I never realized how good I was a pooping until I no longer was.

Six months after starting HRT, I started having more difficulty going to the bathroom.  I read some archived older posts here about spironolactone as a possible culprit, but I have, at various intervals gone off Spironolactone for a couple of weeks or so, and not noticed any improvement.

I'm pretty sure it is estrogen that constipates me.  It is (barely) manageable with fiber supplementation (and lots of water, of course), but I still go through spells of cramps, decreased appetite, bloating and bleeding.  Endoscopy shows only hemorrhoids, which is what one would expect with chronic constipation.

How common is this?  My endocrinologist doesn't seem to thing that it's a thing.

Rmaddy... I'm here to tell you it is a thing. I've tried colace and benefiber. I now use senna pills once a week and they seem to work.  Water seems to make no difference. This from a person that had a date with the toilet between 9am and 9:30 for fifty plus years.

I actually get decent results from Metamucil or the generic equivalent, but I often forget to use it daily.  When I get behind, a couple of sips of magnesium citrate usually pushes things in the right direction.

My question arises because I was never constipated a day in my life (and I have just as many rings on my tree as you, Dawn!) until I started HRT, yet my endocrinologist completely dismisses HRT as the cause of my constipation.  I was wondering if others had encountered the same issue.

Are you drinking enough water and eating enough salt? Are you eating enough on a daily basis? Did you change your diet? Are you more stressed since starting HRT?

Quote from: KayXo on May 02, 2017, 03:46:53 PM
Are you drinking enough water and eating enough salt? Are you eating enough on a daily basis? Did you change your diet? Are you more stressed since starting HRT?

+1 Hydration, Hydration, Hydration,

Yes to hydration.  No to stress.  My diet has not changed much, and to the extent that it has, it is mostly increases in whole foods including fruits and veggies.  Also, I now avoid cheese despite loving it.

I really think it's the estrogen.  Going off spiro makes no difference.

By any chance, do you get muscle cramps, are you dizzy, do you feel tired? Is your skin really dry?

Quote from: KayXo on May 02, 2017, 07:22:37 PM
By any chance, do you get muscle cramps, are you dizzy, do you feel tired? Is your skin really dry?

Well, yeah, but all these symptoms preceded HRT by years.  Getting old is not for wimps.

Quote from: rmaddy on May 02, 2017, 08:51:59 PM
Well, yeah, but all these symptoms preceded HRT by years.  Getting old is not for wimps.

Hell no!!!

The secret is not to get old.  Start aging backwards.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

Quote from: rmaddy on May 02, 2017, 08:51:59 PM
Well, yeah, but all these symptoms preceded HRT by years.  Getting old is not for wimps.

As one who has had the trials and tribulations of the same...I use a really amazing product designed for kids. Kids problems usually become really bad once they reach a stage where it hurts them to try and go tot he toilet because the constipation has gotten so bad. They cannot resit this product and it does not hurt because it rapidly softens the stool.

Its called Parachoc

www.parachoc.com.au

I had huge constipation issues (nearly time for medical intervention serious) due to narcotic medications I had to take for many years and this stuff could move a 5 or 6 day back up within 24 hrs and comfortably.At worst I may have had to take it for 3 days straight but that was the worst and it moved the stool without pain or discomfort. It is natural and gentle and very effective.

Not sure if it is available where you are but you may be able to get a pharmacy to make it up or have something similar.

I once didn't go for 3 WEEKS! No pain though and no complications.