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!

@gingergiraffe Thanks for your advice 😊 I have tried slimmatea, it is very good! But it still doesn't get rid of the 'full feeling'. I also do what your daughter has done and taken 4 dulcolax before bed and it has had no effect! It is really affecting my life now I am having to take days off work due to it, I'm just miserable!

@ctrlU haha I would be more than willing to try that if it will work but honestly I think it is further up than a bar of soap would be able to reach!!

My sister (doctor) has seen someone die due to constipation. So it's not necessarily not an emergency.

I don't think people realise what it can do and how harmful it can be.

Not saying youre going to die btw OP. It was an extreme extreme case, but just to those assuming constipation is just something that will always go away or be a touch uncomfortable they are wrong

Have you tried frequent stomach massages by the way (of yourself round in circles).

Ring 111, for all saying it does not warrant a hospital visit, severe Constipation can be life threatening

Sorry too late at the moment to rtft, but what about eating a bag of liquorice. Often helps people to go to the loo.

The sugar free sweets they sell at the checkout in M&S will sort you out!

Seriously though, I care for my dad full time. We've tried a few things but recently settled on what works for him. You might be different. He takes three senna every night and we use a relaxit enema every morning. Result! (GP prescribed)

The last bad spell he had, he didn't poo for 23 days. We were told it can be life threatening.

I hope you get sorted. Sounds like you need a GP referral and some sort of imaging. Good luck.

well, that AnE seemed hardly worth it... hope the dr prescribes you something that shifts things along soon.

I would normally say that is really shit, but in this case... no shit..

Slippery Elm?

I didn’t want to worry you when I posted late last night but my daughter actually now has a hernia. It’s a visible bulge in her pelvis. She did have an ovarian cyst a couple of years ago which showed up on a scan. The doctor initially thought it probably was but nothing to worry about as they often come and go. It seemed to be getting bigger and causing discomfort so she went to a&e and it had grown to 9cm. She had an op to remove.

So, this time when she had a visible lump showing she saw her GP, he suspected a hernia and referred her for a scan. After a transvaginal scan, they diagnosed another ovarian cyst. She had to wait for a letter from GP and book an op. It wasn’t for ages, March in fact. She became increasingly worried and went to a&e. Two days later, another another invasive scan at a different hospital. They said they couldn’t find an ovarian cyst. Ok, she said, but what is this lump? Oh, that’s a hernia, they replied! So she had to wait for a letter from GP to book a hernia op and cancel the cyst op. This will be on 12th December.

On googling hernias, they can be due to constipation and straining, hardly surprising.

So, I would say, go to A&E. This is serious and could cause further problems. You have nothing to lose and it could bypass all the faffing around. Good luck!

@gingergiraffe This is exactly what I'm worried about. That I keep getting sent away and it will just keep getting worse until it is too late! I was only at A&E two days ago and they made me feel pretty silly for going (even though I was advised to go by 111). I can't go again as it seemed a waste of time! I don't think I'll be able to have my referral hurried along as my GP isn't taking it serious either I am really really concerned I am getting a hernia and that there is a problem with my ovaries

OP have you tried sugar free sweets? Sounds glib but they’re the only thing reliable for my husband.

Also colonic irrigation? Me went weekly initially, then monthly and now a few times a year.

I feel your pain. I was once admitted to have my appendix out but I was actually just severely constipated!!! Nothing helps with that pain apart from a hot water bottle so if you haven't tried that please do because It's a life saver.

Oh no, I feel your pain. I was very poorly with this after having my daughter ten years ago. I suffer with IBS and couldn't remember the last time I went to the toilet before having my daughter. After daily visits from health visitors to administer enemas (15 in total) I was just about to be rushed to hospital when they gave me the medicine you have before the camera down below. Three hours after having it OMG, I was literally sat on the toilet for 34 hours, hubbie had to bring daughter to me to BF. I have never felt so ill and ended up with an anal fissure because of this. Please try and seek an urgent appointment as you could have a blockage xxx

@Namechange1922 I am seriously worried on your behalf. Hope you go to a&e again and emphasise your symptoms and concerns. Insist on getting an urgent referral and tell them you are sick of being fobbed off. You will probably see a completely different team to the one you saw previously and, hopefully, someone sympathetic and knowledgeable. Trust your instincts.

Something like this happened to me after a medication change. My gp wanted to see me every week as I was losing weight too, but his advice didn't help. I was then seen by a gastroenterologist. and had a ct scan. My blockage was high too. He told me not to take more than one or two movicols a day to gradually add fluid and loosen the blockage. Too many laxatives just by pass the problem. His advice worked and I was much more comfortable within 2 weeks. I then had a colonoscopy to check for problems and had a polyp removed. Completely painless, but in Australia we are put to sleep. I would insist on that!
I have been fine since.

An impacted bowel is a medical emergency. That is when the bowel stops working at all.

I hope your problem is solved soon.

@Namechange1922

How are you today?

Namechange1922 could you go to A&Eagain and insist on an x-ray?

Send a letter to your GP - a proper letter that you post.

Refer to NICE guidelines in your letter and ask to be referred.

They will get in touch with you to discuss as you have created a formal paper trail.

haha I would be more than willing to try that if it will work but honestly I think it is further up than a bar of soap would be able to reach!!

Have you tried shaking up an almost empty bottle of bodywash with water and squirting it?

I echo advice given re glycerine suppositories - absolute life saver for constipation, also make sure you are drinking two litres of water a day etc. However what you describe is off the scale OP for constipation!! You need to be very assertive with your GP. I would call first thing tomorrow and insist you need an emergency appointment/ telephone consultation for that day within which you can get the re-referral to that clinic. I would also ask for a referral for an ultrasound of your lower tummy. Have you had a recent blood test? Be good to get your bloods done also.

Not to scare you but growths or cysts can cause severe constipation by obstructing the passageway which an ultrasound will show.

If you can’t sort the referrals within two weeks I absolutely would go to A&E. I wouldn’t present as constipated though, I would present all your symptoms not being able to lie on your stomach or back, not able to have sex, the nausea, chest pains and then the constipation. Constipation is a fairly common non emergency issue and if you say that first I feel that’s all the doctor hears. Don’t tell them your diagnosis, tell them your symptoms and I think you will get a better outcome in terms of care

Good luck!

I took my ds when he was 12 to A&E for sudden onset agony with constipation. They treated him. It wasnt a accident but how can OP know if it's not a emergency? She could develope ruptured diviculitus ( or however you spell it) which can be fatal

Have you pushed them on the re referral too? Don't wait for that, it wasn't your fault you need to speak to that specialist.

@ScrapThatThen Would it be possible to bring my referral forward? Is that something that can be done?