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Suggest Treatment For Acute Constipation And Weight Loss

Posted on Mon, 27 Apr 2015

Question: Ever since I stopped smoking am suffering from acute constipation. My bowels move only once in 3-4 days as opposed to daily when I was smoking. The only medication that works is dulcolax/flex which am forced to take every week (4 caps). A doctor advised me to take duphalac. The problem with this is it doesn't improve the situation a lot as it still takes 3-4 days for the bowels to move albeit the stool is softer if I take it. I drink gallons of water everyday, take enough fiber and protein (whey,egg), exercise 3-4 days a week. Because of this my weight loss has also stalled as before that I'd been consistently loosing 3 kgs every month for 9 months; but I've been able to keep weight gain at ebay which other people who quit smoking experience. Please help.

Note - Stools are not very hard as they used to be in the initial days.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It will take 3 to 6 months to Normalize.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM

I have gone through your query. As your body is adapted to nicotine you will need at least 3 months to get normalized. For some it may take even 6 months. Dulcolax can be used only when you have severe constipation. But continuous usage is not good.

You can use more fibres in diet and increase intake of water. Taking prunes or prune juice at bed time is also helpful. Take warm water with honey early in the morning.

But if still the condition is not improving then you should rule out inflammatory bowel disorder. This one is usually controlled well in smokers and they get symptoms while stopping it. In such case a consultation with a Gastroenterologist and colonoscopy will be well appreciated.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (28 minutes later)

Thank you Doctor. It's been 4 months I stopped smoking. The situation hasn't got any better apart from softening of stools and subsequently less painful experiences in the bathroom. Could my metabolism have crashed as am also unable to loose weight even though there hasn't been a marked change in my diet (I count calories and eat 500-700 cals below maintenance).

I'm alreday taking in enough fibre (veggies, brown bread, oatmeal) and water.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thyroid profile test should be done.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome.

Thank you for your follow up query.

Considering your symptoms difficulty in weight loss even though you are taking low calories and constipation- which are also usual symptoms of hypothyroidism, you should go for thyroid profile test.

A high TSH level is specific for hypothyroidism. Smoking can mask most symptoms of hypothyroidism also. If it is that then thyroxine supplementation will help to get relief from your problems.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (3 hours later)

Thank you doctor. While researching I'd come across this, however

1) My energy levels and strength have increased. I'm able to lift heavier weights than before
2) I never feel weak or fatigued.

Could it still be possible that thyroid deficiency is be responsible for my predicament? Can this test be conducted in a lab without prescription?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism can be a possibility.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for your follow up query.

Hypothyroidism is a possibility. The symptoms you mentioned as low metabolism and constipation can be due to this. So it is better to rule out that. If it is normal then it can be a readjustment events in your body after cessation of smoking. In such case it will take some time to get normalized . Proper exercise and dieting can be continued.

Thyroid profile tests are possible to conduct in labs with out prescription.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj