Hypo, constipated and worried!

[Liz94]

Too much info, I know. But, since I've been off my meds after my surgery I'm so constipated. Is this normal?  The endo told me that when I take the RAI they want me going twice a day to excrete it out of my body. I can't even go once a week!  I've taken Milk of Magnesia, stool softeners, Benefiber everyday, I walk, I drink boatloads of water. And not much is coming out in bulk if you know what I mean!  Is anyone else having this issue?

[lunchladywhms]

I know exactly what you're going through!  It even feels as if all your organs are pressing up into your back and chest.  I went through that twice.  1st RAI and 2 years later for the follow up.  Except for the Miralax I did exactly as you did.  All I could do is wait it out.  I hope the Miralax helps.  And, I too felt as if I couldn't get warm.  I would sleep under 2 comforters while wearing a heavy robe and it was 75' outside!   Muscle pain was worse at night.   You'll get through it fine. It's better to do it now in the winter than miss out on the weather in the summer.   Good Luck

[DLA]

When is your RAI?  Sounds like you might need to get a draw and see if you're there yet.  Sounds like your levels are really high.  Some times the hormones dump and you go super hypo really quickly.  That's what happened to me.  One day was not too bad, two days later I was in bed writhing in pain and crying.  Would be worth a call to the dr, I would think.  This would be the time for pain meds and muscle relaxers. :(

[Liz94]

Well I took the normal dose last night and again this morning and.....nothing.  Maybe tonight I'll double it. Certainly can't hurt at this point. I'd rather have an hour of agonizing stomach pain and get rid of it all than walk around feeling like this.  On top of this now I'm really starting to feel sick from being hypo. Had to leave work today at 1pm and come home and lay down. I feel like my hands are freezing from the inside out and my muscles just worked out hard and are very weak.  I mean, I feel sick. Is it going to get worse and worse or will I have good days and bad days?  I'm glad they took my thyroid out but I'd give anything just to have it back for 30 minutes to feel better than this.

[Liz94]

Well I took the normal dose last night and again this morning and.....nothing.  Maybe tonight I'll double it. Certainly can't hurt at this point. I'd rather have an hour of agonizing stomach pain and get rid of it all than walk around feeling like this.  On top of this now I'm really starting to feel sick from being hypo. Had to leave work today at 1pm and come home and lay down. I feel like my hands are freezing from the inside out and my muscles just worked out hard and are very weak.  I mean, I feel sick. Is it going to get worse and worse or will I have good days and bad days?  I'm glad they took my thyroid out but I'd give anything just to have it back for 30 minutes to feel better than this.

[ChitChatNine]

I am not a Dr., but my Dr. told me the worst it can do is give you the runs then you know not to take as much.  My script was as high as 17grams (the cap line indicator) up to THREE times a day when I was more hypo but I never had to go beyond 2X .. then again, I wasn't backed up a week either.  Not good to keep it there that long as infection/obstruction, etc. can brew as well as PAIN in GI symptoms inc. reflux from pushing up, etc. and headaches, too.  I get canker sores in my mouth!

C~

[DLA]

When my little boy gets really blocked his pediatrician has me double his dose for faster results.  He's only 7 and 80 lbs (he's not fat, almost 5ft tall).  It works by the next day for him.  Hope you get some relief soon, there's not much that is more miserable.  My poor little one does that all the time.  Even makes him run really high fevers.  Actually, that's how I usually find out.

[ChitChatNine]

My constipation is hypo related and GI recommended Miralax and it works wonders.  You get desired results with being able to easily up/down the am't of powder you take.  All the products you mention most likely will not help if you are that bad and it is from hypo .. you may need some help and MIralax is gentle, non stimulating, non-addictive and scripted for infants by Ped GI's.  The best news is that Miralax is now over the counter.

If you take the dose of MIralax and take it 2X a day you will go 2X a day w/o a problem.  If you had this before the surgery they would do all sorts of tests to rule out the big stuff but since it just happened right after surgery it most likely is from lack of hormones in the thyroid dept.

Cheryl

[Liz94]

I went and got the Miralax and took 1 dose in a glass of water. Now you are saying I can double it?  Should I wait and see if get any relief by tomorrow or just go and chug another glass right now!!? I'm not opposed to chugging another glass. I'll do anything at this point. Thanks for letting me know I"m not alone with this lovely problem.

[kipland]

So much fun that we thycans get to do it once a year!!  Whoo-hooo!!  Although, my doc said I could do the thyrogen injections next time.  They're currently putting it through my insurance to see if it'll be covered.  I sure hope so!!  It'll beat having to get good and hypo again.

[DLA]

Yee Haw!  Too much fun.

[kipland]

And oh what fun it is.  I think most of us have been there at one time or another.  It's such a horrible feeling!
{{{{{ Hi Dac!!!!! }}}}}}  ~: > )=

[DLA]

Welcome to the wonderful world of hypohe//.  Yes, this is completely normal.  Miralax is a miracle stool softenener and non-habit forming to boot.  If you start out with 2X the dose it gives and do that for just a couple of days you should see unbelievable results.  I took it when nothing else helped and my 7yo has to take it every day.  Even 2yo's can take it, so it is completely safe.

Once you get relief I would continue to take something like Miralax until you get your TSH back to normal from getting blocked again.

Not too much info, just part of it all.
Dac

[Joni65]

Hello

I went to a web site called medicinenet.com and here is a interesting paragraph I found so I copied and pasted for you, but go check it out if you have time because it is very interesting.

Hormonal disorders: Hormones can affect bowel movements. For example, too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) and too much parathyroid hormone (by raising the calcium levels in the blood) can cause constipation. At the time of a woman's menstrual periods, estrogen and progesterone levels are high and may cause constipation. However, this is rarely a prolonged problem. High levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy also can cause constipation.

I have tried Bisacody 5mg which is over the counter, but it caused me to have lower abd. cramping which was no fun!  I have heard that Miralax is good too and is not as harsh on the intestines as Bisacody 5mg.  

If you have tried laxatives without good responses maybe its time to call the Physician and see what needs to be done or maybe the Physician can give you something!  I have heard that the intestines can hold quite a bit of fecal material!

GOOD LUCK  

[kipland]

I believe that this is normal.  When you're hypo, everything slows down - especially digestion and.....that.  I had the problem as well, but chalked it up to the fact that I was barely eating anything because of the nausea.  After I started eating normal, that too returned to normal.

I hope this gets better for you, because I know how uncomfortable that is!!  

Lori

[skymax2000]

Have you tried prune juice? I use to get constipated all the time. It really sucks.

[ifupleze]

Someone suggested a product called Miralax, I believe.  Said it worked wonders.