Aa
No bowel movement for
I sent a post to ask for some insight into my problem and cannot find it so I will retype my issue, I have not had a bowel movement in well over 3 weeks now except for a few as |I call them rabbit turds and I had to push so hard that my hemmroids acted up again. I went for all the tests colon oscopy from the bottom and top, specialists, ect and they all say the tests came back normaol. I am asking is this normal not to have bowel movenent in over 3 weeks? I am so bloated \i feel like I am going to explode. Even the stuff cannot think of the nameright now that they make you take before a colonoscopy didn't clean me out. I have taken stool softeners, laxatives, I eat fiber and take fiber pills even gave myself a enema with no luck. when I do go it is very small and so hard it pluggs the toilet. I get right under my left rib cage a the bottom sever pains at times that are almost unbearable and they say everything is normal? I need some help to try and figure out what is wrong with me as this is not normal. I cannot beleive that all these tests came back normal and the docors got me thinking that I am the crazy one. anyone suffer from this and if so what did you do cause if I do not get help with this I think I am going to go crazy or explode.
How are you doing? I have not seen anything from you for a while so I just wanted to check in. I posted a lengthy upday to my recovery process under my original posting of "colectomy for constipation?!?!" if you want to see my update.
I hope your time away from posting means things are going well for you.
Best of luck,
Quartzn99
I hope your time away from posting means things are going well for you.
Best of luck,
Quartzn99
I just wanted to give everyone an update. I had another disimpaction on the 1st. This time it was done by my GI doc. Things went a little differently this time. I ended up spending the night in the hospital because I was having several problems after the procedure. With the problems I was having and the fact that my surgeon had taken over primary care with my constipation problems, he was consulted by my GI doc.
I had been scheduled to have a total colectomy on the 21st. My surgeon decided it was best to bump the surgery up. I had a total colectomy with ileorectal anastemosis (sp?) on the 4th. My surgeon was a little concerned about the recovery for this surgery since the recovery for my bowel resection was not an easy one. It turns out my surgeon was right to be concerned. On the informed consent there was a list of possible problems I could have following the surgery. Near as I can tell the only complications I did not have were death or a leakage from the anastemosis.
Coming out of surgery everything seems to be going well. I had a bit of pain, but with four incisions what would you expect. I had a low grade fever from the time I came out of surgery. At first, we didn’t think much of it. It was low so there wasn’t much concern. I was on ice chips for the first 3 days as my bowels were slow to wake up. Once things got moving a bit (more than just a little bit, if any of you don’t know, having you colon removed leaves a lot of water in the bowels). I was making several trips to the bathroom and hoping every time that I would make it there in time. I also spent a lot of time walking around the hospital. Even with the pain, it is about the best thing you can do to help the healing process. There were signs posted stating that 14 laps around the surgical floor was 1 mile. I set myself to make sure I was able to walk at least 14 laps each day. It took a while before I was able to make more than a couple laps without having to take a break due to the pain.
Once my bowels got moving I was able to increase my diet from ice chips to clear liquids. That doesn’t sound like much unless you had gone over a week on clear liquids then 3 more days on ice. Well, it was about the time I increased my diet to clear liquids that things got to a bad point in my recovery. The day I was able to have clear liquids, I had a great day, but that night things got desperate. I ended up very ill. I had not had any nausea up to this point. I ended up projectile. I ended up getting sick about every half hour that night. To top things off I ended up coding. If you don’t know what this means, I became unresponsive, blood pressure plummeted, pulse dropped dangerously low, and I quit breathing. The nurse had to call a “code blue” meaning I was basically close to death. While I was unaware of everything going on around me, I was apparently vomiting blood. These are not things you want to hear happen to you. Once they got be stable again, I did not get as bad. I continued and still continue to be stuck with projectile vomiting with absolutely no control (yet this only happens at night). My surgeon has changed my meds to help control things as much as possible.
I am now back at home. Things seem to be going fairly well, other than my nightly vomiting. I am still having a little bit of pain, but I am not relying on the medications to help control it. I do not have much of an appetite, but can eat enough to maintain. I am still going to the bathroom several times a day, but with set limits in the evening I do not have to get up more than one or twice at night for a bowel movement. As some may find this a problem, for me it is welcome. I no longer have the feeling that I am going to pop and I am able to go to the bathroom without straining and hours of effort for no results. At this point in the recovery, I am feeling really well after my surgery.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Quartzn99
I had been scheduled to have a total colectomy on the 21st. My surgeon decided it was best to bump the surgery up. I had a total colectomy with ileorectal anastemosis (sp?) on the 4th. My surgeon was a little concerned about the recovery for this surgery since the recovery for my bowel resection was not an easy one. It turns out my surgeon was right to be concerned. On the informed consent there was a list of possible problems I could have following the surgery. Near as I can tell the only complications I did not have were death or a leakage from the anastemosis.
