Severe Constipation and impacted stool

[LPT1983]

Hi,

I really appreciate any help or suggestions you might offer.
I am a graduate student abroad and have a history of Bacteria Overgrowth in the small intestine and lay of Gluten.
Despite this, I drink plenty of water and eat loads of fruits and veggies.
I have been constipated for WEEKS. This is painful and scary.
So, I decided to go in for a colonic. I have thought about this in the past, but never acted on it because of the risks involved.  desperate for some relief, I did it anyway.  
It was not very successful since my stool is like stone: Very hard and not passable.
After, I bought a Miralax like powder and mixed it with tea before bed and the following morning. I did have some success, but I also threw up on the same day.
Suddenly, I got sweaty and sick and puked.
I also was sore and tender in my right abdominal.
By this point I realized I needed to see a GI guy.  
Unfortunately, the system here works like an HMO so the family doctor I saw took a stomach X-ray and upon revealing that I am literally full-of-it, prescribed a sodium phosphate.
I am home today and tried the first dose last night and just finished the second. I am drinking lots of water and am a bit apprehensive about this approach.
I feel like the doctor didn't quite "get" what is going on with me.
Even now when i go, it is very runny and nothing seems to come out though I push.
I wonder if my muscles are working properly and if perhaps I have a hernia, hemroid, or some other problem...
Please help!
Thank you!!!

[richbrownowl]

Hi,  I have been experiencing symptoms similar to yours for the past couple of months.  Sharp pains in my right abdo (stomach) and upper and lower bowel, constipation, impacted/thinning of stools.  Blood tests revealed all is ok, yet I was experiencing such pain and discomfort, and left with the feeling noone was taking me seriously.  Whilst waiting for my colonoscopy appointment to come through, I decided to take a hollistic approach and a week ago I had a reflexology and reiki session to detox my system.  I have also stated taking Psyllium Husks three times a day to clean my bowels and drinking lots of Fennel tea.  I have seen significant improvements, where I am no longer constipated, and the pain has totally gone.  I had my colon fully scoped (colonoscopy) on Tuesday, and all was clear.  My Consultant recksons there may have been inflammation, but they will be able to tell me more when the biopsy results come through.  

[kingdomh]

I would not suggest colonics for anyone having undiagnosed bowel issues----could be unsafe. I recently for the first time in my life, became slighted impacted. I called the gastroenterologist and he advised me to take Miralax---I took 2 doses and it cleared me up within 3-4 hours that same day. By the way, I was told, if that didn't work, I would have to come in and they would do a rectal exam to determine just how hard, and possibly an "oil type" enema to help eliminate. Ultrasounds also show impaction.
The phospate liquids of course clean us out normally to prepare for surgery or colonocopy. If one or two doses of that doesn't work----the GI  Dr will need to advise you further. In the meantime, I would avoid cheese or any constipating type products and any others you know irritate your digestive system.
Good luck

[Cherie762]

same problem but mine started after a hemmoroidectomy (internal 3 of em many stitches) anyways I had to go to er three times they gave me dilaudid and an enema before I could go...I was in horrific pain so not embarassed.

Ok beleive it or not a nurse recommended I try Kelllogs Crackling Oat Bran its 15 mg fiber per serving has a cinnamon flavor the pieces are big so if you are lactose intolerant you can eat it as a snak it really relly helps...also as above said avodi dairy adn i find avoiding meat especailly red helps Im eating mostly whole grains fruits and veggies and my stools are still hard but passable,

Im going for pelvic ultra sound monday....they think I have addhesions from prior surgery my bladder hurts too and Im passing blood form both.

[richbrownowl]

I too would not recommend a colonoscopy for an undiagnosed bowel problem.  My colonoscopy was ordered by my doctor and took place in a hospital, under medical supervision.

[sparkle40]

Right now I would work with your doctor.  I have IBS-C and it was reccomened to me to take Colace, it is a stool softener.  Mabye that will help some of your distress when it starts?  It helped me for a long time but then didn't.  I found that I am sensitive to wheat and suspect gluten and an offender.  And amazingly found vitamin C dries my gut up.  And this is in most everything.  I am so sensitive to it I can't drink fruit juice with C, I feel a sudden change in my digestion.  America is on a whole wheat crazy and it is hard to find a fiber cereal also.  I was told to use Miralax because some of what I was taking was a wheat fiber.  Did me no good.

[FurballsMom]

A good fiber supplement that will work for anyone looking for adding fiber to their diet and find themselves sensitive to psyllium fiber is flaxseed meal.  The good thing about flaxseed meal is that it can be added directly to your food, if you find preparing it like you would psyllium fiber too unpleasant.  This is a good thing to try if you find that psyllium fiber aggravates other problems, like GERD.

[mifegr]

Hi, I'm a nutrionist and it just so happens I also have simular problems.  Years ago I was severely constipated and found out that I had a yeast overgrowth in my gut.  So, I went on an anti-fungal drug called Diflucan.  After being on this drug for 8 to 10 days, I had normal healthy bowel movements again.  I wonder if your problems may be a result of that bacterial overgrowth you have.  If you have not been put on medication for this, you need to be.  Just remember, if you have yeast you need to be on an anti-fungal drug for a long time.  Not just long enough for your problem to clear up.  Ya know how taking an anti-biotic for an infection needs to be taken completey and until the whole bottle is gone, not just until you feel better?  That's because if you get off of it too soon, the bacteria your trying to kill will grow stronger and more resistant.  The same is true of anti-fungals.  If you only take it until your symptoms clear up, and not until every little bit of yeast is killed off, the yeast will grow stronger and more resistant.  DO NOT just go to any doctor to treat your yeast problem (a.k.a. candida) if you have a yeast problem.  Go to a holistic doctor.  They know more how to test and treat such things.  Also, in the Gastroenterology forum there is a guy who goes under the title "frangul."  Look for his post that says, "Sharp Stomach Pain."  He talks about how he took a chinese herb tha cleared his yeast problem right up.  It's called "HUO XIANG ZHENG QI WAN" (google this).  Besides seeing a holistic dr i would see a Gastroenterologst.  You need to have a Colonic Transit Study and a Defacting Protogram Test.  Good luck!  

[mifegr]

At some point you need to start taking a probiotic.  The very best one on the market is Primal Defense Ultra by Garden of Life.  Get the capsules.  You can buy it cheaper than they sell it in the health food stores by calling 1-877-673-0224 to order it.