.

It is mild, but does work.

[pinklady01]

Its wonderful to read these comments.  I didnt know if I was beginning of change but have had some sweats off and on for years.  Suddenly periods every 2 weeks and then nothing for 2 months.  Dont normally have toilet problems but now constipation.  Prune Juice however it is vile, holding nose helps, this did help to start.  My doctor started to worry me as I have to go for tests.  But listening to the above comments hopefully it will be the same.  So thanks for the above comments, I now feel I am not alone!!  
by Pinklady

[Sanderdoe]

I am post menopausal and have been having problems with constipation on and off for a couple of years. I too have been for tests and nothing has turned up. It's worrisome to me as I have never had a severe problem like this. It's often triggered by stress but once started is really difficult to resolve. Even perscription drugs the doctor has given me don't always work. The thing that works best is consistency in my diet and exercise and stress level. Not easy to control! I too am tired of hearing more fiber, water, etc. Magnesium helps sometimes for me too.

[brook320]

I am postmenopausal with hypothyroidism.  I have suffered from severe constipation much of my life but noticed that it became much worse in the last two years.  I suspect that the thyroid changes may be playing a major role.

I became hyperthyroid recently and noticed that my bowels were actually normal for once.  Of course, the other symptoms were not good.  My thyroid medication was reduced to counter the hyper, and now I'm back into the intractable constipation situation again.

  

[mojo1345]

I was having what you were going thru . i also  have hypothyroidism  .  it turned out I had  alot gallbladder stones  they had to take my gallbladder .  if none of the over the counter is helping you should get in to see your doctor

[murphybird]

try grinding up flax seeds in a coffee blender and put 1 tlbs. in shake or cereal in morning, works great to keep you regular and is a great sourse of omega 3 fatty acids

Note: you have to grind the flax seeds for the benifits

[stella5349]

Being hypothyroid will slow the body process and cause this alot.

To get the system charged up again - I found with my doctors thought that taking a acidophillus and magnesium citrate supplement would help.

It sure did and I am regular now.

[gint518]

I always had this problem before my periods, and I have it now because I am on pain meds. The only combination that worked for me was fiber and a stool softener. I usually get generic Colace. My father was a pharmacist and he always said that Colace worked mechanically; in other words, it's just a softener, it doesn't do anything else in your body. Just thought Iwould put my two cents in for anyone who hasn't found the right combination yet!

[Keynote]

Have you heard of Salba? It tastes like ground flax seeds but is supposedly much more potent and also has good immune and joint qualities as well. Read about it. I got some today and am trying it out. I usually take 4 psyllium caps every morning but sometimes that does not always work. Good luck

[peggy64]

Something you might want to try as well, is to heat up a cup of prune juice, and drink it like hot tea. It is not to bad.

I am also having this problem. I have many glandular problems, which compounds the problem.

I wish I could just wave a magic wand, or say lets take this pill or eat this food, and presto! we would be like we were when we were younger. Oh wait, I had constipation issues when younger too.

What to do? enduring gets old.

[cortex_toom]

hi i'm 32, i suddenly began suffering from severe constipation and light periods, i have been to a gi and a gyn, : i had these tests:

CA125 - (4)
TVUs (4 tvus normal)
a pap smear
clinical breast exam
colonoscopy,
cbc, esr, crp, cpk, calcium levels,  abdominal and pelvic ultrasound where i had to drink water and hold my excuse my no 1
i'm going to do an mri of my abdomen and a ca test
i don't know what s more to be done, i cancelled the gastroscopy coz the doctor thinks and also i think that stomach problems would only be present if one vomits although i am taking a stool softener, i had diharrea this morning where i saw partially digested food in my no 2, but they were mainly carrots and seeds...and i think this is common in diharrea. i think my gi system cannot digest  certain foods..but my doctor asssured me i have no celiac desease...i feel bloated i'm depressed, i don't want to go to work untill this problem is solved, i wish somone can tell me that it's my reproductive hormones causing all this...according to the tests i have done all is normal, should i proceed for the mri? it's my choice not the doctors...again!
newcomer

[sick and tired 47]

Miralax is over the counter product my son's dr gave him to use every day for chronic consitipation... it worked. Also take 400 mg of magnesium daily in pm.. it will calm your nerves, help you sleep, and relieve constipation ( oxide is the cheapest and most laxative form, citrate is better brand... but less likely to cause diarrhea/ loose bowels).
Good luck!!!

