Can my constipation be cured permanently?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Increasing age and drugs seem to be the cause of constipation in you. These antipsychotic medications use cause slow bowel movements.

Now, if we cannot stop your medications, the alternative we have is, use medicines that improve your bowel movements - Miralax (Polyethylene glycol 3350) is one of those. Identify other reasons which could explain your constipation such as, thyroid disorder, diabetes, kidney disease, and poor lipid control.

so I would suggest you Miralax two sachets thrice daily with water, and the following tests :

1) Complete blood count.

2) TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), FT4 (free thyroxine).

3) HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c).

4) Fasting lipid profile.

5) Urea, creatinine electrolytes-magnesium, calcium, phosphorus.

6) Liver function tests.

If we find any abnormalities in these tests, then we will go on to treat those. If nothing is found, then another set of investigations can be performed to confirm the reason for your constipation.I suggest you search the internet on dyssynergic defecation and compare if you feel resembling symptoms like these since dyssynergia is a common thing to happen to anybody and a significant cause of chronic constipation.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the document you attached (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), it was very helpful. Your doctor is right that you might have fatty liver disease. I must tell you the other issues as well. You might be knowing those as well- obesity, dyslipidemia, altered liver function tests, and significant medications in use. The medication olanzapine (antipsychotic) is, although very helpful in treating your mental health condition, is also related to constipation (1-11%) according to certain reports and related to insulin resistance and diabetes, and irregular cholesterol metabolism. The rest of the medications are so far not associated with your active symptoms, that is, constipation. I would suggest you discuss this with your doctor and if they can prescribe some alternative.

You have hypothyroidism which, if uncontrolled, can cause constipation. The latest report you shared shows it is a little uncontrolled. Probably you need to increase the dose of Levothyroxine (thyroid hormone suppliment). Use Miralax (osmotic laxatives) for now and see if it improves your symptoms.