Non functioning bowels

[Scarymary99]

Doctor,  Can you tell me why I cannot have any bowel functions while I'm eating regularly, drinking plenty of liquids, taking stool softener and fiber tablets, plus Milk of Magnesia and Miralax daily??  All I get is "brown water", with a minimal amount of fecal material.  My husband makes me eat whether I feel hungry or not, so I think it's only
making the problem larger that it would be if he would leave me alone!!  PLEASE HELP!!!  I just want to get "cleaned out", so I can go back to a normal life!!

Thanks for any help you may offer!
Mary

[Vishusycle]

You sound just like my wife who has suffered with this and it's progression for decades before doing our own research online and finding a perfect fit with Gastroparesis. We brought it to her GI specialists attention and he did a gastric emptying test and confirmed the diagnosis. This affects the entire digestive tract and is generally unpleasant. Learning about it early and how to manage it is key as the symptoms and complications from it get worse as time goes on. Fiber is very hard to digest and virtually impossible for someone who basically relies on gravity to process food through the body. 2-3 Coca-Cola's a day to both keep bezoars from forming and help to reduce in size the ones already formed, Gatorade, fruits and veggies that have had skins removed, NO BEEF, no major ruffage like broccoli spears (florets seem to go okay tho) and celery (unless you remove the strings) or things that brick up in the stomach like alot of oat meal or doughy breads. Do fruit cups, yogurt, egg whites but not yolks, Go easy on seeds and hard nuts like filberts but nuts like cashews that are more soft and buttery may be more readily tolerated. Also consider that if you are not able to chew adequately, your already ill functioning digestive system will have to work even harder to digest food and may likely NOT rise to the occasion and making softer foods like soups, small cut veggies and poultry and occasional pork, mashed potatoes, squash (really helpful btw), fish, and rice rise to the top of your food pyramid. Takes a little getting used to but we are eating VERY well even with the limitations being observed. There are even Gastroparesis friendly amazing recipes on Pinterest. Oh, and garlic, ginger, cherries, squash, prunes, oh and if you're lactose intolerant, coffee and about 2 tbsp's of milk all can be very helpful to get your BM on. Oh, and try to go easy on your husband and his force feeding you. Maybe it's finesse he lacks but you are fighting a battle in your body and that requires fuel and if you are not eating you are depleting your body of what it needs to fight and you will wear down. Adjust how you look at food, eat small portions when you eat but eat more often if you can. Your body needs food but in small, easily digestible increments. If you know where this CAN end up, It's a terrible thing to watch the one you love most suffer with this. Be glad your man cares.  

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,
Colon cleansing (colon therapy) encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies intended to remove fecal waste and unidentified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract. No scientific evidence supports the alleged benefits of colon cleansing. The bowel itself is not dirty and barring drugs or disease, cleans itself naturally without need for assistance. Some types of colon cleansing present potential hazards also.
I would suggest a gastroenterologist’s consultation and getting evaluated for different possibilities.Various other causes that need to be ruled out are over-use of stimulant laxatives (e.g., senna, castor oil, and certain herbs), hypothyroidism and hyperparathyroidism(by raising the calcium levels in the blood), intestinal pseudo-obstruction, colon inertia(nerves and/or muscles of the colon do not work normally) ,irritable bowel syndrome and pelvic floor dysfunction(the muscles of the lower pelvis that surround the rectum (the pelvic floor muscles) do not work normally).
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.You can check this link for more relevant information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cleansing

[Scarymary99]

I've tried an enema, and moved nothing at all.  I took the softener, fiber pills, Miralax and Milk of Magnesia again last night.  This morning I forced myself to eat 2 dried
prunes and drank a lot of water.  I managed to have 1 TINY little movement.  I am SO miserable!!  Any comments about colonic cleansing??

Thanks so much for your time!!

[Scarymary99]

Someone suggested that I go in for a colonic cleansing procedure.  What are your thoughts about this???  At this point, I'm about ready to do anything.  I feel like every-thing is backed up into my stomach.  Miserable most of the time.

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,
You seem to be suffering from severe constipation and you first need a diagnostic work up to find out the cause of the same. I’ll suggest an examination by a surgeon and may be some tests like an x-ray abdomen/CT scan etc to rule out the presence of a partial obstruction in the gastro-intestinal tract. Meanwhile, you can also try some enema to evacuate the bowels once. Maybe that sets everything right. You need to continue with the measures you’re following.
I sincerely believe that helps. Please do keep me posted. Kind regards.