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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can Chronic Constipation Be Treated?

I am highly allergic to PEG in laxatives. I need to know what I can take to relieve chronic constipation. I am 74 years old and have had issues with constipation all my life. I break out in terrible, huge hives from taking laxatives with PEG. However, nothing else seems to relieve the constipation.
posted on Wed, 3 May 2017
Twitter Wed, 17 May 2017 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 18 May 2017 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic.

I have read your description and understand your concern.
Lots of causes a person difficult to defecate or constipation. If after a variety of examinations and then found no problems, most likely derived from:
1. Bad lifestyle, more fat less fiber
2. Unhealthy psychological
3. Age factor.
4. Chronic disease

Some things you need to do first:
1. Make sure you consume enough fiber
2. Drink plenty of water, at least 2-2.5 liters a day (except if you are prohibited by your treating doctor).
3. Make sure you do some exercise
4. Lose weight if you are overweight
5. Try a squatting position than sitting.
6. Avoid drugs that can trigger constipation like antacids, loperamide.
7. If you will take some laxative in a long term, you should discuss it firstly to your treating doctor.

I would like to suggest you to consult to a gastroenterologist, cause maybe there's a need to do some test like endoscopy.
Endoscopy can ensures that the cause of chronic constipation is not from a cause that originates in the gastrointestinal tract (eg, a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract). The treatment wilo be adjusted to all the result of those examinations.

Hopefully, I hope you okay.
Take care.


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How Can Chronic Constipation Be Treated?

Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. I have read your description and understand your concern. Lots of causes a person difficult to defecate or constipation. If after a variety of examinations and then found no problems, most likely derived from: 1. Bad lifestyle, more fat less fiber 2. Unhealthy psychological 3. Age factor. 4. Chronic disease Some things you need to do first: 1. Make sure you consume enough fiber 2. Drink plenty of water, at least 2-2.5 liters a day (except if you are prohibited by your treating doctor). 3. Make sure you do some exercise 4. Lose weight if you are overweight 5. Try a squatting position than sitting. 6. Avoid drugs that can trigger constipation like antacids, loperamide. 7. If you will take some laxative in a long term, you should discuss it firstly to your treating doctor. I would like to suggest you to consult to a gastroenterologist, cause maybe there s a need to do some test like endoscopy. Endoscopy can ensures that the cause of chronic constipation is not from a cause that originates in the gastrointestinal tract (eg, a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract). The treatment wilo be adjusted to all the result of those examinations. Hopefully, I hope you okay. Take care.