Constipation

[Nick_12]

Hi. I posted in this community a month or so ago, describing symptoms I was having at the time. Since then I've had a change in my symptoms.

Previously I was experiencing daily diarrhea and lower abdominal pain. I visited an allergist and found out that I have food allergies. I stopped eating those foods and I started having solid BMs again. The lower abdominal pain lessened to a great degree. That's been about 2 1/2 weeks. Now I'm having pain in my abdomen, though more toward the center, in my stomach, above the belly button. It extends to my right side. Pressing doesn't seem to aggravate it.

Saturday I had a solid BM, like normal, followed by a BM that was nothing but mush. Since then my BMs have been fairly small. And I feel as though I'm not evacuating completely. I've not had a BM at all today and I'm feeling discomfort and, occasionally, pain in my lower-left abdomen. I also have some discomfort around my rectum.

I'm drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are high in fiber. But I can't seem to have a BM. The discomfort is such that I am having difficulty getting to sleep.

I have a colonoscopy and endoscopy next week. Hopefully they will reveal any issues I'm having. I'm also taking Zantac (allergist prescribed it when I mentioned stomach problems).

In the mean time, what can I do for abdominal pain? And how can I resolve this constipation? I don't have any laxatives and likely won't be able to get any.

Should I be concerned about the constipation or pain?

[cnoevl21]

Activia is not for people with severe issues, its not at all strong enough. You should go to a health food store or vitamin shop, tell them what is wrong and they will lead you to a good, high dose of probiotic to take. I would suggest something with at least 7 strains of good bacteria and 30 billion or more live cultures.

[Nick_12]

The constipation seems to be gone.  Now my BMs are back to being solid and formed, solid but thin and ribbon-like, or just formless mush.  

I'm allergic to chicken, peanuts, and pecans.  I've been trying to watch out for those, in addition to cutting out eggs from my diet.  

My issues have been going on for over 2 months, and I've lost quite a bit of weight.  I was 170 lbs, I'm now 142 lbs.  It's rather disheartening, frightening, and depressing.  

I also posted this, today, in the Urology forum: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Urology/Testicular-Pain/show/2599254  I don't know if this could be a symptom related to my digestive issues?

Anyway, can I combine probiotics?  I'm not sure if I have any that meet those standards.  I've been eating Activia, but should I take a probiotic in addition to that?  Or just switch over to a probiotic supplement?

[cnoevl21]

You can try drinking prune juice, as that is a natural laxative ( id recommend oragnic only). Is it possible you are still consuming the foods you are allergic to? I don't know what they are, but if its something like gluten or dairy, Those things are in a lot of foods and people don't realize it because its masked by being called things like 'natural flavors' and 'modified food starch' etc. Depending on what you are allergic to, you should try only eating raw, natural foods. Like if you are eating fish, make sure the ingredients only say fish and no other fillers.
I would also suggest a high probiotic, 7 strains of good bacteria with 30 billion or more live cultures. With all the diarrhea your gut flora is probably out of whack and that takes time to be regulated. A probiotic will help.