Background: I'm a 26 year old female. Health nut. Fruits/veggies, whole grains, beans, lentils, hardly any dairy, and small meat portions a few times weekly. Drink water only, no soda, but 2 coffees per month and one glass of wine or beer per month. Non smoker; exercise often. I do NOT take medications at all. ***I have 1-3 normal bowel movements daily.***
Problem: Was injured 7 weeks ago in a car accident, broke my arm and suffered severe whiplash that kept me entirely immobile for 4-5 weeks. Was prescribed generic vicodin for pain. Was told to take stool softeners with generic vicodin daily to prevent constipation. While on medication, I had NO bowel movement for 1 week. Per pharmacist recommendation, I began taking an over-the-counter stimulant laxative daily, in combination with the non-laxative stool softener and generic vicodin. I also stopped eating meat, bananas, and cheese. However, I had NO bowel movement for another week, which equaled 2 total weeks with no bowel movement. After these 2 weeks, I stopped taking the vicodin, even though I was in pain, but I continued to take the stimulant laxative pills and stool softener pills daily. The day after I stopped taking the vidodin I drank a 10 oz. bottle of magnesium citrate. This did not produce a bowel movement. So then I did an enema. This produced no bowel movement. Even though I continued to take laxatives and stool softeners, I still had no bowel movement after 3 1/2 total weeks, so I went to the ER. CTs/Xrays showed no blockages, and doctor instructed me to go home and do 2 enemas 3 hours apart, and to drink another bottle of magnesium citrate. I did those things between 8-11 p.m., but had no bowel movement, so I went back to the ER the next day. By that point, I had been expelling clear water, which the doctor said was the bowels. He told me I would be fine, and told me to NEVER take a stimulant laxative again since I had been using them for 3 1/2 weeks. He told me to continue using stool softeners, which I did. Three days after leaving the ER I had a small bowel movement. I continued to have occasional bowel movements for about 9 days. I continued using stool softeners, and continued avoiding cheese, meat, and bananas. However, after the 9 days, I did not have ANY bowel movement for 5 days. So I took a stimulant laxative, which cleaned me out! Then I went another 6 days without a bowel movement, so I saw an internal medicine doctor who prescribed Amitiza for 5 days, Miralax, and Citracel. I have been on these 3 mild laxatives for 5 days. During each of the past 3 days I have expelled 1 golf-ball sized stool daily. So, since I hadn't had a bowel movement for the 6 days prior to seeing the doctor, this means that in the past 11 days, I have only expelled 3 golf-ball sized stools total, which is the equivalent of one regular bowel movement in 11 days! The doctors cannot figure out why I am now suffering from severe, chronic constipation. The Amitiza, Miralax and Citracel aren't working, so the doctor told me to add milk of magnesia to my regimen. All of the GI doctors in my area and surrounding areas cannot fit me in for 3-8 weeks. What do I do? Will I suffer from this forever? I sometimes feel the urge to go, but the stools are never near the rectum, and pushing does not move my stools down towards the rectum. My body now does not produce urges to go as often as it used to, but I push anyway. The only thing I've been told that might be causing constipation is my lack of exercise. I am well enough to start walking, which I did today. Also, I have tried prunes, apple juice and other juices, strong coffee (which always used to give me diarrhea, which is why I hardly ever drink coffee) and soda, but none of those items have produced a bowel movement.