Coming out of surgery everything seems to be going well. I had a bit of pain, but with four incisions what would you expect. I had a low grade fever from the time I came out of surgery. At first, we didn’t think much of it. It was low so there wasn’t much concern. I was on ice chips for the first 3 days as my bowels were slow to wake up. Once things got moving a bit (more than just a little bit, if any of you don’t know, having you colon removed leaves a lot of water in the bowels). I was making several trips to the bathroom and hoping every time that I would make it there in time. I also spent a lot of time walking around the hospital. Even with the pain, it is about the best thing you can do to help the healing process. There were signs posted stating that 14 laps around the surgical floor was 1 mile. I set myself to make sure I was able to walk at least 14 laps each day. It took a while before I was able to make more than a couple laps without having to take a break due to the pain.
Once my bowels got moving I was able to increase my diet from ice chips to clear liquids. That doesn’t sound like much unless you had gone over a week on clear liquids then 3 more days on ice. Well, it was about the time I increased my diet to clear liquids that things got to a bad point in my recovery. The day I was able to have clear liquids, I had a great day, but that night things got desperate. I ended up very ill. I had not had any nausea up to this point. I ended up projectile. I ended up getting sick about every half hour that night. To top things off I ended up coding. If you don’t know what this means, I became unresponsive, blood pressure plummeted, pulse dropped dangerously low, and I quit breathing. The nurse had to call a “code blue” meaning I was basically close to death. While I was unaware of everything going on around me, I was apparently vomiting blood. These are not things you want to hear happen to you. Once they got be stable again, I did not get as bad. I continued and still continue to be stuck with projectile vomiting with absolutely no control (yet this only happens at night). My surgeon has changed my meds to help control things as much as possible.
I am now back at home. Things seem to be going fairly well, other than my nightly vomiting. I am still having a little bit of pain, but I am not relying on the medications to help control it. I do not have much of an appetite, but can eat enough to maintain. I am still going to the bathroom several times a day, but with set limits in the evening I do not have to get up more than one or twice at night for a bowel movement. As some may find this a problem, for me it is welcome. I no longer have the feeling that I am going to pop and I am able to go to the bathroom without straining and hours of effort for no results. At this point in the recovery, I am feeling really well after my surgery.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Quartzn99
Your welcome for the information. I am more than happy to give as much information as I can to help anyone going through some of the same things I have been through. It is hard to be able to deal with all of these problems when you feel like you are the only one and finding information is difficult. From my experience it is very difficult to find information on chronic constipation other than eat fiber and take laxitives... what do those of us do when these attempts fail? That information is not as easily found. I think that is part of why my surgeon has had a bit of a hard time. We are a minority of the population fighting with constipation.
As for the pain. Yes!!! The pain can be unbelieveable at times. I have had a history of feeling like something gets stuck under the left side of my ribs. I have tried position changes - somethimes that helps, but other times it does not seem to move whatever gets stuck. I have been told by a coupld doctors that there really isnt anything on the left side in the location where the pain is. At this point I am wondering if it is part of my colon that is getting caught and pinched between my ribs and whatever else may be pushing on it. Uunfortunately, I have not been able to find anything to relieve this pain. When the position change helps, I am happy. If it doesnt help, I have tried heat (heating pad, hot baths, or hot tub) I have found that this does not really help with the pain. My surgeon is understanding that I am in pain, so he has given me pain medications. I do not like taking the pain meds for a few reasons (I do not want to become dependant on the meds, do not like the feeling from the meds, and most importantly - pain meds cause constipation). If you are given pain meds, I'm sure you already know, they cause constipation - use with caution.
The disimpactions, my surgeon has put me under general anesthesia (sp?) so I do not remember anything from the process. He has done this for a couple reasons, first of all he told me it is possible that there would be a great deal of pain from the procedure, secondly I specifically asked that he do it so I do not remember anything from it. I do not know if it is standard procedure to put people under when doing a disimpaction, so you may ask. I know there are some people who have had disimpactions in the ER, during this they are not put under. This form of disimpaction does not go up as far so it does not clear out as much. I think that may be part of why they are not given anything during it. With the disimpactions I have had my surgeon had done colonoscopies at the same time. That may be another reason for him putting me under. Just ask about it.
