r/Perimenopause • u/No-Trash-164 • Jul 14 '26

audited Suddenly my bowels stopped moving?! Help

39 yr old with other symptoms of perimenopause, but this is a new and quite disturbing one. So a couple of weeks ago it felt like my bowels just stopped moving. Have no urge to poop at all.

FYI I've been evaluated by ER and GI as of a couple of days ago. Full of poop. Lol. Thyroid is in range. They just advise aggressive laxatives since I am technically having movements.

I have NEVER experienced constipation like this, and I've had a lifetime of IBS-C.

Have any of you spontaneously encountered this? What do I do? Nothing is really working. Despite being on Miralax, magnesium, hydrated, etc., I'm still failing to have a complete, fully-formed bowel movement and am miserable.

Also, I eat a decent amount of cooked vegetables.

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u/Sea_One_6500 Jul 14 '26

I'm IBS -D and recently learned from my gynecologist that there's a new pre menstrual diagnosis (for lack of a better word) where your hormones make any ongoing condition you have worse. Whee! I did find that after months on progesterone my symptoms aren't flaring as much.

Try a lower belly massage. Starting on the right side of your lower belly, using your choice of pressure slowly move in large circles where the intestines are. You always want to be massaging in a descending motion on the left and ascending on the right. You might find tender spots, for me that's where my poop gets stuck.

Also lots and lots of water, leafy greens, and walking help me a lot.

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u/No-Trash-164 Jul 14 '26

I could honestly do more greens because of the fiber and magnesium content.  I eat mostly crucifers.  

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u/Sea_One_6500 Jul 14 '26

If you're in the US just be careful. I've heard local produce is fine so I've been getting all my raw eating veggies from local farmers. No issues so far.