I've suffered with it all my life, but it's severe now.
My diet is allergen free. I have a lot of food allergies that make this issue worse. I am very strict, but those in my household still consume all of the allergens so there is a possibility for cross contamination.
I take an herbal laxative with triphala and other nice herbs in it (no cascara or senna or addictive laxatives in it) and magnesium oxide. My diet is primarily fiber and I drink a gallon of water a day.
This time, it's been over 3 weeks since I've really gone. Has anyone else gotten this bad? It's been worse for me, but I wasn't treating the disease at that time so I didn't worry as much about becoming toxic.
If you have struggled with this, how were you able to get through it and continue treating? What caused it for you? What contributed?
Thank you in advance for the advice.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
dulcolax!!!
it's what my gastro and llmd recommend. safe, soft and gentle.
but be prepared to stay home. sometimes it works immediately other times took 6-8 hours.
i'd say if you're that stopped up, give it a full 4-6 hours.
Posted by NeuroEcclectic (Member # 17783) on :
Awesome article. Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
Randibear- I'm just like NeuroEcclectic, laxatives don't work for me! But thank you for the suggestion, I might try it anyway just because I feel sort of desperate.
Neuroecclectic- I'd love to know more about what Barleans FORTI-Flax is. I have a ton of food allergies and can't digest a lot of different things (fats are hard because they slow motility further), but maybe it'd work for me. I'll PM you shortly.
Kgg- I've read the article before, thank you. That article is what convinced me I have lyme disease (and I know I have other things as well, yeast, viruses, parasites, etc). But I can't find in the article where it says what to actually DO about it. Are there any suggestions in that article?
Thank you...
Posted by NeuroEcclectic (Member # 17783) on :
I swear by Barlean's. If anyone wishes to know how I prepare it send me a PM.
Px, ~John.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
magnesium CITRATE is what a ND told me.
Posted by HaplyCarlessdave (Member # 413) on :
Which abx are you on? For me oral clarithromycin (brand name 'biaxin') sure seemed to make any tendency toward constipation completely disappear. I did have considerable g-i trouble with lyme, though. Yarrow, and psyllium seed husk powder helped immensely. Psyllium husk powder has a laxative effect- stir about a tblespoon into a large glass of water, let it sit and gel up for a minute, then drink it (warning-NOT too yummy...) DaveS
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I take a prescription probiotic that keeps me regular as long as I keep the yeast down.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
because i have colon issues i couldn't take the phyllium or most bulk products.
anyone who has colon or intestional issues needs to be careful. with diverticulities and having polyps removed now twice i don't dare do a lot of cleansing. and with having c. diff already i'm doing good to be able to take probiotics and buhner.
Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
HaplyCarlessdave, thanks for the input. I'm not on antibiotics right now, just herbs (HH, knotweed, etc). I had the same experience on Biaxin though! I couldn't tolerate the herx so I had to stop, but for the short amount of time I was on it, I could "go"!
Maybe it's not the biaxin itself that makes you go, but actually killing the infection that it treats? Is biaxin for a particular co-infection, or just lyme in general?
I feel like bulking products might not be what I need, since my diet is incredibly high in fiber. So frustrating.
Posted by Elaine G (Member # 20735) on :
Miss P Try one slippery elm pill with your first and last meal of the day. It should help to keep you regular. That is once you have taken care of the immediate problem of consitpation.
It works for me.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Magnesium Citrate!!! Prune Juice(warm) Im sure you know it is not good that you havent gone in three weeks.
have you consulted with a GI specialist?
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
Magnesium CITRATE , NOT OXIDE , will REALLY help . I take three capsules before bedtime. Some others swear by another form of Mag citrate, called "Natural Calm" . The regular mag citrate capsules are cheaper and work well for me.
Posted by jennyflyer (Member # 12792) on :
I know fruit juices are a no-no for keeping yeast at bay, but this works without fail for me: a 6-8 oz glass of prune juice microwaved until warm. One minute should do.
And throw in a ducolax for good measure.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i take mag tab sr 2 am and 2 pm when neccesary and senna tea
Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
Ugh, it's been like 4 weeks now.
I'd still like to hear from anyone who has gotten through treatment with this issue. I don't know how I can treat the disease like this. It's crazy.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
hmm, what about milk? i know we're not supposed to drink dairy but one glass and i'm on the toliet.
Posted by ericaf (Member # 10929) on :
For me magnesium oxide works better than citrate and I take 1500mg a day to be regular but you can increase it like 2000mg or 2500mg
Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
Randibear- thank you for the suggestion but my food allergies are very bad. Milk causes me not to go to the bathroom for 2 to 3 weeks after I consume it.
Erica- I agree, Magnesium oxide works better for me too. Magnesium citrate has never induced a bowel movement for me. I could increase my dose even more...I'm at 2400 mg and I have gone 1 pill higher before. Maybe I'll try 200 more mg. I just tend to become "sensitive" to it if I increase it too much. I get dizzy, weird heart stuff, etc...and then it doesn't even matter if I take 200 mg, the dose will still make me dizzy and sick.
Oy. Has anyone out there not gone for this long? I'm searching for stories for hope...I just can't seem to find any. I've had this issue for years and I don't know how to overcome it so I can treat the disease and detox it.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Sorry to hear that you are struggling with this symptom too.