As meniere135 mentioned the hormones may cause several changes in the body. I also have a lengthy history of problems with my period. Every month I used to miss a few days from school as I would suffer through the beginning of my period. I had severe cramps, naisea, vomiting, and heavy bleading. I was put on birth control to try to help with these problems. I had some relief, but not enough for me to be convinced to pay for the birth control. I was/am not active so the use of the birth control was pointless other than the hoep for relief each month. For me, I did not get any relief with my GI problems while on the birth control (I tried several different kinds). Everyone reacts differently to medications, so if you have not tried it, it might be worth a shot.
I hope some of this information is able to help you or someone else who has found themselves in our position.
Quartzn99
As for the pain. Yes!!! The pain can be unbelieveable at times. I have had a history of feeling like something gets stuck under the left side of my ribs. I have tried position changes - somethimes that helps, but other times it does not seem to move whatever gets stuck. I have been told by a coupld doctors that there really isnt anything on the left side in the location where the pain is. At this point I am wondering if it is part of my colon that is getting caught and pinched between my ribs and whatever else may be pushing on it. Uunfortunately, I have not been able to find anything to relieve this pain. When the position change helps, I am happy. If it doesnt help, I have tried heat (heating pad, hot baths, or hot tub) I have found that this does not really help with the pain. My surgeon is understanding that I am in pain, so he has given me pain medications. I do not like taking the pain meds for a few reasons (I do not want to become dependant on the meds, do not like the feeling from the meds, and most importantly - pain meds cause constipation). If you are given pain meds, I'm sure you already know, they cause constipation - use with caution.
The disimpactions, my surgeon has put me under general anesthesia (sp?) so I do not remember anything from the process. He has done this for a couple reasons, first of all he told me it is possible that there would be a great deal of pain from the procedure, secondly I specifically asked that he do it so I do not remember anything from it. I do not know if it is standard procedure to put people under when doing a disimpaction, so you may ask. I know there are some people who have had disimpactions in the ER, during this they are not put under. This form of disimpaction does not go up as far so it does not clear out as much. I think that may be part of why they are not given anything during it. With the disimpactions I have had my surgeon had done colonoscopies at the same time. That may be another reason for him putting me under. Just ask about it.
As meniere135 mentioned the hormones may cause several changes in the body. I also have a lengthy history of problems with my period. Every month I used to miss a few days from school as I would suffer through the beginning of my period. I had severe cramps, naisea, vomiting, and heavy bleading. I was put on birth control to try to help with these problems. I had some relief, but not enough for me to be convinced to pay for the birth control. I was/am not active so the use of the birth control was pointless other than the hoep for relief each month. For me, I did not get any relief with my GI problems while on the birth control (I tried several different kinds). Everyone reacts differently to medications, so if you have not tried it, it might be worth a shot.
I hope some of this information is able to help you or someone else who has found themselves in our position.
Quartzn99
Another thing to check into are your hormone levels. Believe it or not, hormones have a major impact on your intestinal motility. I remember reading a site before....someone mentioned that if the problem is hormonal (esp. in perimenopausal years or menopause) fiber and enemas, etc. won't help (whether it's true or not, I don't know). The person found relief in progesterone cream - it took her 3 months to return to normal. Of course, it doesn't mean it will work for you, but maybe something for you to check into. If it's worth it to you, maybe make an appt. with the gynecologist and see what they say. And it doesn't hurt to get a thorough pelvic exam!
Hope this or someone helps!
Hope this or someone helps!
I have tried everything and do not eat milk products. I take fiber pills and eat lots of it with no success. I think I have tried every diet out there to help my problem and I give up. I am going to try a disimpaction like Quartzn99 suggested and see if that helps. thanks for posting an awnser to my problem.
wetpaws
thank you for the info and I will talk to my doctor about the disimpaction. hopefully he will agree to let me have one to see if this helps. anything is good even if it is temporary. I need something doen before I explode. I also get these very bad pains on the my left side under the bottom of my rib cage. di you have these pains also? I will try anything at this point and \I wish you good luck with your surgery and I will keep you up to date as you me. thank you for posting, I thought I was the only one that had this problem so so bad.
I have to say while I was reading your post it almost seems like someone went through my medical history and posted it. I have been dealing with chronic constipation for a while now. I have tried every medication my doctors can think of and have to have frequent disimpactions. Like you even the bowel preps to do phase my ability to go. I actually posted a topic last night titled "Colectomy to treat constipation?!?!". If I do not have disimpactions at least once a month I get extreamly distended and cannot eat much without getting sick.
