Constipation, and other stuff

[Sailorsong]

Man I didn't really know what to use for this topic. It has a lot to do with what has been happening to me lately and my trip to the VA hospital today. But after asking Quix privately about this she suggested I post so that this topic could be discussed. This could turn out to be somewhat long, but I hope that it is not too long for all to read.

So I spent 7 hours today at the VA today mostly dealing with a constipation issue, but also a short visit with my friend Dave who is still in the hospital after abdominal surgery on the 14th.  While they supposedly have fixed the problem with his intestine, he still is not doing too well and still has not gotten any accurate indication of when he will get to come home.  Just shortly before I got to his room he had another vomiting episode and the nurses were in the process of cleaning him up. I kind of suspect that they will be going back inside of him again to try and find out what is going on.

Anyway as I mentioned earlier I have not had a normal BM since the 13th of August. During this period when I have gone it has been mostly clear liquid and gas that has come out of me...NO solid or even semi-solid material at all. After explaining all of this to Quix in a PM she told me that it was constipation even though I don't feel constipated as we don't alway feel this due to the neurological damage in out bodies.

At the VA the use the ER as a walk-in clinic as there is no way to get to see your PCP within any time less than 2 months. So I tell the receptionist that I have not had a BM since the 13th and I am then seen by a tech to have my vitals checked. My BP was 186/98, o2 was 99%, and temp my normal 96.5. The tech didn't tell me my pulse rate.

Next I am seen by a nurse and he has me stand up to take my vitals ( probably because the BP was high) and it was then 165/96, pulse 54, and o2 95%. I then tell him what is going one and I am classified as non-emergency and told to wait in the waiting area. As I am waiting I wonder about why my 02 level dropped to 95% while standing.

After 5 1/2 hours they finally take me back to an exam room to be seen by a doctor. When the doctor comes in about 20 minutes later the first thing he says is "I understand you are having trouble with diarrhea. " Here I though that all nurses knew the difference between constipation and diarrhea.

After I straighten out the doctor on what is going on, that I have Neuro problems and IBS. He tells me he is no GI expert but will try some experiments to try and get things working right again. So I am to use Metamucil ( 1 tsp each day) and if things are still not working right in 1 - 2 weeks I should come back. He also gave me an Rx to help control the spasms in my IT for the IBS and put in a referral to a GI doctor to have them get me working correctly or at least better down there. I have been talking with my regular doctors for over a year about the problems I have been having with no referral from any of them.  So that least that is one good thing that may come from this. When I picked up the Rx for the IBS med the first thing I noticed is that one of the side effect can be constipation. So I will hold off taking it for at least a few days to see if the Metamucil works.

Speaking of IBS, as it was 6PM by the time I left the VA I stopped for dinner in Nashville. Every time I eat up there not only do I have to use the men's room at the restaurant before I head home, I also have to stop twice on the way home due to the IBS. I did my normal routine stops on the way home but was not able to go. Not sure if this means the constipation is getting worse or the IBS was not active for some reason this time.

I'm not sure what Quix wanted us to discuss on this topic but I think it probably has to do with:

What the signs of constipation are when you can't feel being constipated.
How to treat it before you end up having to see a doctor


Dennis

[Lulu54]

I don't have much to add to this since everything appears to be covered.   Just that in my car I have sirrius radio and was listening to doctor talk the other day on the way to work - it was a GI doc  from NYU who was talking about bowel and bladder issues.

He is known as Dr. Stool and has written two books for medical use - the first is

What your stool is telling you

and the other

What My Pee is Telling ME

His whole point was that we must use observation skills with these bodily functions to track changes in our health.

-Lu

[Sailorsong]

JJ,

   I don't know about the others but I have no idea what you mean about mucus in this topic. Could you enlighten me and possibly the others?

As far as cancer worries I had a colonoscopy less than 2 years ago so I should be OK in that area. Plus I am suppose to be seeing a GI doctor in the near future.

Dennis

[supermum_ms]

Ok i'll be brave (lol), i've actually learnt a lot from reading this but i noticed no one has mentioned mucus (blush) whats that about???

I was dx IBS years ago and the first thing i was rx was a bulking agent, but my only issues were constipation and as time went on, then painful piles, so it just got worse for a while. I am still having the same problems and i've eaten just about everything recommended, all i can say about that is sometimes it just doesn't matter what your putting in, it doesn't want to come out lol.

On a different note I would like to throw out a heads up, my dad was one of the healthy people, mind body and sole, he never seemed to get sick (here comes the but) BUT became constipated for 10 days. First time anyone knew he was having a problem was finding him in tears due to not being able to go at all, (it is the only time i have ever seen my dad cry) nothing he tried was working and he was in agony. He had bowel cancer, he had all the best dr's and until he was under the knife, they all believed they'd caught it early, not so unfortunately. He was in late stage bowel cancer, from start to dx it took only 2 weeks, there wasn't any hint that he was a sick man living with a disease that would take his life, just boom here it is!

So my heads up is to never asume when it comes to the bowel that its nothing, always get it checked out, always better to err on the side of causion.

Cheers......JJ

[Eyesnlegs]

Okay so I finally joined the throng late as usual!!

I believe that the UK equivalent to Miralax is Movicol, so here is some recent advise from my continence adviser regarding my bladder issues =

You need to get in control of your bowel before we can truly find what is causing your bladder problems. As the bowel and bladder are so close together if you have any material in the bowel that is acting as a block it just adds extra pressure to your bladder.

Take up 8 sachets a day of Movicol and as you have MS just take as many as you need to clear any blockage, just experiment to find the right level for you. It may be 8 to clear any back up and then one sachet or even half a sachet a day. Some people may take only half a sachet every 3 days - it has to be right for you.

Then came the really gross bit - have you seen the Movicol 'poo chart' - gulp - no I hadn't - so she gave me a copy and pointed at a nicely formed bm saying - that is the shape you need to aim for.

I checked the basic ingredient in Movicol and they are the same as Miralax and  the lovely chart is available on line for those who are really keen.

I have been trying for 3 weeks now and still haven't got the dosage right swinging from one extreme to the other, this stuff takes practise.

Pat

[RedFlame]

Hey Dennis,  I am glad to hear that you are getting some relief.  I hope that you will continue to empty out throughout the day.  

Red

[Sailorsong]

All

  Thanks for the support and information.

  I finally had my first BM a little while ago. But I'm sure there must be a lot more in there that has to come out yet. I will continue with the MiraLax for another day or 2 just to make sure I get cleaned out.

  Dennis

PS Quix you sure crack me up. :)