- Can HRT induce - Constapation :(

[Rachel]

I have been on

finastride for 17 months, no issue,
Estradiol and spironolactone 15 months, and I have had issues,
progesterone 3 months.

I had an x-ray last night and talked with the ED doctor to make sure I do not have an obstruction. I was ashamed to tell them the meds I am on. There was no unclothed physical exam, I was freaking out inside.

He said walk more, eat fruit and drink water (12 glasses). I walk now and eat a lot of fruit so water may be the issue. I will be monitoring my water closely.

So, has this happened to you and was it the water? When I drink more I pee a lot more.

[Ms Grace]

Try lying on your back and firmly massaging the far right side of your abdomen, circular upwards motion over the area of the ascending colon. Ten minutes or so every couple of hours. Sometimes the large intestine needs a bit of 'coercion' to get things moving along the conveyor belt/tube. Might result in a lot of flatulence at first but that is a good sign. If inertia is the problem this should give you some relief within 24 hours...

[luna nyan]

Hydration, hydration, hydration...
And a fibre rich diet...

Spiro being diuretic will dry you out and can induce constipation if you are dehydrated enough.  Better to go more often for one thing, than to be obstructed on the other.

[suzifrommd]

I had the experience that spiro slowed my system down. I drank a lot of water and it wasn't a major issue, but I did notice the change, and the change back when I no longer needed spiro.

[TessaMarie]

Hi Cynthia,

I found myself in a similar position within a few weeks of starting Progesterone.  When talking to a cis friend about starting Progesterone, her first question was:  "Did it make you constipated ?"  She was completely unsurprised when I said "Yes", because she experienced the same a couple of decades ago when she was put on Progesterone for a while.

I have found myself needing to take stool-softeners often to counteract the effects of the Progesterone.  Even more so recently after abdominal surgery.

Walking, fruit & lots of water do help.  I have found that that alone does not seem to be quite enough for me.  I do drink a few mugs of tea per day & eat a bowl of porridge (ie: oatmeal) most days.  And still I get backed up every so often.

Tessa

[Rachel]

I did not want to say it to see if anyone else had the same issue. It started when I started progesterone and is getting worse. Just took a bottle of magnesium citrate, fingers crossed. Thanks.

Spiro slowed down the system but progesterone stopped it.

30 minutes later after magnesium citrate problem gone.

[tammiinnorcal]

I had this same "issue".  Being diabetic and taking spiro and progesterone stopped everything and made it as solid as concrete (TMI, but...).  As stated, hydration is the key.  Drink a ton of water, even if you feel like you're swimming, and things will loosen up on their own.