It is not unusual for me to go over 5wks without having a BM. I have been diagnosed with vagal neuropathy (damage caused by Lyme and Co's). It affects my entire GI tract.
I take about 2grams of Mag Malate (NOW brand) per day, Miralax, and cytotec. This combination helps somewhat. I also drink alot of water and eat high fiber diet.
Like you, laxatives do not work. Enemas cause pain and do not produce results. Colonics were a nightmare. Have tried many other RX, OTC, and herbal meds and even acupuncture.
My best advice to you, keep trying what you can to find what works for you. Maybe try a different type of Mag and break the doses up throughout the day.
Keep treating Lyme and Co's. That's really the key here. I'm hoping that once the infections are gone my body will be able to heal and repair the damage done.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Miralax.
Even though it is made of plastics of some sort it is very gentle and gets me though the tough times and if you do not treat and get things moving then it is dangerous.
I suggest other things above for long term and life long solutions.
But if you really need for sure to get hings moving and not have cramping or stimulation..
Use Miralax.
I have to use it due to the narcotic pain killers. I am trying to take less and less and depend on other things..
But if your frustrated.. and need something NOW.
There is nothing better for that type of situation
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Mangosteen juice works for me - when I started it, it cleaned out my intestines for three days, and it keeps me regular just like a baby. I drink the Ultra mangosteen juice.
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
I take some organic prune juice and put it on the stove and reduce it down to about half. Then I take three to four tablespoons of this each morning and it helps keep me pretty regular.
I learned about this on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet forum. Give it a try--it works for me.
Gary
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
I have seen good results in others who have tried warm a prune juice and apple juice mix.
Posted by MissPatient20 (Member # 22581) on :
Thanks you guys. At this point, I'll try anything...
So I've tried prune juice before, and it didn't work, but I didn't heat it up. I need to try that one. I know someone said to take just a few tbsps, but how much did the rest of you take?
This afternoon I'll be sending someone out to get me some prune juice and I'll be heating it on the stove. We shall see. I'll also be crossing my fingers.
Wow, why do I feel like I'm 85 years old? I think I was born a 65 year old infant.
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
The important thing about heating the prune juice is not the heating, it's the reducing. You heat it until it reduces down to about half. You don't have to reduce it that much but the idea is to make it more concentrated which makes it more potent.
I take three tablespoons and if that's not enough I'll take more. Take it until you poop it.
Gary
Posted by kgg (Member # 5867) on :
I agree with everyone who suggested Miralax. My son had gi issues when he was young and again now. That is what we use.
You can try the other things to, but right now you need the big guns. Miralax would be the main thing I would try daily until things were regular.
And you are right. If your diet is high in fiber already you don't need a bulking agent. Remember plenty of water.
Best, Karen
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Consider celiac disease. Lots of Lymies have it... and it CAN cause constipation, believe it or not!
I put a scoop (2 tablespoons full) of cold milled flax seed in a cup of juice and drink it before I go to bed.
That nearly always works by the next morning. Also, I've read it over and over- exercise, like walking briskly, will help stimulate the bowels and get them moving better.
Posted by B4LYME (Member # 23222) on :
My nephew has had issues with this for years. His is a medical condition that had caused his colon to distend.
The doctor recommended an enema to unblock him and suggested Miralax to keep him regular. As long as he takes his miralax on a regular basis, he does fine. It helps to keep things softer and moving, which has allowed his colon to begin to shrink back to size.
You can stir it into a drink and not taste it and I haven't heard anything bad about it. I think it's worth a try.
Good Luck,
B4lyme
Posted by Sparrow (Member # 11734) on :
My daughter also has problems. We have started doing coffee enemas and they work.
Also, Oxy-Powder worked, but it was expensive and she had to take a ton before it worked. I think Swanson has their own brand that is cheaper.
Someone posted once about their daughter going to the ER and the doctor told her to drink 1 cup of Miralax every 15 minutes until she could go. That worked, but it was an all day process--I can't remember how much she drank.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
MissPatient, IMO it's time to get an appt with gastro. I wouldn't get into too much with them about the lyme & company connection. Just have them help get you going.
How old are you? Maybe it's best to start with a colonoscopy. That would hopefully start you off with a clean colon. There could be a physical reason, that all the Miralax, prune juice etc won't help you with.
Adding an abx now probably wouldn't be of benefit until you get you toxic GI cleaned out. That would be like adding fuel to the fire.
Just use gastro doc to improve your backed-up problem. You probably won't find a gastro that knows lyme & co and just how it effects the GI track. Don't bother trying to educate one.
I let my constispation go on for way to long and then it caused other issues. Today I have normal BM, tolerating abx rifampin for bart and much better having started with gastro process.
Oh yeah, the gastro (friend) wasn't able to give me a med or supp that helped me. He gave me an "itis" dx. I had my PCP start me on levaquin for a month on month off. That helped but after stopping lev, constipation came back.
I'm almost done with my 2nd month of rifampin. I'm going this routine for another month and then going back to abx free and rife tx only. My hope and plan.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[dizzy]](graemlins/dizzy.gif)