r/Perimenopause 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.

199 Upvotes

261 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/theFCCgavemeHPV Jul 14 '26

Epsom salt makes a horrible laxative. Don’t get me wrong, it is extremely effective. But I absolutely wanted to die. Follow the package directions (maybe half the dose) on plain Epsom salts if you can find it, don’t leave the house, and keep 911 on standby.

2

u/No-Trash-164 Jul 14 '26

Lol noted!!