Constipation is a common condition that involves going to the toilet less often to empty your bowels or passing hard or painful stools (poo)
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Constipation is a very common condition that involves going to the toilet less often to empty your bowels or passing hard or painful stools (poo). Many people experience constipation for a short time, over days or weeks but it can become a long-term (chronic) condition.
Chronic constipation may be mild to severe. It is typically diagnosed if you have had 2 or more of the symptoms below for at least 3 months or more:
Constipation can often be treated at home, but chronic constipation that reduces your quality of life requires a visit to a specialist.
Several factors can cause chronic constipation. Common causes include.
Medication causes
For people of all ages, chronic constipation may be a side effect of certain medication that they are taking. These treatments can include medicines for pain, high blood pressure, depression or epilepsy.
Calcium supplements, iron supplements and even laxatives may also increase the chances of severe constipation symptoms. Using other types of medicines may help to relieve the symptoms of the condition but you should never stop taking any medicines without speaking to your doctor first.
Medical conditions
In rare cases, chronic constipation can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. In adults, these can include:
It is important to see a gastroenterologist or qualified healthcare professional to rule out any serious medical causes.
Dyssynergic defecation
Around one third of chronic constipation cases are caused by dyssynergic defecation. This healthcare condition is also called pelvic floor dysfunction or anismus.
Dyssynergic defecation is thought to be caused when the muscles and nerves within the pelvic floor are not functioning normally. Pelvic floor muscles are the layer of muscles that support the pelvic organs and span the bottom of the pelvis.
To confirm a diagnosis of severe constipation, your doctor will start by asking you about your medical history and your symptoms. In some cases, no tests or procedures are needed. In other cases, these chronic constipation tests and procedures may include:
The new Digestive Health Centre at OneWelbeck in London can provide you with fast, high-quality-services to investigate severe constipation symptoms. OneWelbeck provides private gastroscopy procedures, which are day procedures, without the need for overnight stay.
Once your specialist has diagnosed chronic constipation and the causes of your condition, they will usually start treatment by recommending changes to your diet and lifestyle changes. If those changes don’t help, they may recommend the use of medicines or surgery.
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
Making changes to your diet and lifestyle may include:
Laxatives & Supplements
If diet and lifestyle do not relieve your condition, your GI specialist may prescribe one of the medicines below, or a combination of these treatments:
If your severe constipation is caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic idiopathic constipation (where the cause is unknown), your specialist may prescribe various prescription medicines.
It is important that you speak to your specialist doctor before you start taking any over-the-counter medicines or laxatives. They should be taken carefully and only for short periods of time.
If oral laxatives and supplements do not work, your specialist may suggest treatments, such as a suppository or a mini enema to move stools (poo) through the bottom (rectum).
Biofeedback training exercises are non-surgical, non-invasive therapy options that have been shown to reduce symptoms and causes of some bowel problems, such as constipation, incontinence, dyssynergic defecation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Biofeedback training involves working with a specialist doctor, nurse or physiotherapist. They can use various devices to help you learn to relax and tighten the muscles in your pelvis to help you pass your stools (poo) more easily. Speak to your specialist to see what they recommend.
What is acute constipation?
Constipation is classified as acute constipation if it starts suddenly and lasts for a few days, unlike chronic constipation which can last for weeks or months.
Acute constipation can be more dangerous, especially if it is associated with sudden pain, vomiting, nausea (feeling sick), bleeding and unexplained weight loss. If you think you have acute constipation, then see a qualified specialist for immediate treatment.
How often do I need to see my doctor?
This will depend on your individual needs and your specialist doctor’s advice. To begin with, you may need to see them more often until your chronic constipation is diagnosed and well managed with the right course of treatment.
Once your condition is controlled, you may not see your specialist as often but at OneWelbeck you will still have follow-up appointments to manage your condition over the long-term.
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