Suggest Remedies For Constipation
Advice to undergo colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic for your health concern
Since you stopped opioids 5 years ago, the opioid is unlikely the cause of your constipation.
The two important concern with your symptoms are--
-Upper GI bleeds: Black tarry stools are indicative of the presence of digested blood in the stool. This is suggestive of an upper Gastro Intestinal bleed. Some of the causes for such a bleed include ulcer, gastritis, any tumor which can be confirmed/ruled out by an upper GI endoscopy.
-Colonic tumor: Chronic constipation with blood in stool and string like narrow stool raises the concern for colon tumor. I recommend that you undergo colonoscopy for detailed evaluation. It is also recommended for people aged above 50 to undergo screening colonoscopy every 10 years.
Please be advised to follow up with your primary care or gastroenterologist for undergoing necessary evaluation.
Meanwhile, you can follow the following measures to help with constipation:
-Eat fiber-rich food like wheat, XXXXXXX oat, fruits, and vegetables
-Make sure you walk around and exercise to improve bowel movements.
-Drink plenty of water
-Avoid caffeine
-You can continue to use Psyllium-containing laxatives
-You can also take Bisacodyl 10 mg once daily to stimulate bowels
Hope this answers your question
Please feel free to address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi