... I keep having 1 to 3 days with no bm or very unproductive BMs. Then I'll have a very, very "productive" bm, followed by hours of diarrhea! It is so frustrating. Usually I'll just try to drink water and wait it out. Sometimes I'll give up and take Immodium. Either way, the cycle seems to continue. My constipation before being on Linzess was so bad that I tried enemas and everything else otc to help. I am told I have IBS, Psoriatic Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. When I was in my early 20's I had constant diarrhea. It lasted years. It was made worse with certain foods and I was trying to stay thin at the time, which didn't help, being that most of the "healthy" foods that I was eating were also bad for my IBS. I had a few good years, and then I got pregnant when I was 29. The entire pregnancy I was nauseous so I hardly ate. I got in a car accident after I had my daughter and my health went on a downward spiral. I was treated for my back, herniated disks from the accident and nerve damage in my leg. I was then told I had psoriatic arthritis and have been on methotrexate. I'm not sure if that is causing the problem. It's frustrating with Linzess bc it does work, and then it's followed by diarrhea! I almost don't want to tell the doctor bc the constipation was so terrible, I don't know what's worse! Anyone else have experience with this? Should I call the doctor? Wait until my next appointment? Should I be concerned?
Problems w/ Linzess. I've been taking Linzess for a little over two months now?
Question posted by orchid keeper on 3 June 2015
Last updated on 1 April 2020 by Markus2000
I am also taking a probiotic at the same time of day. I wonder if I should or shouldn't be taking that? Also, it is always after a regular, "good" bm, that the diarrhea comes! Ugh!
Answers
When I take my 145 mcg Linzess with water I wait aroung 40 minutes, and have a bm. I do not have a meal or coffee for at least an hour. Take it at the same time every morning and do not drink anything but water, and be close to the bathroom. I was on 75 mcg Linzess and it did not budge, had the doctor increase the dosage. Remember it has to be on an empty stomach. It happens every morning and then every morrning after.Hope this helps.
I found Linzess to barely work for about 3 days only. I called my Dr. and she changed my prescription to leflunomide. That worked for maybe 3 weeks. Then my Doc recommended Benefiber. Fine, it works most of the time. I have to take it daily plus stool softeners. Occasionally I "catch up" by taking dulcolax. I need this extra help because I'm on at least 5 medicines that dry up my body... mouth, eyes, stools, you name it. I drink lots of water except when I forget. :o(
The Benefiber is a white powder that completely dissolves in water. It tastes like water when I drink it and I can buy the store brand and save money. It's dextrin or wheat dextrin, depending on which you buy. So much better than Metamucil and it works!! Good luck to you. ;o)
If you want to be all natural, flax seed worked great for me for about 14 yrs. I bought it at a health food store... it should be refrigerated. Each morning I would put a bunch of it in a Mr. Coffee grinder and add it to oatmeal. Brown sugar and cinnamon to taste. After a bunch of years I began to need way more than I could mix into oatmeal and actually consume it for breakfast. But it was good and healthy and it worked for a very long time.
I have the same problem as Coloredue, if I don't take a bunch of Orc stuff, I wouldn't have a bm for up to 8 days. Mine is bc of the pain medication I'm on and have been on for over 15 yrs
But even B4 pain meds, I only had bm s every 3 days or so & was diagnosed w IBS so I really don't know what to do either! And I eat so much healthy food, fruit, fresh veges daily I don't understand! I can't live w/o my pain meds & injections so don't wNt to tell my PMD, 4 fear that he may say I need to lower my dosage or something!! It's so hot here right now, 91-97 & I swear a lot but know I should still have bm's daily! A friend of mine takes 4x more pain meds than I take & he goes 4-5 x a day! If anyone has answers, other than taking more otc stuff, pls let me know too!
I wish U well in your quest!! Laura
Related topics
constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain
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