Hello! Newbie.
I would like to start off by saying that I realize these communities to which I am cross-posting are not substitutes for actual medical advice. I have been to three different gastroenterologists and undergone routine testing, which have only added to my frustration. I am simply here to see if anyone else has shared any or all of my symptoms, and what has been done to cure them. Here goes...
For the past three or so years I have battled severe constipation. Throughout this time period I have been on endless dosages of ex-lax, Colace, Fiber-Sure, Metamucil, Fiber-Choice, and GlycoLax, sometimes all at the same time. Despite of these medications, frequent exercise, and a diet high in fiber and low in fat, the most regular I am is having a bowel movement every 6-9 days. When I finally do go to the bathroom, it is not like I am 'making up for lost time;' my stool is dark, hard, difficult to pass, and usually between the size of a grape and a ping-pong ball. I never feel relief, and I often have feelings of 'incompletion' after using the bathroom. There is often bright red streaks on the stool, and I have faint-but-bright pink marks on my toilet paper. There is never fecal residue on the toilet tissue.
I usually drink about 4 liters of water per day, intake 45 grams of fiber, and rarely have more than two servings of starches per day. I am a vegetarian, but I do not eat eggs or cheese. I love to exercise, except since whatever I eat just sits in my stomach, it's so difficult to get the physical energy to become active. Regardless, I walk 30 minutes a day, but am no longer able to do aerobic exercise. My stomach is constantly EXTREMELY bloated, and I feel it literally weighing me down --- my legs are constantly achy and I have constant cramps.
It's getting to the point where it is painful to urinate. When I go to the bathroom [every 7 days or so] it's usually because I am so fed up so I resort to an enema. However, I can retain the liquid for over 30 minutes [the doctors told me to keep it in as long as possible] and I really have to strain and use my pelvic muscles just to expel the liquid. I wake up every morning to severe nausea, and have landed myself in a Catch-22. I feel extremely hungry, and my stomach hurts, so I eat. When I eat, I become extremely full very quickly, and I feel lots of bloated-ness and stomach pain.
I'm mostly just tired of not knowing what is wrong. If it helps to know this, I have major depression but am not on medication since my psychologist is super-Freudian. I was recently put on Zelnorm, and my GlycoLax prescription has been doubled. But, it's only my fourth day on these medications, so I have yet to experience relief or have a bowel movement.
I recently went to the ER because my weight had increased over 10 pounds in 9 days, and I am only 5'1". But, the hospital said I just have constipation and sent me home without any further consideration. I don't know what to do! I am going crazy. I feel so dizzy, can barely walk, am queasy, and have constant sharp, shooting pains throughout my stomach-region. I have a very skinny body except for my stomach, which seriously looks as though I am going to give birth within the next several weeks. I am also beginning to experience incontinence.
So...any ideas or similar experiences? I've been do different doctors and hospitals. All of my CT scans have shown severe stool backup, and the physicians say I simply have constipation, but then they just discharge me without answering questions or providing care. How do I get rid of this backup? Enemas, laxatives, and stool softeners do not work, period, but even more so since this fecal blockage is in my UPPER GI-tract.
Thank you for any potential help!!!
For the past three or so years I have battled severe constipation. Throughout this time period I have been on endless dosages of ex-lax, Colace, Fiber-Sure, Metamucil, Fiber-Choice, and GlycoLax, sometimes all at the same time. Despite of these medications, frequent exercise, and a diet high in fiber and low in fat, the most regular I am is having a bowel movement every 6-9 days. When I finally do go to the bathroom, it is not like I am 'making up for lost time;' my stool is dark, hard, difficult to pass, and usually between the size of a grape and a ping-pong ball. I never feel relief, and I often have feelings of 'incompletion' after using the bathroom. There is often bright red streaks on the stool, and I have faint-but-bright pink marks on my toilet paper. There is never fecal residue on the toilet tissue.
I usually drink about 4 liters of water per day, intake 45 grams of fiber, and rarely have more than two servings of starches per day. I am a vegetarian, but I do not eat eggs or cheese. I love to exercise, except since whatever I eat just sits in my stomach, it's so difficult to get the physical energy to become active. Regardless, I walk 30 minutes a day, but am no longer able to do aerobic exercise. My stomach is constantly EXTREMELY bloated, and I feel it literally weighing me down --- my legs are constantly achy and I have constant cramps.
It's getting to the point where it is painful to urinate. When I go to the bathroom [every 7 days or so] it's usually because I am so fed up so I resort to an enema. However, I can retain the liquid for over 30 minutes [the doctors told me to keep it in as long as possible] and I really have to strain and use my pelvic muscles just to expel the liquid. I wake up every morning to severe nausea, and have landed myself in a Catch-22. I feel extremely hungry, and my stomach hurts, so I eat. When I eat, I become extremely full very quickly, and I feel lots of bloated-ness and stomach pain.
I'm mostly just tired of not knowing what is wrong. If it helps to know this, I have major depression but am not on medication since my psychologist is super-Freudian. I was recently put on Zelnorm, and my GlycoLax prescription has been doubled. But, it's only my fourth day on these medications, so I have yet to experience relief or have a bowel movement.
I recently went to the ER because my weight had increased over 10 pounds in 9 days, and I am only 5'1". But, the hospital said I just have constipation and sent me home without any further consideration. I don't know what to do! I am going crazy. I feel so dizzy, can barely walk, am queasy, and have constant sharp, shooting pains throughout my stomach-region. I have a very skinny body except for my stomach, which seriously looks as though I am going to give birth within the next several weeks. I am also beginning to experience incontinence.
So...any ideas or similar experiences? I've been do different doctors and hospitals. All of my CT scans have shown severe stool backup, and the physicians say I simply have constipation, but then they just discharge me without answering questions or providing care. How do I get rid of this backup? Enemas, laxatives, and stool softeners do not work, period, but even more so since this fecal blockage is in my UPPER GI-tract.
Thank you for any potential help!!!
ecstatic
hyper