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Suggest Treatment For Abdominal Bloating And Constipation
Question: My friend is 70 yrs old has just been diagnosed with diabetes and a thyroid problem. We followed a diet and his sugar is good, but, he is having trouble with his stomach. he is bloated and constipated. he feels like he going to vomit or a need to have a bowel movement. he is very weak an has lost 24lbs in seven weeks.
Brief Answer:
Questions for you to help me answer you better.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry your friend is feeling poorly.
If he has just been diagnosed with diabetes and thyroid disease, is he on new medications that have been started recently?
If so,
what are the medications?
when were they started?
Is his diabetes Type I or Type II?
Is his thyroid disease hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism?
How long has the bloating and constipation been going on and what changes preceded this?
Questions for you to help me answer you better.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I'm sorry your friend is feeling poorly.
If he has just been diagnosed with diabetes and thyroid disease, is he on new medications that have been started recently?
If so,
what are the medications?
when were they started?
Is his diabetes Type I or Type II?
Is his thyroid disease hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism?
How long has the bloating and constipation been going on and what changes preceded this?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
He found out about his thyroid and type 2 Diabetes 9/1/16.
thyroid stimulating hormone 5.08
taking Levothyrorine 25 mcg
A1c 8.8 glucose 181. started out taking Metformine 500 mg 2x a day really bothered his stomach,then9/5/16 took 250 2x a day. followed a strict diet sugar was down.9/6/16 started taking only250 mg a day 9/18 stopped metformin because of stomach. 10/5/16went back to DR He said to try prilosec. Bloating and constipation started in August.
thyroid stimulating hormone 5.08
taking Levothyrorine 25 mcg
A1c 8.8 glucose 181. started out taking Metformine 500 mg 2x a day really bothered his stomach,then9/5/16 took 250 2x a day. followed a strict diet sugar was down.9/6/16 started taking only250 mg a day 9/18 stopped metformin because of stomach. 10/5/16went back to DR He said to try prilosec. Bloating and constipation started in August.
Brief Answer:
My thoughts on this.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional information. If I understand you right:
1. The bloating and constipation symptoms began about 2 months ago, prior to being diagnosed with Type II diabetes and Hypothyroidism.
2. He has only been on thyroid medicine 1 month.
3. The Metformin made the already existing bloating and constipation symptoms worse.
4. He has been off Metformin for 2 weeks because of this.
5. He was prescribed Prilosec just today at the dr.'s office so he hasn't taken it for more than a day.
So here are my thoughts:
Hypothyroidism can cause constipation. He has not been on the Levothyroxine long enough to see if it is adequately correcting the low thyroid function. It takes 2-3 months.
Constipation is not related to stomach hyperacidity. Are there other stomach problems going on that warranted starting on an acid reducer?
The Metformin should not still be causing constipation and bloating if he has been off of it for 2 weeks. You mentioned that it bothered his stomach. Do you mean constipation and bloating or do you mean that it irritated his stomach and caused acid reflux type symptoms? Because acid problems can continue for awhile if the stomach lining was irritated, and the Prilosec can help that. But Prilosec will not rectify the constipation.
If his constipation started in August and has not changed in all of this time, and if he has not had a colonoscopy in the past few years, it may be needed to help sort out what is going on.
My thoughts on this.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional information. If I understand you right:
1. The bloating and constipation symptoms began about 2 months ago, prior to being diagnosed with Type II diabetes and Hypothyroidism.
2. He has only been on thyroid medicine 1 month.
3. The Metformin made the already existing bloating and constipation symptoms worse.
4. He has been off Metformin for 2 weeks because of this.
5. He was prescribed Prilosec just today at the dr.'s office so he hasn't taken it for more than a day.
So here are my thoughts:
Hypothyroidism can cause constipation. He has not been on the Levothyroxine long enough to see if it is adequately correcting the low thyroid function. It takes 2-3 months.
Constipation is not related to stomach hyperacidity. Are there other stomach problems going on that warranted starting on an acid reducer?
The Metformin should not still be causing constipation and bloating if he has been off of it for 2 weeks. You mentioned that it bothered his stomach. Do you mean constipation and bloating or do you mean that it irritated his stomach and caused acid reflux type symptoms? Because acid problems can continue for awhile if the stomach lining was irritated, and the Prilosec can help that. But Prilosec will not rectify the constipation.
If his constipation started in August and has not changed in all of this time, and if he has not had a colonoscopy in the past few years, it may be needed to help sort out what is going on.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
His bloating and constipation has not changed since stopping the metformin.
Brief Answer:
Questions for you to help me answer you better.
Detailed Answer:
Are those the only digestive symptoms or does he also have pain in the stomach (upper left abdomen) when he eats or acid coming up?
Questions for you to help me answer you better.
Detailed Answer:
Are those the only digestive symptoms or does he also have pain in the stomach (upper left abdomen) when he eats or acid coming up?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
yes these are the only symptoms. no pain.
Brief Answer:
Treating the constipation
Detailed Answer:
If bloating and constipation are the only things then, and if he is not regularly having bowel movements every day or every other day, perhaps a laxative would be more helpful. Consider Milk of Magnesia or Docusate. Having regular bowel movements may help the bloating.
Treating the constipation
Detailed Answer:
If bloating and constipation are the only things then, and if he is not regularly having bowel movements every day or every other day, perhaps a laxative would be more helpful. Consider Milk of Magnesia or Docusate. Having regular bowel movements may help the bloating.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank You, we will try Milk of Magnesia or Docusate.
Brief Answer:
OK
Detailed Answer:
The other thing I was thinking of, since the constipation seems to be an ongoing thing (at least for now) is a bulk former such as Metamucil or Citrucel. But the one problem with fiber bulk formers such as these is that if you don't go up on them slowly, they can cause gas and bloating. So for right now, use the Milk of Magnesia of Docusate.
I imagine his doctor will want to repeat the TSH level soon to find out if the current dose of Levothyroxine is right for him. Because hypothyroidism can cause constipation.
However, if the problem continues or gets worse, I advise seeing a gastroenterologist and possibly having a colonoscopy.
OK
Detailed Answer:
The other thing I was thinking of, since the constipation seems to be an ongoing thing (at least for now) is a bulk former such as Metamucil or Citrucel. But the one problem with fiber bulk formers such as these is that if you don't go up on them slowly, they can cause gas and bloating. So for right now, use the Milk of Magnesia of Docusate.
I imagine his doctor will want to repeat the TSH level soon to find out if the current dose of Levothyroxine is right for him. Because hypothyroidism can cause constipation.
However, if the problem continues or gets worse, I advise seeing a gastroenterologist and possibly having a colonoscopy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for all your help.
Brief Answer:
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad to help. It's hard to sort out over emails without being able to examine your friend and having all the information in front of me!
I hope he is feeling better soon.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Your welcome!
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad to help. It's hard to sort out over emails without being able to examine your friend and having all the information in front of me!
I hope he is feeling better soon.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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