Help for Chronic Constipation - Amitiza - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

clasact1956 · 08-23-2007, 11:26 AM

I think I may finally have help for my chronic constipation. Since Zelnorm was taken off the market, the new thing is called Amitiza. The doctor who did my colonoscopy gave me this to try. So far it has helped. Anyone else try this?

D

clasact1956 · 08-27-2007, 05:18 AM

Well it's been a week and I think I spoke too soon. It helped a little the first two days then nothing. I now have 5 days of build up. I am so frustrated and upset. I even took two laxitives last night and still nothing this a.m. I could just cry. The doctor says it's just my bowels as the colonoscopy showed nothing wrong. There has to be a medical reason for this. I certainly can't go on with the constant bloating, abdominal pain and gas build up for much longer. It's ruining my life and making me depressed. There has to be something logical explanation........

D

bellyblues · 08-27-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clasact1956

Well it's been a week and I think I spoke too soon. It helped a little the first two days then nothing. I now have 5 days of build up. I am so frustrated and upset. I even took two laxitives last night and still nothing this a.m. I could just cry. The doctor says it's just my bowels as the colonoscopy showed nothing wrong. There has to be a medical reason for this. I certainly can't go on with the constant bloating, abdominal pain and gas build up for much longer. It's ruining my life and making me depressed. There has to be something logical explanation........

D

I really feel your pain. While I have not taken Amitiza, I did spend some time online reading about this drug and it seems your experience is not unique. For myself, I had a similar response with Zelnorm, although I would not say it was ever a successful mediciation for me as it caused so much cramping and extreme D. But I did have such high hopes for it when it first hit the market.

For many of us with C, the bone crushing disappointment of realizing that the hopes we had with some med are dashed either because the treatment has stopped working or never worked at all can end up in terrible depression. I have been battling this myself for the last few months and often feel like I have completely run out of options. I have spent the last few weekends virtually housebound because of the unpredictability of this disorder. So much emotional, physical and psychological energy is devoted to dealing with the relentless pain and discomfort that I find myself exhausted at the end of the day.

I am calling a new naturopath this week to see if he has any suggestions or new ideas for my very chronic and painful IBS. I am always apprehensive about seeing someone new as I hate to get my hopes up. However, if I can just step back a bit from the emotional chaos a bit and look at this as an investigation of sorts, I might be able to entertain ideas or suggestions that I have not thought of before. For me, it's the constant disappointment that nothing seems to work that leads to depression.

You're not alone!

clasact1956 · 08-27-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bellyblues

I really feel your pain. While I have not taken Amitiza, I did spend some time online reading about this drug and it seems your experience is not unique. For myself, I had a similar response with Zelnorm, although I would not say it was ever a successful mediciation for me as it caused so much cramping and extreme D. But I did have such high hopes for it when it first hit the market.

For many of us with C, the bone crushing disappointment of realizing that the hopes we had with some med are dashed either because the treatment has stopped working or never worked at all can end up in terrible depression. I have been battling this myself for the last few months and often feel like I have completely run out of options. I have spent the last few weekends virtually housebound because of the unpredictability of this disorder. So much emotional, physical and psychological energy is devoted to dealing with the relentless pain and discomfort that I find myself exhausted at the end of the day.

I am calling a new naturopath this week to see if he has any suggestions or new ideas for my very chronic and painful IBS. I am always apprehensive about seeing someone new as I hate to get my hopes up. However, if I can just step back a bit from the emotional chaos a bit and look at this as an investigation of sorts, I might be able to entertain ideas or suggestions that I have not thought of before. For me, it's the constant disappointment that nothing seems to work that leads to depression.

You're not alone!

Thanks. I too have tried everything on the market. Zelnor didn't work for me and not surprisingly its now off the market. I am so mentally exhausted by this. It just can't be good carrying this stuff inside you for days on end.

D

sunshine123 · 08-27-2007, 09:13 PM

Have you tried stool softeners? Those help me if I take 2 a night for 2 or 3 nights in a row. I hope you find some relief.