INTESTINAL AND BOWEL TROUBLES

[Kay2659]

I am having problems emptying my intestines.  I am so bloated and full of fecal matter.  My last colonoscopy was in May of last year.  A very small non-cancerous polyp was removed.  There was nothing to be found.  I had a total hysterectomy in June.  I think this is where all my problems begin.  I am having a very hard time emptying out.  I have tried everything.  I am now taking Miralax once and sometimes twice a day with prune juice.  I have a very small moment, not enough for comfort.  The bowel the do release is not bulk.  It comes out straw like.  It feels as though my colon in narrowing or my bowel is moving through a very tiny space.  There is no blood in my stools--only once when I strained too hard.  I am not even having abdominal cramps, nausea, or vomiting.  The scary thing is that I am having no pain at all.  I do expel occasional gas.  There are times at night when I am lying in bed; I can feel something being expelled into my system or in my body like a gas or some sort of fumes that rises up out of my throat like a toxin.  (I know that sounds crazy but its true).  It even causes me to briefly cough.  I can feel this toxin entering my bloodstream.  My intestine feels as though it is sleep.  I have no urges or muscle contraction from my intestine to empty out.  When I do go, it feels like it is only because there is no more room for my intestine to hold fecal matter.  Even then, there is no contraction to push bowel out.  It just comes out very pasty, narrow like it is being forced through a tiny whole--much like a baker squeezing icing out of a small tube.  My intestine feels like it has no life at all.  My muscle contractions and urges to relieve my self is non existent.  I do not know what to do.  To get a somewhat good movement, I have to use a fleet enema.  I also have use magnesium citrate and three generic Dolculax laxatives and even then my release is not all that great.  I don't know what else to do?  I need help?  I am gaining weight like crazy.  Please advise!  What shall I do?

[Kay2659]

I am sorry for all your troubles.  It looks like we both can benefit from that small bowel study.  I wish you all the best.  I will be praying for you.  Let me know how it all turns out.  I will do the same.

[Kay2659]

Thank you for your suggestion.  I think it would be very much worth my while to have that small bowel study done.  I am almost sure that what ever my problem is it will show up in that study.  Thank for the well wishes.  I will be seeing my doctor soon.

[Totie]

I have the discomfort of something wrong with my bowel as well, but mine is only the left side & it happens about an hour after I eat. I do have to take Miralex daily. I always dealt with severe constipation & dr. finally put me on it. (It's been about 2yr now) I sometimes push tight on my left intestine to make it stop hurting, but goes all the way up underneath my left rib cage into my back. I do not burp or have anything come up my throat. If I push down in a down ward postion it will feel like I am helping go through my intestine.I don't know if that makes any sense or not, but that is how I try to alleviate my pain. When I do bring it up to my PCP, he just states it is probably heart burn, TRUST ME IT IS NOT HEARTBURN, nothing burns...and the discomfort is all below the left rib cage, left of the belly button. Then he says, maybe scar tissue from a laparotomy done 3yrs ago to remove a tumor & ovary with complex cyst on the left side. It could be that, so if it is, that is something I would have to live with...:(

The only time I feel better is when I DO NOT EAT, or I have a BM movement. I am seriously down to eating once a day. I usually eat dinner because if I eat breakfast or lunch I am so miserable (I feel bloated like gas wants to escape but can't) at work & can't function, at least with dinner I can lay on the couch.  I am scheduled for a small bowel study in 3 weeks. I saw a surgeon this week for fistula's & when he found out my stomach issue (I am underweight & he asked), I told him I only eat once a day due to the discomfort, he referred me to a gastro.

I really hope they can figure out what my issue is & when I do, I will let you guys know.

[Rain815]

Hi, sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. Have you had a small bowel study done yet? If not, maybe that's something you can mention to your doctor. I had it performed and what they do is give you this liquid barium to drink. Then they take xrays of it as it moves into your small intestine, then your large intestine, all the way into your colon. They can see how slowly or quickly it moves, if there are any blockages along the way and if it's moving thru your system the way it should be. I'm not sure what could be causing your problem but I definitely think it would be worth mentioning this test to your doctor. Hope your'e feeling better soon and they can get to the bottom of what's causing your problems. All the best! Lorraine