I feel like my colonoscopy destroyed my bowels and I'm scared there's no going back.

[u/ExamOk322]

I'm 36F.

Basically my whole adult life, I've had extreme GI issues in the OPPOSITE direction of this sub - usually having BMs multiple times a day, often very soft or diarrhea, very urgent. It would cause me to miss social events, sit on the toilet for hours, have burning pain, and feel constantly sick.

I thought my issues were the worst, so I had a colonoscopy in April... but dealing with the other end of the spectrum is SO MUCH worse, holy shit. (Colonoscopy was completely normal btw.)

I had literally never been constipated before in my life. I feel like the colonoscopy prep bombed my system and completely changed how my body operates.

Now, between bouts of diarrhea, I am getting constipated regularly. EXCEPT - I still almost never go a whole day with 0 BMs. Instead, I can squeeze out small amounts of wet stool, sitting on the toilet sometimes 5-10 times a day to try to get a tiny bit out. My impression is that this means there's some blockage, and the wet stool is making its way around it in small amounts.

I'm in extreme pain right now because I did something stupid last week - I was having terrible period cramps on Thursday, so I took an Oxycodone to sleep. By Friday I was constipated. I took Dulcolax on Saturday and it helped a bit on Sunday, but then I got plugged up again. On Monday I took it again, but instead of making me poop, it made me feel the constant gurgling sensation of needing to poop without being able to get anything out.

I've talked to a doctor and they advised Miralax (which I'm now taking) but this feels like a serious issue. I took Miralax last night and this morning, and I've gotten a little out, but I can still feel a big blockage. I woke up at 5 am due to pain this morning & was still unable to go. I just want everything out.

I'm wondering:

- Any short-term advice to me? Should I double up on dosages? At what point is the blockage a bigger emergency?

- Anyone experienced this chronic constipation issue AFTER a colonoscopy? Is there any way to fix it? Did it go back to normal after a while or stay that way forever?

PS I'm sorry for thinking I had it bad before. I would literally take 5x a day diarrhea over this. Constipation is SO MUCH worse.

Answers to required Qs:

1. Depends on the day, sometimes I have no urge but often it's cramping etc without any ability to get it out.
2. Alternating diarrhea and constipation.
3. Occasional nausea and acid reflux, but not often. I also cannot burp.
4. Began in adulthood with extreme diarrhea, constipation only started after colonoscopy prep.
5. No drugs affecting the chronic condition (current short-term issue was caused by Oxycodone)
6. No

[u/faiiryclaiire]

Maybe the colonoscopy traumatized your pelvic floor. Stop laxatives and see pelvic floor therapist. In your situation it could really help you.

[u/ExamOk322 → u/faiiryclaiire]

Thank you, I'll try!

[u/faiiryclaiire → u/faiiryclaiire]

I had a pelvic floor dyssinergia, rectocele and rectal prolapse after a sexual abuse. I solved my dyssinergia with PFT and had a ventral mesh rectopexy for the prolapses.
But I waited too long and my gut progressively lost his functionality. Now I take prucalopride 2mg, my gastro tried to put me on macrogol (miralax) but my body doesn’t tolerate it, as it hates psillium, husk, nutriose and all fiber supplements.

Fiber supplements may be useful in your situation, if u can tolerate them. (but PFT is gold standard)

[u/Realistic_Intern531]

I had a hysterectomy and never the same it ruined my life I drink coffee to go & I don’t know if the nerves got altered or if it’s scar tissue or what it is coffee causes complete d & if i take Imodium to live im plugged for days i feel at the end of my rope I share a bathroom with 4 people so i dont just have time to try things

[u/Spare-Baseball-4371]

Could also be the prep disrupted your gut bacteria by completely cleaning you out, kind of like taking antibiotics. A probiotic could be helpful. You could also try a fleet enema they are easy to do at home if you feel you have a blockage.

[u/Punterfox → u/Spare-Baseball-4371]

Take probiotics and Triphala (Indian herb) everyday and you will be all good. OP.

Please try Linzess too. Its very expensive drug, however.

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[u/madogblue]

Probiotics religiously for 30-60 days. Try eating 1/2 cup of pre soaked zen basil seeds daily to get things moving

[u/goldstandardalmonds]

It sounds like a pelvic floor issue or issues. I’d start with testing there. Do not do pfpt before testing.

Did you have a high volume prep?

[u/kmm198700]

You can take both miralax and milk of mag. You can also take two capfuls of MiraLAX if you need to. Make sure you’re drinking enough water or liquids

[u/GKnives]

Describe your diet thoroughly please

[u/ExamOk322 → u/GKnives]

I'm vegetarian. I eat a lot of eggs, veggies (eg cooked greens, corn, squash, beans), oat milk yogurt with granola, fruit (esp melon & berries), whole-grain bread, occasional pasta, big salads, tofu, meat replacements.

I've cut out certain things that caused flareups, like oil (seriously reduced) and chili (almost cut out entirely, so sad).

[u/Crazy-Task-3927]

I had the same after a colonoscopy. Totally normal before that. For 6 weeks I only had mush and incontinence, no real BM. Tried MiraLAX. Finally after reading realized that what happened is the very harsh colonoscopy prep shocked my system and shut everything down. I was actually totally backed up and what was coming out was only what made its way through as leakage. Started Linzess and tons of water and within 3 days had stopped the drip and incontinence. Going small amounts but at least it’s somewhat formed. It’s regulating my system. You need to clean out your system and then you can try MiraLAX and tons of water or if you can get a prescription for Linzess. It builds up in your system so keeps getting better

[u/ExamOk322 → u/Crazy-Task-3927]

This is exactly what it feels like to me - like it shocked my system & shut everything down.

I will ask about Linzess - that sounds like it might be the move.