HELP! Need suggestions about .. bowels... - ThinnerTimes

Okiechick2u · 09-28-2006, 08:05 PM

Well, I figure we are all adults here, and I have literally NO ONE else to turn to for suggestions, so I will drop it here and see what happens.

October 6th will be 1 year out for me. Since my surgery, my bowels do NOT want to cooporate with me. I can go up to 9-10 days without a movement. By that time, I am in so much pain I can't stand it. I have literally sat on the toilet straining and screaming at the same time.

About 3 months ago, my stool was impacted. I had to go to the hospital which for me was SO embarassing (live in a small town) and they had to get it out of my body, AND had to stitch me up as I tore. They suggested I take stool softners every 2 days. I have done that, and still....

Today at work, the cramping started. I thought YEAH it's about time! Well, was I wrong. After sitting and straining and crying... NOTHING. I came home from work, sat again, tried again. NOTHING! I called my husband at his job and asked him to stop at the store and get me Fleet enemas. After doing the enema, it softened the stool enough to finally release... about 2 hours later.

Please, I know this subject is embarassing. It is for me, yet as stated, we are all adults here and I know I can't be the only one this is happening to. Any suggestions!? The pain is horrible, I just can't stand it at times.

LisaBoston · 09-28-2006, 08:09 PM

Wow, this can be a challenging, frustrating and painful experience. I know for me I have to keep up the fluids and take milk of magnesia and senokot when I see a problem happening. Its not too frequent for me now as I really try hard to get in tons of water and it really helps.

I would definately talk to your doctor about this, it shouldn't like this, maybe there is something else going on that needs medical attention.

Being impacted is not a fun thing to go through at all and using an enema too much isn't good either.

Call the doctor.

Okiechick2u · 09-28-2006, 08:30 PM

Thank you Lisa! I will try Senekot? I take the DG Womens Laxative now, and it doesn't work. My surgeon is in Edmond, which is about 3 hours away from my home. I have my PCP here in town, wonderful man. He told me to continue taking the stool softners, yet they do not work. He also put me on Zelnorm, with no avail.

This past May 7th, I had the colon scope done, as I was bleeding so much after a painful movement. It showed large hemmorids (sp) and some tearing of the wall from straining so much. I was concerned at that time because of the amount of blood, but the test results came back normal except for the hemmorids.

It's very frustrating, it's embarassing to talk about yet I figure I am probably in a "safe" place here amongst others who have had this surgery and possibly the same problems.

Lisa, I will try drinking more water. In my introduction thread, I wrote that water makes me sick. I can drink very, very little before it comes back up. Milk is about the only liquid I can keep down, and sometimes I can drink Iced Tea or Crystal Lite. Definately not alot of it, maybe 2 ounces period.

I can't tell you the number of times I have literally sat on the toilet for over an hour, feeling pressure and nothing happening except extreme pain. I don't think I have actually really felt the "dumping syndrome" except feeling a little light headed once in awhile, with some sweats. I honestly think ANYTHING would be better then going through this ever 9-10 days, and of course, it never hits when I am at home. I'm either working or shopping with my daughter when this urge hits. Horrible!

Dee22 · 09-28-2006, 08:45 PM

A) Milk of Magnesia is my friend right now

and

B) Coffee, if you cn tolerate it. Coffee is one of the best laxatives known to man...that and Castor oil in OJ.

I'm having issues because of all the Lortab i'm taking.

Okiechick2u · 09-28-2006, 08:51 PM

Oh my goodness Dee! I take 4 Loritabs a day. I never would have thought it would do this to my body.

Dee22 · 09-28-2006, 08:59 PM

Ugh that's what's doing it! Lortabs (hydrocodone) will make you soooooo constipated it isn't funny! I have had ONE movement in a week and a half because of it! As soon as took that MOM it took about 45 minutes to kick in! THat was yesterday and I haven't had another one since I need to take more, but god that stuff tastes like CRAP lol...It's okay going down, but the after taste is horrid, so i'm just warning you now! lol

Okiechick2u · 09-28-2006, 09:05 PM

Thank you Dee! I have been taking the Loritab due to an injury. As of tomorrow, I will quit taking it and pray that things go back to "normal". This has been the very worst part of this surgery, the bowels not working right. Hopefully getting off of the pills will help regulate my body more. thank you so very much for the information, it's appreciated more then you know!

Dee22 · 09-28-2006, 09:10 PM

I'll tell you it will take almost 2-5 days for it to completey rid itself out of your body, so stop taking it and take the MOM.....you'll feel so much better. Of course i'm still on it (the hydrocodone) because of my Tummy tuck, but i'm taking MOM as much as I can because that's what my dr recommended. He said if that doesn't work i'll give you an "ass detonation" that will lol...I said, ya, I'll stick to the Milk of Magnesia for now lol

Mavisavis · 09-28-2006, 09:36 PM

I dealt with this a bit, but not on as serious of a scale. For me, liquids were the first necessity. Have you tried warm liquids? I rarely even drink cold ones...I just don't want or enjoy them, and don't really like the way they feel sometimes in the pouch. I do hot tea, coffee, or hot cocoa made with cocoa powder, sweetener, hot water, and dry or skim milk. The other thing I do, which for me helps, is eat corn.

Anyhow, my answer is probably too simplistic and mainly for just a minor issue. I hope you resolve it soon....I know it is so painful.

notsosmall619 · 09-28-2006, 10:33 PM

Have you tried rocking back and forth when sitting on the toilet