A little history first: male, 53, no real pressing health issues, and I'm on no medications. I have regular daily BMs and have for years. I do have a small hernia right at my belly button that I've had for probably 10 years.
About a year ago I experienced a fecal impaction. I had never heard of such a thing and it hit me out of the blue. I found myself literally having to manually remove this massive hard clump that was stuck half in/half out by my hand after nearly half an hour trying to pass it. Needless to say this was not a pleasant experience.
A month ago the same thing happened again. I soon realized that this situation is usually preceded by a day or two of constipation.
A week ago today I noticed I was once again constipated. Fearing this would lead to another impaction episode I tried and tried to relieve myself but with no luck. I continued trying for two more days.
By this time I knew I was doomed and that I was going to be facing another episode of impaction.
I read up on the subject and found that my best chance for relief was to insert a lubricated gloved finger and attempt to break up the mass so I could naturally pass it.
When I tried I found that there was nothing there. This made me believe that the impaction was further up than I could reach.
About this time I began to notice that my my abdomen was starting to become large and sensitive to the touch. I still could not even begin to pass anything. I began taking a daily dosage of Miralax.
By Sunday, day four, I noticed that I could no longer even try to have a bowel movement.
It's as if my muscles simple were no longer even responding to my attempts. It's like they were just turned off, limp, dead.
At that time I also lost all appetite, and noticed my normally overly noisy stomach was now completely silent. I started to feel mild pain in my lower abdomen and back.
This continued into Monday at which point I decided I needed to see a gastroenterologist.
I called to make the appointment, explaining all my symptoms, and was given an apt for Wed morn. I had no appetite and ate nothing the entire day of Monday.
Tuesday came and went pretty much the same as Monday. Again no relief and again I ate nothing, not even a cracker.
Wed morn for the first time in nearly a week I passed a little watery liquid - not really diarrhea and just a small amount.
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At the appointment Wed morning (yesterday) I explained all the symptoms to the Dr. I also told him I had not eaten in 60 hours and felt no hunger.
He did a quick once-over where he listened to my stomach with a stethoscope, pressed a little here and there and told me I was fine. No xray. No blood work. Nothing.
He said that because I had passed the watery stool that morning that everything is working fine. The idea of a partial blockage never even entered the equation.
His recommendation was for me to go home and double up on my Miralax dosage. He did schedule me for a colonoscopy three weeks from now just to make sure everything is alright.
So here I am, a week out and still have not had a bm. I still have no appetite, although after leaving the DR and being told I was fine I did eat normally yesterday.
I have lost 10 lbs in the last four days.
I still have mild, very mild lower back pain. More of a discomfort really. I still have no appetite. I still feel this large something down in my gut. And no matter how much Miralax I take nothing passes.
My concern is that I have a partial blockage that is not being addressed properly. At the same time I don't want to be a baby if this is nothing more than simple constipation.
What should I do? Has anyone here experienced anything similar, and what was the reason/outcome? What would you do?
