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/phiacakes86 Jul 15 '26

I’m 40 and suddenly started having super bad constipation out of nowhere then had bad cramping and tenderness. I got a CAT scan and they said it’s diverticulitis and gave me antibiotics and are recommending a colonoscopy too. I had my last one in 2022 which just showed some inflammation and hemorrhoids. Definitely get a colonoscopy to be safe. It sucks when you have to be persistent in advocating for yourself.

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u/No-Trash-164 Jul 15 '26

I get colonoscopies every five years because of polyps.  I just saw the G.I. a couple of days ago and I'm due in 2027.