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Original poster

Should we go to a and e?

539 replies

ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 07:49

Dp has been feeling rubbish for a week now, with pain caused by constipation. He hasnt had a bowel movement for a week now. The pain is constant, with waves of agonising pain.

Hes struggling to be able to medicate it, as hes not allowed to have anti inflammatory medication for seperate issues, and is wary about codeine based medicine as that causes constipation. Paracetomol isnt touching the sides of the pain.

The plan was to get a doctor appointment on monday, but the pain was really severe last night, im not sure we should wait till monday. He mentioned yesterday that the blockage is starting to affect his ability to pee properly which i think is worrying?

Hes alsp worrying now that the constipation is a side effect of something more serious, as theres nothing we can think thats triggered it. Hes worried about gallstones, or bowel cancer.

Is it worth going to a and e, are they likely going to he able to do anything, even if its just investigate and rule out some of the more scary possibilities thats worrying dp? Or would we likely be waiting ages and then sent away with a box of laxido?

OP posts:
EthelTheAardvark · 13/03/2022 11:37

@Im2022

Maybe teach him some breathing techniques for Labour? 🤣…he needs to stop pushing when he feels the crowning of the poo.
Good thinking! I still find the breathing techniques I used for labour really useful for anything like this - and my children are adults now.
rhizobium · 13/03/2022 11:42

@ChatterMonkey

Morning! So it hasn't resolved overnight, but dp has been up and down a lot and says what he is passing is more substantial now, but still no sign of whatever has been causing the blockage. Discomfort has ramped up slightly but taking that as a good sign that things are moving. Have the hospital appointment today at 9am so will ask about glycerin suppositories then, and swing by boots on the way home to get some.

And to the pp that asked, no dp doesnt know that im posting about this... Blush feel a bit bad about that but its not like i can tell anyone in real life this detail, and the support from here is whts giving me the energy to support him, so its sort of for his own good...? The advice and people talking from experience stops me from getting too anxious about any symptoms etc.

Fingers crossed for continued improvements today!

says what he is passing is more substantial now, but still no sign of whatever has been causing the blockage

Haven't RTFT, but if no one has said already - when you've been really constipated often people imagine they will eventually pass something huge, but in reality often just comes out as what seems like normal bowel movements or even diarrhea as all the laxatives etc take effect.

pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 13/03/2022 11:44

@FloraFoxx

Why didn't you ring 111 op or aren't you in the UK?

Anything has the potential to become serious, many mumsnetters think we're all on the verge of sepsis or bowel perforation but that is what gps and 111 are for, to triage so people with things like constipation aren't taking up time in a busy accident and emergency department.

Oh shut up and leave OP alone. She's obviously very worried about her DP.

I assume you'd have told my DH who had "indigestion" to take a Rennie?
Luckily I didn't, and called 999 so he could get treatment for his heart attack.

GPs are shut at weekends (and pretty difficult to access because of covid) and 111 are pretty useless - see comments earlier about indigestion.

Maybe people shouldn't play sports or ride a bike just in case they take up time in A&E either?🤔🤦‍♀️

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General health
JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:45

I think they take constipation seriously enough as there's some sort of poisoning that can happen when the bowels don't move for a long time. Like a build-up of toxins or something? I know because I've occasionally been in hospital and not been terribly concerned about not having moved my bowels and the doctors get a little annoyed with me. I've had conversations that went along the lines of:
Dr. Are you eating and drinking normally?

Me. Yes
Dr. So when did you eat last?
Me. yesterday I think?
Dr. So you're not eating normally?
Me. Well yes, that's normal for me
Dr. Any problems with going to the toilet?
Me. No
Dr. When was your last bowel movement?
Me. I'm not sure, maybe a few days ago?
Dr. So you are having problems going to the toilet!
Me. Well no, I'm not.
Dr. can we order an IQ test for this imbecile please

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 11:48

Thats promising then that qe arent neccessarily waiting for a big 'thing' to pass, maybe its passing as part of the softer movements.

I have some dulcolax in the cupboard but dp is wary about taking it... Hes worried that something like that will make the cramps and urge to go much worse, but still not be able to pass anything, but might suggest it again now that the laxido has loosened everything up. Will also go and get glycerin suppositories as they have been mentioned a lot here as something that works well.

Ive come home, dp is still at the hospital waiting to see a doctor. Will see what they've said when i go to pick him up

OP posts:
JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:48

Mind you, a temperature above 37 is high for me but they don't find that alarming.
A BP above 110/70 is abnormal for me and they don't find that alarming.
So I tend to answer the questions in terms of what is normal for me and they get annoyed!

JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:52

I think that once he has enough water in the system, the laxatives should draw water into the bowel to loosen the stool and then they somehow prompt bowel movements to pass the stool but my medical knowledge is based entirely on my imaginings lol. So taking the dulcolax should expel whatever is in there. If not, well, things could get serious really quickly. So maybe take the doctor's advice and not ours! Shock

JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:55

I think that maybe not eating will be to ensure that his system won't be backing up further, further compounding the issue, but obviously it could also be to prep for surgery.
Were his blood results normal yesterday? Did they say anything?
Maybe they're testing kidney function (ALP and ALT? and liver function?)? I don't know, I just have been in hospital a lot with abdominal pain and some of those results can be abnormal with me.

JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:58

Is he active? Does he have regular bowel movements? When did he start to have the pain?

JetTail · 13/03/2022 11:59

Oh and another thing which would require fasting would be a colonoscopy? And some ultrasounds I think. Has he been told to eat and drink normally again yet?

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 12:01

Hes not really sure about what the bloods were for, or if they indicated anything. He says its really busy so communication isnt really that great.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 12:03

He was allowed to eat and drink normally when he left yesterday, but he hasnt had much as has no appetite. Had a bowl of fibre cereal but not much else. Ive got him some soup, as well as some meal replacement shakes, as things that might help keep him from being hungry but without clogging him up further. Hes not fancied any of it though as no appetite. Hes had a strong coffee every morning which doesn't seem to be doing anything.

OP posts:
SiblingStruggle · 13/03/2022 12:16

Definitely get the glycerin suppositories OP. I had this after a c-section and it went on for about 8 days - I was in total agony and tried a few things before the suppositories. It was the only thing that worked, and it took effect in about 20mins. It still hurt like hell but it was worth it. Hope your DH feels better soon

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 12:24

Hes getting fed up waiting now... Hes still waiting for the doctor to go through blood results/plans on where to go from here. But while hes waiting hes not had any laxido today so losing the buildup effect of having it daily?

Also says hes starving but when the food cart came round, he was told he wasnt allowed anything. Again, not sure why as no one today has said hes nil by mouth so not sure? Maybe he shouldnt have had food when he got home yesterday, bur surely 2 days not eating, without being given an actual reason as to why hes not allowed to eat is a bit excessive?

I understand that they are probably understaffed and busy, but the communication seems shocking.

OP posts:
UniversalAunt · 13/03/2022 12:27

I’m on the edge of my seat with this thread - the suspense!
Are we there yet?

As many PPs have said, the pain, not passing urine or stools is potentially very serious.

JetTail · 13/03/2022 12:28

Has a doctor spoken to him today yet? He needs to ask why he's not allowed to eat and to ask what bloods they are checking and why and whether his blood results are normal. He also needs to ask what the treatment plan is. He needs to ask! They don't tell you much if you don't ask.

UniversalAunt · 13/03/2022 12:28

@ChatterMonkey hope you & your DH are soon home & all goes well.

JinglingHellsBells · 13/03/2022 12:30

If he is nil by mouth is there a chance they may want to do surgery of some sort today OP?

If you can talk to him, you should tell him to ask more questions- it's HIS body!

JetTail · 13/03/2022 12:31

I would advise him to not leave until he he spoken to a doctor and asks at least the following questions.

  1. Are my blood results normal?
  2. What do you think might be causing this? What have you ruled out?
  3. When should I come back if nothing changes?
  4. What is your treatment plan?
JinglingHellsBells · 13/03/2022 12:32

@JetTail

Oh and another thing which would require fasting would be a colonoscopy? And some ultrasounds I think. Has he been told to eat and drink normally again yet?
You can't have a camera up your bum unless your bowels have been cleared with very strong laxatives @JetTail, starting the day before.
JetTail · 13/03/2022 12:34

He should have met a doctor and that doctor should have taken a medical history and a history of his current symptoms. Has that happened OP?

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 12:34

I agree that hes pribably starting to become passive in the situation because hes getting fed up. But when he gets more passive, then he willl probably end up waiting longer and then get more annoyed. Etc etc etc...

This is where its annoying im not allowed in with him

OP posts:
UniversalAunt · 13/03/2022 12:34

I thought that eating stimulated the bowels to evacuate. But our patient is way past that default setting.

Maybe the no food is just in case a procedure with an anaesthetic may be required. Forceps anyone? 😉

Good suggestion about breathing techniques - absolute straight face. DH had to undertake a bowel prep before a colonoscopy - in his case an anaesthetic was required - & he benefitted from some breathing techniques as the load came through.

UniversalAunt · 13/03/2022 12:37

@JinglingHellsBells has it.
Bowel prep required for Colonoscopy, way more than a fast.

Tho’ I do wonder what happens in an emergency when the bowel is not fully empty. Other diagnostic tools available etc.

JetTail · 13/03/2022 12:37

Yes, they do clear the bowels (lethally lol) before the colonoscopy but before they start that laxative thing, you can't eat and you can't eat when you're taking it so I mentioned that maybe wrongly as obviously it's not a test they can do without clearing the bowels which is the problem in the first place. Ignore me. I tend to have verbal diarrhoea when posting which is not helpful at all.

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