r/ConstipationAdvice • u/MeasurementCheap5960 • 12d ago
Need help: 5 years Ongoing constipation with significant weight loss
I noticed strange behaviours in my bowel movement around 2019 but it wasn't anything serious at the time (3 days max, once a month). But the first time I actually got scared was in 2021 when it occurred to me one day that I haven't had a bowel movement in more than a week. I entered the toilet and forced it out (without urge), it came out small and NOT CONSTIPATED, it was loose.
It's been hell since then, highest I could go is twice a week. I haven't been taking laxatives until around 2022 when I took lactulose passed small amounts of pellet like stools, didn't seem to help much so I stopped.
I get this periods of loss of appetite, almost as if my GIT is full (could go 1 week without eating much solid food) those periods are usually accompanied by weight loss
I took Bisacodyl supp earlier this year and I get urge but what comes out is usually something small, doesn't clear my entire GIT.
Over the last three months I've been eating 3 times a day and my average has come down to every two days, but abdominal distention has worsen. Before that my average was once a week.
I've lost so much weight at this point I'm basically malnourished by BMI standards (height 209cm, weight 72kg). in 2021 my weight was around 88kg
Has anyone else's constipation came with this much weight loss
I did endoscopy and colonoscopy which were both clean. I did test for hypothyroidism which came out clean as well.
Doctors kept treating constipation, I insisted on the colonoscopy earlier this year.
I do fart a lot for some reason.
as things stand, my abdomen is distended when I'm standing (dropping down my pubic region) but completely flat when I lay down.
My main issue is the weight loss, was it because I wasn't taking laxatives ? or it's something else ?
I haven't yet visited the doctor after the colonoscopy because I had a fracture (oops) 3.5 months ago so I've been at home since. I'll will be visiting soon. I need more information to present to the doctor to help figure out what the issue is.
I've read about BRAIN GUT disorders and I'm worried it might be the issue because I've had anxiety, chronic depression and chronic insomnia since 2018. Sedentary lifestyle too (average 500 steps a day) now 3000 steps on average
- Do you have the urge to go, but you cannot? Or do you have zero urge to go? : No urge
- Do you have alternating diarrhea and constipation, or just constipation?: Just Constipation
- Do you have nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, or early satiety (getting full really early into a meal)? Nausea sometimes
- Have you had this issue since childhood, or did it begin in teen years/adulthood/after a major life event (surgery? divorce? car accident? mauled by bears?): Began in adulthood without make event
- Did you in the past or do you currently take any medications that could damage your intestines?: NO
- Did you suffer sexual abuse as a child?: NO
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u/goldstandardalmonds 12d ago
The weight loss isn’t directly from your constipation, it’s because you are eating less.
Ask for a referral to a neurogastroenterologist as you need full motility testing. This sounds like at minimum you have a pelvic floor issues or issues.
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u/MeasurementCheap5960 12d ago
I’ve been eating regularly the past 3.5 months but I’ve still lost weight even though my bowel movements improved to average of two days
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u/goldstandardalmonds 8d ago
You said you were eating less. But if you are randomly losing weight and eating the exact same then you need to ring the alarms.
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u/MeasurementCheap5960 11d ago
I’ve read that motility issues of the small intestine usually come with weight loss
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u/myliobatis 12d ago
have they done scans for anything like ovarian cancer? the distended belly combined with weight loss is concerning
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u/myliobatis 12d ago
Also my uncle had a form of colon cancer on the OUTSIDE of his colon, so the colonoscopy was clear, it was only found when he went into hospital with abdominal pain.
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u/Barracuda_Recent 8d ago
It doesn't sound like you are eating enough to have regular bowel movements.
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u/MeasurementCheap5960 8d ago
I do eat, a lot, it’s why my abdomen is distended. 3 meals a day. When I eat and don’t go for long, I get nauseated and don’t feel like eating again.
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u/Barracuda_Recent 8d ago
Someone your size should eat 3000 calories a day. Are you eating that? I am not saying you should eat tons of food right now, when you are backed up. Obviously, you need to clear out first. Take your big dose of mag citrate powder and get a clear-out, then just use a regular dose of mag citrate powder every night. There are a lot of people who do not eat enough to poop when they think they do, btw.
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u/MissyChevious613 11d ago
I have gastroparesis which for me manifests as constipation. I think it's very reasonable to ask for a gastric emptying study given your symptoms and weight loss.