Aa
impacted feces
im in the fourth month of having this problem been to so many er rooms, my 'doctor' and now today i go to gi specialist, ive been given laxatives that dont work on the stuck stool, im going out of my mind, i hope to god this doctor will remove the waste. i cant get rid of it, why do doctors not take this seriously? how am i supposed to live this way. i went from being a powr walker early in the morning to being chained to the bathroom crying. its awful, and im going to have a breakdown if the doctor today doesnt help me
By the way, since you're a woman, you can try this when nothing else works: Stick your thumb or finger in the vagina while on the porcelain throne. You will actually be able to feel the impacted stool. You should be able to push a bit. Sometimes just getting it started will help your usual muscles involved with bowel movements to finish the job. This should be a last resort, as it can be easy to cause an anal fissure, but I know how miserable it is when that stuff is impacted like that. Sorry it's a bit graphic, but anything is better than not being able to get the stuff to move or having to go to the urgent care or emergency department just to be told "fiber and water" as if one is being careless and stupid and should be blamed for what isn't working in one's own body. What, those people think that shame and embarrassment is going to make us ''tow the line" because of what they think we're not already doing to take care of ourselves? If there is one thing in the whole medical system that needs to be fixed: Doctors need to stop blaming the patients and they need to start listening. This wouldn't even cost this medical system any extra money if the doctors would start treating IBS-C patients like intelligent adults instead of ignorant children.
I had a similar discussion with a friend of mine. And, she agrees with me. The root word in Latin for doctor actually comes from the same root word as teacher. The best teachers in the world are the ones who listen to their students. Also, it is no sin to say this either: How can you teach others if you don't first learn it yourself and teach yourself? Some doctors seem to forget this as soon as they get their diploma. I don't think it's true of all doctors, but there are some who need a refresher course in just this one area. And, it's not like I'm saying I know more than the doctor. I don't. But, I do know what's right for me, but it seems like a lot of conventional doctors get it in their heads that these patients of theirs simply don't know or understand what's happening in their own bodies whatsoever.
Conventional doctors really do need to get on board with integrative medicine and stop treating natural medicine as if it's all wrong. Just because the FDA can't patent natural medicine, doctors belonging to the AMA refuse to apply certain things to their patients. And, in some cases the FDA actually won't allow the doctors to do this. However, when does anyone in the AMA ever say that it is bad protocol to speak to the patient like an intelligent adult rather than an ignorant child? Why does there have to be an "us" up here and "them" down there mentality? This is dumb, because patients obviously do recognize that doctors have gone to higher learning, but the arrogance needs to go and doctors still need to listen.
I had a similar discussion with a friend of mine. And, she agrees with me. The root word in Latin for doctor actually comes from the same root word as teacher. The best teachers in the world are the ones who listen to their students. Also, it is no sin to say this either: How can you teach others if you don't first learn it yourself and teach yourself? Some doctors seem to forget this as soon as they get their diploma. I don't think it's true of all doctors, but there are some who need a refresher course in just this one area. And, it's not like I'm saying I know more than the doctor. I don't. But, I do know what's right for me, but it seems like a lot of conventional doctors get it in their heads that these patients of theirs simply don't know or understand what's happening in their own bodies whatsoever.
Conventional doctors really do need to get on board with integrative medicine and stop treating natural medicine as if it's all wrong. Just because the FDA can't patent natural medicine, doctors belonging to the AMA refuse to apply certain things to their patients. And, in some cases the FDA actually won't allow the doctors to do this. However, when does anyone in the AMA ever say that it is bad protocol to speak to the patient like an intelligent adult rather than an ignorant child? Why does there have to be an "us" up here and "them" down there mentality? This is dumb, because patients obviously do recognize that doctors have gone to higher learning, but the arrogance needs to go and doctors still need to listen.
Oddly enough, you might want to include chiropractic in your care. It doesn't replace any of the other doctors. I'm experiencing similar issues, but I just discovered I've also had a pinched nerve that is directly connected with the colon. I'm certain that after I get a few more treatments the colon will at least be at its usual sluggishness instead of almost stopped up all together.
