AIBU to go to A&E??

[Namechange1922]

I am extremely constipated to the point where I simply cannot go. I have been this way for maybe 3 years.. Numerous trips to the doctors and sent away with different meds, diet change (tried wheat free, gluten free, dairy free, all of the above free!), prune juice etc, movicol, laxido, different toilet positions, every single type of 'Dulco' form, senna tablets, sennocot etc. You name it, I've tried it! Some laxatives are effective and work within a few hours but as soon as the next day comes I am back to being constipated to the point I feel sick and have chest pains. A few months back my doctor finally referred me to a clinic, I moved house around the same time and apparently a letter was sent to my old address of my new appointment which was back in September so obviously I missed this, i phoned the hospital I was due to have the appointment who told me I will need to get back in touch with my doctor and ask them to refer me again. I phoned the doctors, explained the situation and arranged a telephone appointment.. Waited until late evening and still no phonecall, arranged another call, I answered just as they hung up (phoned back within seconds couldn't get through). Constant phone tennis and all I need is to be re reffered to the hospital! This issue is really affecting my life, I'm in pain all the time, miserable as I constantly feel full up and needing to go to the toilet, I can't lie on my stomach or back as the pressure is too uncomfortable, sex is out of the question as it has become painful. The tablets are now having less of an effect and I have to overdose on laxatives to get anything to come out and even then it is just watery and the relief only lasts a few hours (sorry way too much info) I am fed up quite frankly and I most likely will not get another appointment now for a good few months. WIBU to take myself to A&E? Would they be able to do anything? It's been a good few days now of passing nothing.. Please help!

I read all of the things you've tried, but have you ever tried an enema? They really do work.

People do present at A&E with severe constipation but it's so busy at the moment you really should try not to go if you can help it.

If you can wait until morning and get a referral letter from your GP to take with you it would probably mean less of a wait for you.

Obviously if you feel you can't possibly wait then it'll have to be A&E tonight with no letter.

Can you try a walk in centre instead? Do you have any nearby if you can’t get in with your doctors?

I have Ulcerative colitis and have had to present at a and e before. They may well put you on IV steroids, it’s worth a try. People think constipation isn’t particularly serious when in fact it can be really quite dangerous.
Go, and get x rayed. If the still that you are passing is watery it’s likely to be overflow so you may have a blockage.

I think that you Abu to go to A&E with this.
I get why you are frustrated and completely fed up.
I’m not sure of what you would think that A&E could do with chronic constipation.

I realise you are miserable but I wouldn’t. Patients are catching Covid in hospital. Have you tried a Movicol challenge? You can put up to 8 in a glass. I would try that today and speak to an out of hours GP or speak to yours tomorrow. I’m not a Dr though. Maybe one will post.

It sounds like you’re never getting the impacted poo out, only temporarily relieving it. I really feel for you, constipation is so awful.

I don’t think YABU to go to A&E with this, although if I were you I’d possibly only stay if it wasn’t visibly busy. It sounds like you need manual evacuation.

I 2nd the above poster who says if you are just passing watery stool whilst being constipated it sounds like you could have a blockage or a twisted bowel. I think you should go to A&E as what you have described sounds awful and now even the laxatives aren't helping. I know some posters would say it's not the right thing to do, but you have tried other options and that has not got you anywhere and it sounds like the situation has worsened. You may have to wait a while, but they will examine you and listen to your bowel to check you have bowel sounds.

Are you able to pass wind?

did you not put in a re-direct order for mail delivery.
anyway, agree with the above advice.
are you taking enough exercise.
have you tried eating thin porridge, made with water only.
if you are really in pain, you should seek help, whether 111, or walk in centre, or main hosp.
good luck.

Constipation can require surgery in extreme cases. It sounds as though this may be one as you're only passing overflow, not the impacted blockage.

YANBU to go to A&E as you're being messed around, but would be better going during the day tomorrow probably.

Our A&E is appointment only for walk ins at the moment so you may want to check that first. I would ring 111 as a start.

Your first post is a bit confusing. You say you’ve been this way for 3 years? Has anything about your condition changed in the last few days? Or do you just want to try and speed up a referral? A&E won’t be able to refer you on, that’s your GP. But if you think something has changed a lot over the past few days and now is an emergency then you need to seek urgent medical attention.

The glycerin enemas you can get cheaply make you need to go urgently soon after inserted

Accident and emergency is for an accident or an emergency situation . You should ring 111 or go back to your gp. I’m sorry it must be awful but my a and e turn away people who don’t need to be there and they are redirected to other services. It does sound like you need a referral though.

@aquamarine yes I have tried that, forgot to add to list! Thank you though

Does anyone know whether I'll need an actual telephone appointment to be re reffered or can the receptionist send out another letter for me? It is very hard to get hold of my doctor. I have read a few posts on here in the past where people have been told to go to A&E so I thought maybe they might be able to help.

@foxxyloxxy Not alot has changed it is just gradually getting worse. I think I have just had one of those days where I am just feeling so fed up and horrible. I can't go on feeling like this any longer

@morerainbowsplease Yes I do think it is extremely impacted or twisted. Only watery stools I can't even remember the last time I produced a normal healthy stool!!

I would recommend if it's really bad. I've been hospitalised a couple of times with impaction/blockage.

Have you had the maximum dose of Movicol? I think it's eight sachets in a day. That's what worked for me after multiple enemas and before I went in for surgery to fix it.

Look out for faecal breath or vomiting, fever or signs out infection, extreme abdominal pain, lack of passing wind, really hard stomach etc to indicate a really serious bout. Any of that I'd say ambulance immediately.

I think you should definitely go to A&E in the circumstances you've described, it must be very uncomfortable for you and it doesn't appear anything will be done otherwise!

Oh gosh you poor thing. Can you buy glycerine suppositories over the counter? Or phone 111 and ask for a GPOOH appointment, ask for a prescription for microlax enemas. Sounds like you have faecal impaction with overflow, I'm not surprised you feel dreadful.

I have tried that previously but as I said it works for maybe the night but by the next day I'm back to feeling blocked with a constant need to go to the toilet! :( Thank you I will keep an eye out but at the moment it is chest pains and a horrible pressure!

A few times, in lockdown I would walk and find that I could feel a tugging in my groin area. This disappeared and I haven't had it since but Im guessing this is something related to being constipated! I am worried about it but I am constantly on the phone to the doctor and feel pushed away with different types of medicine each time!

@Mael Yes forgot to add suppositories to my list too! I feel like it is further up than that

@Babz88

Accident and emergency is for an accident or an emergency situation . You should ring 111 or go back to your gp. I’m sorry it must be awful but my a and e turn away people who don’t need to be there and they are redirected to other services. It does sound like you need a referral though.

severe constipation could well be an emergency. constipation is not just a solid turd after a big meal.

@Namechange1922 have you had blood tests? ultra sound? constipation/bloating could be a symptom of something else (a tumour, internal hernia, endometriosis)

I love that someone thinks thin porridge will solve this 🤦‍♀️