[cortex_toom]

hi thanks for your answer. I use dufalac for my ibs-c, upper gi series is scheduled for the next 2 weeks, the doctor is going to talk me about having the small bowel test or just diagnose me with ibs after the test which i'm going to do in two weeks, gyn told me since tvus are normal laparoscopy is not needed, he told me they don't usually open patients until they have found a cyst or something abnormal in the endo/uterus/or ovary. he is sure that stress caused anovulation, i must get on pill to get normal periods, because my stress has disrupted both gi and reproductive system, in case i'm planning for children then i need to worry, at the moment i will do regular tvus, like i did 4 already, in august i will schedule a pap and i will see if i can do tvu in the same day...i already did a pap in march too...
i'm mind at rest that only my stress has disrupted my body functions, i ws told that a counciller is best after doing the tests and all  come normal, it's really surprising how stress disrupts the system. sometimes this happens even due work related stress, i work 8 hours a day so you can imagine, being out of your home is enough to cause you missing your parents and this can also contribute to such symptoms, i also suffer from fybromyalgia (pain n the muscular system( also done tests, like emg, blood tests like cpk, esr, crp, cbc, lipid profile(all normal)...that concludes fibromyalgia.. im tired of doing tests..and skipping work for this reason, i was an inpatient (emergency) for several tests, including ultrasound, and blood tests, which came normal.
every doctor i visit tells me that i am visiting a lot of doctors, and instead i should have a councilling session or message and rest a bit from my normal hectic schedule...i have a friend who suffers from anovulation, she is on the pill, coz she wants a baby...as i am not married i don[t consider the pill but after that and periods are not normal, i will consider the pill...

[cortex_toom]

by the way the clean prep sux big deal sorry for the word....anybody had this experiance...lol, i'm waiting for the hospital bill, so till now i spent over 1000 euro not to exaggerate but i had a lot of tests that sometimes i can't remember them all and in my country one endoscopy is like 700 eur. like my colonoscopy...but since i have a job i should not worry i prefer to go to a private hospital rather than a gov hospital, my cousin had to wait one year for his mri, he had a very big headache and was stressed he wanted to get check but couldn't to make it really surprising, he was an employee (nurse) working overnight with patients there, so let alone, if you are just an outpatient....they don't treat their staff what about other outpatients? that's why i prefer a private hospital,....
well i think i'm babbling, but doing tests is best to get your mind at rests....

[mike160]

Smooth Move  It's a herbal tea. Some grocery stores have it. My wife and buy it at a vitamin shop. It's works incredible well.

[rockie40]

An update on this, after reading these notes I visited Henry's (smooth move work's but it is a stomaching cramping laxative) they recommended Oxy-cleanse. I cannot believe how well it worked. I have suffered from this all my life. The only time I would have no problems was a week before my period. Now going through menopause everything just seemed to stop. The degree of constipation is mind boggling. I could only go with Smooth Move and an Enema! after 2 weeks. I paniced when I could not go for 2 weeks 3 times over a 6 week period without an enema. With the Oxy-cleanse (colon cleanser) I started on 7/30, went on 7/31 and again on 8/3! No cramping or enemas! Everything I have read about this product says it is non-addictive and can be used daily.

[keely49]

Thank you for your comments re your experience with constipation!  I thought no one in the world had as much trouble as I do. You are the first person who has mentioned  "not going" for 2 wks..., and I have gone even longer than that before.  I have had problems my entire adult life, but am a few months shy of 50 and can not believe just how bad it is!  I have tried everything from fiber, exercise, water, prunes, laxatives, and even had an upper and lower GI. MD says I have an "extra long colon"...  ???guess I was born that way! He prescribed miralax and amitiza... not working either!! Also , recently diagnosed with low thyroid T4 yet no doctor has given me anything for that yet!  I am about to just treat myself with Synthroid from Canada or something!!   Losing my mind... don't know whether to scream or cry!!! Menopausal too.,,,, just wish I could get my GI tract straightened out!!   Hang in there....  Glad the Oxy-cleanse is working... I will look into that... Thank you again. keely49

[catherineD1960]

I notice a lot of people talking about fiber, but no one talking about the fiber products.  When I was pregnant, I soon discovered prune juice and colace were of no use at all, but Metamucil, or a generic brand of it, worked really well, without my having to position myself near a bathroom all day.  You can vary the dose from a rounded teaspoon to 3 rounded teaspoons a day.  My doctor also tells me that there is nothing wrong with taking this kind of fiber for the rest of your life.  The only caution is that you must be able to drink a glass of water or juice fairly rapidly (it is stirred into a drink and thickens quickly).  This is a better way to go than most other products, which are not meant to be taken regularly.  Doctors are kind of strange when it comes to talking about constipation I have found, but people who suddenly develop constipation should talk to their doctor about whether a colonoscopy might be in order.  And if you find that you are also having other symptoms - like can't eat or drink that much - well, with me, that meant non-Hodgkins lymphoma - a CT scan shows it, but not an ultrasound.  Just some things to know...