Redundant colon, lifelong constipation issues--TMI
A doctor explained to my mom that she had a redundant colon--extra-long--which is why some people don't have daily BMs, because after all, their colon holds more and it takes longer for it to fill up and evacuate. This causes problems though because sometimes your stool can harden and be more difficult to move, and as you get older your colon's muscles don't work as efficientaly and... yeah, it gets worse.
I found out that to compound all of these issues, my colon is also extra large in diameter.
Oy.
I was having some really bad abdominal pains and was worried that it might be gall bladder. I'd taken a laxative and had a BM 24 hours before, and still had issues so ended up at the ER. After doing a lot of tests they gave me the verdict. Healthy gall bladder (good news), no othr issues except--the redundant colon issues (see above) and the fact that even though I'd taken a laxative, etc.--my intestines and colon were still full of stool with pockets of gas, which were causing the pain.
Lovely.
ER doc sent me home with instructions to use an enema, then take Miralax and clean myself out, and take this up with my bariatric surgeon for ongoing help.
Four days later, Miralax hadn't done a thing. I called my surgeon and he checked all the ER records (unhappy that the ER hadn't contacted him over the weekend, which means I should have contacted him myself, as well, so lesson learned). He agreed with their conclusions and told me to take magnesium citrate, clean myself out, and moving forward, take daily Benefiber and Miralax every other day and let's see if this keeps things moving through me.
So far I'm not even sure I've got myself cleaned out. One bottle of magnesium citrate caused gurgles and no movement after five hours, maybe six. I went and bought another bottle (gag) and drank it, and went to bed. Four hours later it started moving through me, but honestly I'm not sure I've done enough to be cleaned out. I may end up taking another bottle, but I have to be somewhere at noon to meet somebody so will wait until later today to do this.
Arrrrgh.
Anybody else deal with this issue?
However, even though miralax might as well be a bottle of sand for me, I tried a rx laxative similar to miralax and it actually works ok once i start taking it for a couple days - its called lactulose. It does cause gas/bloating, but its better than going a week without BM.
I never had these problems before surgery though...its all post op developments. Ughh.
www.sexyskinnybitch.wordpress.com - my journey to sexy skinny bitch status
11/16/12 - Got my Body by Sauceda - arms, Bl/BA, LBL, thigh lift.
HW 420/ SW 335 /CW 200 85 lbs lost pre-op / 135 post op
~~~~Alison~~~~~
Proactive measures are called for. I take a dose of store brand Colace in the morning and a dose of Miralax in the evening, plus fiber every day (I now get it from a Quest bar, early on I used supplements). I'm actually regular now for the first time in my life.
Good luck!
Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22
175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012
A problem /long term complications in partial gastrectomy that happens in us VSGrs is bacterial overgrowth...achlorhydria/hypochlorhydria. Due to less HCL produced. Less parietal cells (removed fundus and antrum)...cells that produce HCL. Then we throw a PPI in there...even less HCL produced. HCL is our bodies defense against BAD BUGS we consume everyday from contaminants in water, meats, produce...air, touch -hand to mouth.
I often say our stomachs post VSG is akin to an 80 year olds...because as we age HCL production decreases. If ya ever been around seniors...they start having many GI complaints, constipation, lactose intolerance when there was NONE before, IBS, skin disorders-allergies, ^^ viruses -flus, pneumonia...
Our skin is part of our immune system...a defense system also! but.. 70% of our immune system is in our large intestine...colon! The microflora balance necessary to keep our bodies more healthy, our digestion system runnin smoothly, make Vitamin K...an anti-clotting vitamin. Some 3-5 pounds of microflora reside in our bodies..mostly concentrated in our colons.
No balance...good bugs vs. bad bugs ratio....problems occur.
The best way to get good bugs in ya....is...SUPPLEMENT:
a COMPLETE MULTI-STRAIN PROBIOTICS. as high a count, as many strains as possible. Can also get em from fermented foods...like saurkraut, kimchee, pickles, yogurt (live culture count questionable/suspect..1 or 2 strains insufficient) kefir, yakult. I read an article a long while ago..that said a person must consume 2 yogurts with live cultures EVERYDAY for 2 YEARS...to have lacto/bifida to be of any benefit!
Probiotics the good guys...NEED FIBER everday to colonize and multiply*. A food most VSGrs are severly deficient in anyway...as most Americans are too. So they die off more easily and are eliminiated. FIBER...food of probiotics.
So what is the food of BAD BUGS....our diet!! Acid forming foods.. meats!!, sugar, inc. artificial sugars! we feed bad bugs aplenty everyday! and good guys (fiber) not so much! Imbalance.
*The probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii, the combat probiotic against the bad bug ..C. diff ...must be taken everyday while combating it....as it does not colonize nor multiply.