I'm with you about the GI doctors. I've pretty much given up on GI doctors. I always get sent to the clinic that has a high turnover rate of these "specialists". They tell me the same useless story and talk down to me as if I'm an ignorant child. I'm fed up with this. The couple of times I actually had someone with decent bedside manners was near the end of the person's term at this revolving door clinic. I get the same treatment you do. "Try this laxative." But, doctor, what about becoming laxative dependent? "No, you won't get 'dependent' on Miralax." Are you sure? Because it stopped working after a few doses! "Eat more fiber. Take a fiber supplement." Doctor, I don't think you're listening, because I just explained that I do take a fiber supplement. I just don't take the one you think I should take, namely Metamucil, because it aggravates the GERD. (As soon as any of these people hear this, they only hear what they want to hear and still answer me with the same rote that they always say. It's as if they assume that just because one doesn't use Metamucil they're not using a supplement. They only hear what they want to hear, which means they're not listening and they're assuming I don't follow directions or that I'm stupider than dirt.) "Drink more water." Doctor, don't you see the water bottle I brought in with me? It's the afternoon now, and I already drank a full water bottle and half of this one. I'll probably finish this before dinner time and drink a bit more water before bedtime. I'm always drinking water. If I drink any more water, I'll float away!
I've come to the conclusion that this is how these "doctors" respond when they don't know the answers themselves. They don't listen and they blame the patient when the problems don't get any better. And, of all the doctors who don't seem to like natural medicine, any time I come across these people (GI doctors), they act like natural medicine is a dirty word. All my other conventional doctors are more reasonably oriented towards natural medicine. They stop listening if their patients are simply geared towards integrative medicine, which is simply the marriage of both conventional and natural. The closest "natural" medicine the GI doctors in that clinic seem to understand is Metamucil. Yeah, well, what's so natural about that "orange" coloring and flavoring or the artificial sweetener in that stuff. And, since the GI doctors are supposed to be treating me for the combination of GERD/IBS-C, they should be listening when I tell them that I've even gone to get the psyllium fiber from the natural health store, which is Metamucil minus the garbage additives. They should be listening to their patients better. Psyllium fiber irritates the GERD and the gastritis both. And, it was the naturopath who acknowledged this much. It isn't just a "sensitivity", of which I do have many food and medicine sensitivities and even a few full blown allergies. The naturopath simply affirmed that psyllium fiber does irritate the LES in GERD patients. These conventional GI doctors don't want to hear this.
The thing is, they still compartmentalize the upper and the lower GI tract as if they're separate entities. The same food goes through both parts does it not? I have discovered that if something bothers the upper GI tract, it usually constipates me more with the IBS-C, and vice versa. If I first notice the pain and bloating and overall discomfort with the IBS-C, I will pay attention to see if I am bothered with the GERD with the same substance I consumed. Usually, the answer is "Yes". Even if the "Yes" comes a couple days later because food sensitivities are like a delayed hidden food allergy. Not quite enough to be considered to be a "true" allergy by conventional medicine, but definitely enough to be considered to still be a sensitivity.
Even conventional medicine recognizes that even if it's not called an allergy or a sensitivity in their estimation that the patient should probably still avoid the food or drink in the future. Or, at least they do recognize this to be the case with Tyramine Intolerance and migraines. And, this is something that can't necessarily be measured, as there is no test for this. But, there are foods that are recognized to become Tyramine in the body as it's being digested and that people with migraines usually don't tolerate these substances because their own bodies don't dispose of the Tyramine as readily as people without migraines. Why the conventional doctors can recognize this much but not all food sensitivities is beyond me.
Anyway, I agree with you. I'm not in a huge hurry to go back to that clinic to see any of those "doctors" for GI specialty any time soon. I think they're really good at treating things like colon cancer and serious issues like this that certainly do need conventional medicine. But, I do think they have lousy bedside manners for people with chronic constipation due to IBS-C and the people with the very common combination of GERD/IBS/gastritis. So, unless I am ever allowed to see a different breed of GI specialist and won't have to go back to that clinic, I'm about to give up on that clinic for this stuff myself.
