How about Richard Saad–he has great expertise in constipation—http://www.uofmhealth.org/profile/9/richard-joseph-saad-md I am not sure about Valsartan—but surprisingly some of these anti-hypertensive meds can have GI effects. Talk to your doctor.

Thank you. I’m grateful that my GI doc led me to the FODMAP diet. With his guidance, I also take a maintenance of rifaxamin twice a day to treat SIBO, which has been diagnosed by hydrogen breath test three times. Unfortunately he didn’t see the omeprazole problem for years. Hopefully he’s now alert to this possibility for other sufferers.

Thank you.

Thanks for your info on the blood pressure meds. when I challenged my doctor about the BP meds making my constipation worse, she told me to drink more water, if I drink anymore water, I will have to live in the bathroom.

Hi Jean, so glad you were kept searching for your answer. And glad you find the low FODMAP diet works for you!!

Thank you Arlene, for sharing your story and experience. So glad you feel better.

I also have GER, for which I’ve taken Prilosec/omeprazole once or twice daily for more than ten years. About six months ago, on my own, I stopped the Prilosec due to its contributing to both severe iron deficiency anemia and osteoporosis.

Along with the anemia, guess what else has now improved by about 75% since stopping Prilosec?

That’s right, my diarrhea is so much, much better. I no longer spend every evening in the bathroom and can lead a relatively normal life, so long as I also follow FODMAP guidelines. That I’d done, btw, for a more than a year prior to stopping Prilosec, with little benefit until then. .

I’m no longer thinking about having a colostomy. Now spending time with family and friends. Going out in the evenings. Attending meetings and celebrations. Living my life again.

All from quitting a medication that, for me, was apparently toxic. I’m not saying it would be so for others, just sharing my experience. Perhaps others might benefit without spending so many years suffering needlessly.

My name is Jean and I have had IBS for 25 years – with the main issue being constipated for up to two weeks at a time. I spend days in the ER and hospital only to be told ‘just drink water – you will be fine’ or ‘you brought this on yourself – just make it go away’. I did see a mental health professional who said ‘your head and stomach are connected and therefore this is relationship – let’s talk about it. So we did andthere was some stress contributing to the constipation. It was only when I saw a nutritionist that I was introduced to the FODMAP diet -which made all the difference in the world. I then sent an email to the gas doctors I had seen who prescribed pills for each meal – I wanted to alert them to the FODMAP diet which was so helpful – unfortunately their response was ‘thanks but we are sticking with the pills – diet does not matter! I am here to say – ‘DIET DOES MATTER. Kate – please keep up your excellent work – you are an angel!

It is amazing how small amounts of an ingredient can trigger distress. Thanks for commenting.