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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bowel problems

19 replies

Theolopolis · 16/07/2026 17:23

Posting here for traffic as I'm at my wits end.
Hoping there are people who might have experience in this.
2 and a half weeks ago my abdomen absolutely ballooned overnight. It protruded as much as when I was 8 months pregnant, it was rock solid and very painful.
It stayed this way 24/7 whilst I had diarrhoea. It was really difficult working like this and it felt exhausting.
A week ago the pain rapidly accelerated and I went from bad pain to absolute agony. Widespread severe pain across my entire abdomen.
After 24 hours of agony, and my abdomen even more severely distended and hard all over, I went to GP who examined me and sent me to A&E.
A&E did a CT scan and bloods and concluded 'no emergency cause identified', whilst fully acknowledging I had severe distension and hardness (they called it 'boarding') and said go back to GP because CT scan is ok.
From that day on suddenly my bowels stopped working. Having gone from diarrhoea daily to suddenly nothing. Initially I thought my bowels didn't open because the diarrhoea had left nothing else to empty. But GP started me on Laxido: 4 sachets day 1, 6 sachets day 2, 8 sachets day 3 and then 8 daily until bowels open.
I've now been glugging 8 sachets of Laxido daily for 5 days, plus the initial 2 days building up to 8 sachets, and nothing is happening. That's 50 sachets of Laxido in 7 days. Still no bowel movement.
GP added in suppositories 3 days ago - used daily, no effect.
I'm drinking 3 litres of water daily - measuring it out properly to ensure I'm drinking 3 litres and not estimating. Plus a litre a day of Laxido solution on top.
My abdomen is still massively distended and painful. It hurts my abdomen to sit down. I cannot get comfortable.
Since yesterday, I've now developed a thumping headache, and I've noticed my urine output has decreased over the past 2 days despite high levels of fluid intake.
When I eat it gets even more swollen. My appetite is gone. I haven't had breakfast, lunch or a dinner for 9 days now. All I can do is pick at soft food, I can't possibly manage a meal. But every time I pick at small portions of soft food it all gets much worse.
I had some plain ice cream an hour ago which is the first thing I've managed to eat since 4pm yesterday, and my abdomen has blown up in pain and even huger distension again, I'm now laying on the sofa in distress. Earlier today, after not eating gor 24 hours, it felt like the pain was still there but was subsiding a little, so that's why i ate a bowl of ice cream (a very modest portion) and since eating it hurts terribly all over again from below my belly button to underneath my chest and it's hard and enormous.
Anyone who doesn't know me would think I'm heavily pregnant to look at me.
I'm having a GP review tomorrow and she told me when I had a review on Monday that if no better by end of week she will send me back to A&E.
But what more can they do if CT scan already done and showed no emergency?
It is really affecting me now, I don't know what to do.
I've been off work sick since Friday with all this which I'm really worrying about as I hate being off of work.
I'm getting very upset now......
Anyone with any experience in this?
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
dogFlatOut · 16/07/2026 17:28

7 days no bowel movement - I’d be worried about a bowel obstruction.

ring 111 for advice if in uk .

MrSchubertWhiskers · 16/07/2026 17:32

If it weren't for the fact you're seeing the gp tomorrow I'd tell you to go to a&e now, the decreased urination is concerning.

If any of your symptoms worsen between now & your apt go straight to a&e.

Could be all sorts of reasons for your symptoms but they should definitely be treated as urgent.

And actually, ring 111 now. Or see if you can speak to your gp now, either way I think you need to speak to someone today.

palona · 16/07/2026 17:33

Back to A and E I think, there are things they can do for you even if CT is ok (which is good news). Good call to give 111 a ring and get them to pave the way for you. Don't be fobbed off, bowel obstruction is not fun and you might at the very least need a supervised enema. I'm sorry you are going through this, it must be awful.

Notsurenotsurenotsure · 16/07/2026 17:36

The CT scan might not have shown something then, but it might now, or it might need reviewing again with another pair of eyes. But either way you need to go back to A and E I think.

Overitallnow · 16/07/2026 17:42

Sounds like you may have a bowel obstruction. My Mum has just had exactly this, CT scan showed nothing initially but the second one did. I'd go to A and E.

x2boys · 16/07/2026 17:48

I would go to A and E if yiy are impacted it needs clearing im surprised they havent offered you an enema.

MyOliveStork · 16/07/2026 17:51

It sounds like a bowel obstruction which would require A&E. The fact that your urine output has decreased substantially is also a red flag. Personally I wouldn’t wait for the GP review, I would head to A&E now. This is what the GP will do tomorrow.

Flumposie3 · 16/07/2026 17:56

Not to alarm you but I had similar symptoms. Was taking laxido. I had a blocked bowel. Ended with emergency surgery. Please go back to A and E. Mine was missed for months.

flightless55 · 16/07/2026 19:01

Agree with everyone else - A&E tonight - this can’t be left another 24hours for a doctor review

flightless55 · 16/07/2026 19:03

Also, just to say a diarrhoea is very common with bowel obstruction it’s “over-flow”

PineappleCoconut · 16/07/2026 19:30

Agreeing with all the others- A&E and may be a bowel obstruction.

However, diarrhoea, painful bloating and ice cream remind me of when I suddenly developed a dairy allergy. My belly also looked full term and ended up in A+E having scans where nothing was found.

Enigma54 · 16/07/2026 19:38

Gosh OP, that sounds awful and very distressing. I agree with other members, you need to go back to a&e. Something isn’t right. Are you passing wind? If not, that is a major red flag and points towards a potential bowel obstruction. The diarrhoea
( as previously mentioned ) could be
“ overflow “

I hope you get sorted soon.

Goldengirl123 · 16/07/2026 19:51

Back to hospital immediately

Enigma54 · 17/07/2026 12:09

How are you, OP?

Glitterbiscuits · 17/07/2026 12:18

I hope you went off to A and E @Theolopolis

Nomura · 17/07/2026 12:40

Stop the laxido and other stuff youre using immediately, its making your stomach expand even more.
This sounds like bowel obstruction and is an emergency bit you've already been told that. Down to A&E asap! are you vomitting at all?

Enigma54 · 17/07/2026 13:09

Nomura · 17/07/2026 12:40

Stop the laxido and other stuff youre using immediately, its making your stomach expand even more.
This sounds like bowel obstruction and is an emergency bit you've already been told that. Down to A&E asap! are you vomitting at all?

Edited

I was going to say, vomiting is another red flag symptom for BO.

OP, do hope you are at a&e now.

Sparrowsandbudgies · 17/07/2026 13:30

Back to A and E.

Enigma54 · 26/07/2026 23:01

How are you, OP?

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