For temporary relief you might check into getting a disimpaction done. I have been into the ER several times to have enemas (very little to no relief). With the disimpactions, my doctor removed the hard, dried up poo that blocks the way for the rest. After the disimpaction I have been able to maintain for a few with some bowel movements. But as I said this may be a temporary solution. I have to have them done frequently as I will get backed up again within a week or two. I would say this is worth a try, I know what you are feeling like and if you are like me you reach a point of despiration. The short term relief has made it wrth it for me to continue on my schedule.
My doctor has decided that he would like to just remove the colon. After the disimpactions he has found that the stool is extremely dry as is my colon wall. As I have hit the point of despiration, because no this is not normal for us to go 3-4 weeks without a bowel movement even with diet change and every medication we have tried, I have agreed to the surgery. I am sitting waiting (surgery is not for about another month) nervous and hopeful. If my surgeon is right (he is also hoping this will fix it, he said there is not a garantee that this will solve the problem for me, but it is worth a try) I will no longer have to worry about how long it has been since my last bowel movement, if I will have more hemoroids, or more anal fissures (currently fighting with a fissure that does not want to go away). If you find a doctor that you trust and who is understanding that there is a problem (it took me over 7 years to finally get to my surgeon, after all fo my scopes, tests, and exams, he was the only one who could very quickly see that I had an extra two feet of colon) stick with that doctor (might look into a colorectal surgeon), frequent updates, lots of questions, and a little bit of persistance to find an answer. My colorectal surgeon is the one who has done my disimpactions and will be removing my colon next month. I have come to trust my surgeon as much as my GP (not an easy thing when you have been to so many doctors that tell you its all in your head and nothing is wrong).
I hope this helps, maybe not much, but a little. You are not the only one with a severe constipation problem (I thought I was until reading your post).
Let me know how things progress for you. I will give updats as I progress through what might finally be the answer for me.
Best of luck,
Quartzn99
For temporary relief you might check into getting a disimpaction done. I have been into the ER several times to have enemas (very little to no relief). With the disimpactions, my doctor removed the hard, dried up poo that blocks the way for the rest. After the disimpaction I have been able to maintain for a few with some bowel movements. But as I said this may be a temporary solution. I have to have them done frequently as I will get backed up again within a week or two. I would say this is worth a try, I know what you are feeling like and if you are like me you reach a point of despiration. The short term relief has made it wrth it for me to continue on my schedule.
My doctor has decided that he would like to just remove the colon. After the disimpactions he has found that the stool is extremely dry as is my colon wall. As I have hit the point of despiration, because no this is not normal for us to go 3-4 weeks without a bowel movement even with diet change and every medication we have tried, I have agreed to the surgery. I am sitting waiting (surgery is not for about another month) nervous and hopeful. If my surgeon is right (he is also hoping this will fix it, he said there is not a garantee that this will solve the problem for me, but it is worth a try) I will no longer have to worry about how long it has been since my last bowel movement, if I will have more hemoroids, or more anal fissures (currently fighting with a fissure that does not want to go away). If you find a doctor that you trust and who is understanding that there is a problem (it took me over 7 years to finally get to my surgeon, after all fo my scopes, tests, and exams, he was the only one who could very quickly see that I had an extra two feet of colon) stick with that doctor (might look into a colorectal surgeon), frequent updates, lots of questions, and a little bit of persistance to find an answer. My colorectal surgeon is the one who has done my disimpactions and will be removing my colon next month. I have come to trust my surgeon as much as my GP (not an easy thing when you have been to so many doctors that tell you its all in your head and nothing is wrong).
I hope this helps, maybe not much, but a little. You are not the only one with a severe constipation problem (I thought I was until reading your post).
Let me know how things progress for you. I will give updats as I progress through what might finally be the answer for me.
Best of luck,
Quartzn99
I'll tell you right up front I'm not sure what is causing the constipation. But since your tests are normal, it's time to try diet changes. I see you are in your late 40's. The aging process, the drop in hormones, etc. effect the digestive process in many people. You might find you don't tolerate certain foods as well anymore. The first food you might want to eliminate is cow's milk products. From all of my research, this is the #1 constipator. It's not the only problem food, but since it's the most common "constipator", maybe you could give a milk free diet a try - that means no milk, no cheese and no products that contain milk derivatives. Stay on the diet for several weeks and see if your intestines start moving again. You have to give it time. It sounds like you are "all backed up" in there. So it will take a while to get the intestines back up to speed and time to get rid of what's already backed up in there. My oldest daughter always had a constipation problem - she went every 4-5 days. This diet cured her problem. Now she goes every day. If she cheats on one piece of cheese, she can't go for 3-4 days. The next food group you might want to try if this doesn't help or only partially helps is the gluten free diet. But give the milk free diet a try. If you try it, let us know if it works. Good luck!
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