upper abdominal pain/constipation/bleeding

[KodeMaster]

Hello all. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read, and hopefully answer my post.

On and off, I have suffered from constipation. I can go for a month or more without it, only for it to return. For the past few weeks, I have been constipated. Some of the time, I get blood in my stools. I saw my gastro doc two weeks ago, who advised me to take an osmotic laxative. I have been taking it for a week, and it took me four days to have a BM. The doctor suggested I take it twice a day if it doesn't work well enough and I did that for two days. I started going a little bit every other hour or so.

Last night, I landed in the ER due to upper right abdominal pain, which got worse after eating. It eventually became constant, with sharp jabs of pain, only to move around a bit and go back to its original spot. Then, it would wax and wane. They did X-Rays and blood work. I was told that my colon on the right side was stretched out due to a large amount of stool. I asked if it was a blockage and the doctor said "no".

The nurse gave me a dulcolax and sent me home, advising me to call my gastro doc in the AM. I did not go until this morning. It took two trips to the potty to get it out, however I got a lot out. However, the second trip resulted in blood in my stool.

I called my gastro doc's office first thing this AM per ER orders and explained what happened. The earliest they could get me in is eight days from now (and that was "squeezing me in" per the lady on the phone). The receptionist advised me to try back early next week for cancellations.

My ER visit left me a little confused, as well as the situation in general.

1. What is the difference between a blockage and just plain stool stuck in the colon, especially when it stretches the colon out?

2. Why am I still getting blood in my stool after taking osmotic laxatives for a week? Should I just give the laxatives more time to work?

I had a colonoscopy a year and a half ago which was clean; therefore I am not overly concerned about the most serious stuff. The doctor looked inside me at my visit two weeks ago and did not see hemorrhoids. My last colonoscopy showed internal hemorrhoids, however I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy in June and no hemmies were found.

Also, my stools have been skinny since this pain that caused me to go to the ER, including those this AM. I am thinking that, even though I went a lot, perhaps some of that stool has hardened and is blocking some of the stool from passing through. I just hope it will resolve itself with the osmotic laxative and by my continuing to follow doctor's orders (drink more water, eat more fiber, etc.)

Thank you in advance for reading this and shedding any light on my situation.

K

[KodeMaster]

Thank you! I will mention this to my doctor when I see him. My appt got moved up a day and I will see him Thursday.

K