It takes a good while for the disease process....to manifest. You'll see duodenal/stomach ulcer post VSG..(h. pylori a bad bug rears its ugly head), Crohns, ulcerative colitis, skin problems-excema, psoriasis, yeast overgrowth..candida, vaginitis, GERD when there was none before to name a few.
.I would think constipation isn't because colon muscles don't work properly as we age.. altho it could be a factor.....but by 80..yeah our bodies are windin down significantly...My metabolism sure has ...as I approach 60! Even tho I eat like Im in my 20's! HA!
Ive always been a big PROBIOTIC activist tho...especially for us VSGrs.
I usually do a 2 month regime twice a year..Ive used various complete multi-strain probiotics.. for the last year Dr. Murrays 12/12. . I'll start off with 3 for a few days, then go the 1. (they're good bugs...won't overdose!)
Last year around Christmas shopping not handwashing good, very busy time so overdue on probiotics schedule...I got my FIRST post op cold.. 3 yrs post op. I asked here about drugless..remedies cuz my home go-tos weren't working. Neither did the suggestions offered really only temporary relief...it dawned on me...PROBIOTICS!!...so I did a probiotic enema...next day...my cold improved significantly! No lie! within a couplea days completely gone!
Some symptoms when starting probiotics...might be ^^pethos..lmao flatulence for you non street chicanitos! lol .....and bloat...that's the battle of the balance goin on! It diminishes, hot packs, massages, peppermint or ginger teas...stay the course. you'll find no more constipation tho! and can stop buying/using laxatives long term...that are way worse for your body than probiotics ,-)
Now you know due to genetics...you have some colon differences in "size". Take care of it! Work with it...Its most of your immune system!
PROBIOTICS
http://probiotic.org/
What I do now, at the advise of my fissure surgeon and my primary... I drink at least 10 cups of water per day.. I use a full dose (sometimes half dose if I don't think I need a full one) every single morning in my first cup of water. I also take 1-2 colace per day with lunch and/or dinner. All of these things are stool softeners. They are NOT laxatives so they won't make you use the bathroom, but they will keep your stools soft and moving. It's important to know that laxatives can be habit forming, stool softeners are NOT.
Talk to your primary doctor about the issue and see what they say.
Candy from Austin, TX | Website | MyFitnessPal | My OH Blog
5'6" / HW 375 / SW 355 / CW 150 / Maintaining 155-159 - Goal Reached! 225 Pounds Lost
I've been having a lot of constipation problems for several months now - and I believe it's because I'm supposed to be taking a lot of iron supplements (because my iron is low - had to have a transfusion even) - so I'm really on a seesaw between the iron and laxatives.
I'll give the "Colace" and Miralax a try - thanks, everyone for your information and suggestions!!!!
on 9/29/13 4:40 pm
The best laxatives / colon cleansers I have tried are:
1) Oxypowder
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/?a_aid=509e1826b9bc2
2) Mag07
I would try the Oxypowder first to do a cleanse, and then either continue with the Oxypowder to maintain, or switch to the Mag07 to maintain. The Mag07 has more starch in it, and my body notices a difference with the starch, so the Oxypowder I find more effective.
You should also check in to the possibility of disbiosis or disbacteriosis as that also can cause weight gain (among other symptoms like constipation). There is a test by Genova Diagnostics Metametrix to test for yeasts, parasites, fungi, etc. It's: Genova Lab CDSA 2.0 Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (Includes Parasitology). It is considered the gold standard.
If you want to take that test, and your doctor does not provide it from that lab, then you may always contact Genova, and ask them which doctors have an account with them in your zip code.
I would say start with the Genova Lab CDSA 2.0 Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (Includes Parasitology) first as it is recommended that one be off any antifungals or probiotics etc for 2 weeks prior to the test.
Candidase is another supplement (enzymes) that is sold at the vitamin store that provided some help. If you notice some sort of change during the 2 weeks that you take that then you know that fungi probably has something to do with your problem. It is a key to finding the answer.
I also did the McCombs Plan for candida. That plan helped me achieve a 70% reduction in symptoms. Weight went back to the normal direction, and digestion improved significantly. I had to add in Betaine HCL for the reduced stomach acid. The 2 brands I tried were Thorne Research and Country Life.
The good thing about the McCombs Plan, is that it is already mapped out, and there is no guessing about what will help.
I have tried many probiotics, and the best I have tried are:
1) Mutaflor
2) VSL#3
3) Dr Ohhira's Professional Verson
I hope this information helps you, and I wish you all the best.
My mother has the same thing: extra long colon, and hers has a loop in it. She alternates between severe constipation and diarrhea, and even the bowel prep they do for colonoscopies isn't enough to clean her out. Not that that helps you any, but I just wanted to you to know you're not the only one. Good luck finding something that works.