I'm with you about the GI doctors. I've pretty much given up on GI doctors. I always get sent to the clinic that has a high turnover rate of these "specialists". They tell me the same useless story and talk down to me as if I'm an ignorant child. I'm fed up with this. The couple of times I actually had someone with decent bedside manners was near the end of the person's term at this revolving door clinic. I get the same treatment you do. "Try this laxative." But, doctor, what about becoming laxative dependent? "No, you won't get 'dependent' on Miralax." Are you sure? Because it stopped working after a few doses! "Eat more fiber. Take a fiber supplement." Doctor, I don't think you're listening, because I just explained that I do take a fiber supplement. I just don't take the one you think I should take, namely Metamucil, because it aggravates the GERD. (As soon as any of these people hear this, they only hear what they want to hear and still answer me with the same rote that they always say. It's as if they assume that just because one doesn't use Metamucil they're not using a supplement. They only hear what they want to hear, which means they're not listening and they're assuming I don't follow directions or that I'm stupider than dirt.) "Drink more water." Doctor, don't you see the water bottle I brought in with me? It's the afternoon now, and I already drank a full water bottle and half of this one. I'll probably finish this before dinner time and drink a bit more water before bedtime. I'm always drinking water. If I drink any more water, I'll float away!
I've come to the conclusion that this is how these "doctors" respond when they don't know the answers themselves. They don't listen and they blame the patient when the problems don't get any better. And, of all the doctors who don't seem to like natural medicine, any time I come across these people (GI doctors), they act like natural medicine is a dirty word. All my other conventional doctors are more reasonably oriented towards natural medicine. They stop listening if their patients are simply geared towards integrative medicine, which is simply the marriage of both conventional and natural. The closest "natural" medicine the GI doctors in that clinic seem to understand is Metamucil. Yeah, well, what's so natural about that "orange" coloring and flavoring or the artificial sweetener in that stuff. And, since the GI doctors are supposed to be treating me for the combination of GERD/IBS-C, they should be listening when I tell them that I've even gone to get the psyllium fiber from the natural health store, which is Metamucil minus the garbage additives. They should be listening to their patients better. Psyllium fiber irritates the GERD and the gastritis both. And, it was the naturopath who acknowledged this much. It isn't just a "sensitivity", of which I do have many food and medicine sensitivities and even a few full blown allergies. The naturopath simply affirmed that psyllium fiber does irritate the LES in GERD patients. These conventional GI doctors don't want to hear this.
The thing is, they still compartmentalize the upper and the lower GI tract as if they're separate entities. The same food goes through both parts does it not? I have discovered that if something bothers the upper GI tract, it usually constipates me more with the IBS-C, and vice versa. If I first notice the pain and bloating and overall discomfort with the IBS-C, I will pay attention to see if I am bothered with the GERD with the same substance I consumed. Usually, the answer is "Yes". Even if the "Yes" comes a couple days later because food sensitivities are like a delayed hidden food allergy. Not quite enough to be considered to be a "true" allergy by conventional medicine, but definitely enough to be considered to still be a sensitivity.
Even conventional medicine recognizes that even if it's not called an allergy or a sensitivity in their estimation that the patient should probably still avoid the food or drink in the future. Or, at least they do recognize this to be the case with Tyramine Intolerance and migraines. And, this is something that can't necessarily be measured, as there is no test for this. But, there are foods that are recognized to become Tyramine in the body as it's being digested and that people with migraines usually don't tolerate these substances because their own bodies don't dispose of the Tyramine as readily as people without migraines. Why the conventional doctors can recognize this much but not all food sensitivities is beyond me.
Anyway, I agree with you. I'm not in a huge hurry to go back to that clinic to see any of those "doctors" for GI specialty any time soon. I think they're really good at treating things like colon cancer and serious issues like this that certainly do need conventional medicine. But, I do think they have lousy bedside manners for people with chronic constipation due to IBS-C and the people with the very common combination of GERD/IBS/gastritis. So, unless I am ever allowed to see a different breed of GI specialist and won't have to go back to that clinic, I'm about to give up on that clinic for this stuff myself.
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