Constipation misery

[SpideyMom]

I cant believe how much i miss doing my regular poo!

What an opener!

To cut a long story short (though I suspect I could waffle on so I apologise) I am miserable beyond belief.

I noticed at the start of this year my bowel movements changed. I used to go every day without fail. Now I am going upto 5 days of not being able to get anything out though I am feeling very uncomfortable and like I desperately want to go. It's like the muscles have stopped working I just can't get anything out. I could cry.

Last night I was constantly weeing because I am so bloated and windy. I couldn't sleep as my head started going over every possibility of why this is happening. My health anxiety is taking a hit.

At first I put the change down to a change in diet, well cutting out the binges. That's didn't last long to be honest and though I don't binge I do tend to overeat at times so my food intake is not really any different. I have seen my GP a few times. Bloods all OK. Put on laxido. Very little help. I was referred for a sigmoidoscopy which found no obvious reasons so I am back with the consultant in a few weeks for what next.

In the meantime I am absolutely miserable over not going. I don't only feel uncomfortable, my brain can't relax and switch off from worrying. I am drinking loads of water and eating fruits and vegetables etc. I am today considering some form of assistance to help me go. Senna has no effect on me and as desperate as I am I refuse to take any laxative that gives me the god awful cramps and an arse like a tap. Will suppositories help?

I'd also welcome anyone with constipation stories and if you found there was an underlying medical reason for it. I tend to read only about the other way than not being able to go

Thank you

Hi Rob

No I can't think that anything did really change. I have suffered with binge eating most my life. Earlier in the year I decided I had to cut the binging out as it was controlling me. I did. I didn't change my diet but the nightly binges ended. I occasionally overeat but nothing like I used to. But my foods haven't really changed.

For example my morning cup of tea at work ALWAYS used to do something that within 20 minutes I went to the toilet. It was never a struggle and there was no urgency. A cuppa does nothing now.

I drink at least 2 litres of water a day, and have 2 to 3 servings of veg with my evening meals. I'm not great with fruit so I blend it into a smoothie.

Exercise is making walking or running.

Other than laxido and the enema prior to my sigmoidoscopy, I tried a suppositorie last night. I got a bit out, but like the enema it was very little considering I haven't been for days. So I think I am blocked further up.

I am starting to feel panicked now about it. Unfortunately my mind springs to the worst thing which I've never been able to help or stop. I cannot understand why it's happening. It's seems that I get particularly bad exactly mid way between cycles. Those days I am easily going 5 days with nothing passing and is the time I feel most miserable about it.

I've suffered with constipation all my life. I've found that having a big bowl of all bran every morning really helps. I have it with ground flax seeds and kefir. There's no other food that has as much fibre as all bran! It's important to have lots of water if you have all bran. I also have fibrous fruit in the morning such as apples and pears.

I cant stop thinking the worst and i am getting obsessive now. I am so aware of health changes that I know this has come on this year around Feb time if I remember correctly.

I've had periods of ibs when I was much younger. But have had no issues for a good 5 years. It all started when I was going for a wee alot. Thats what took me to the doctors in the first place. I was weeing 4 to 6 times every hour. That's resolved, well until I go for days without passing a poo. But the constipation has stuck around

Does anyone know the next step after the sigmoidoscopy showed nothing?

I would push for a colonoscopy op. If nothing else it will help put your mind at rest.

im in to see the consultant again two weeks today.

I am so miserable today. I am drinking so much water my belly is hurting and I am constantly weeing.

A colonoscopy worries me. I really did not like the feeling of the sigmoidoscopy and when the gas got pumped in I thought it really hurt. The only good thing was it was over fast. Id want to be knocked out for a colonoscopy lol.

I would have thought they would have requested a poo sample by now though? Maybe they havent because my bloods are all within normal ranges?

I'm really struggling with my anxiety over it now.
I have convinced myself something is seriously wrong. And I still have 2 weeks to go until my appointment

I also don't think I will be sent for a colonoscopy because the sigmoidoscopy didn't show anything obvious.

Am I right in thinking though that the sigmoidoscopy is only the lower part of the bowel and a colonoscopy goes further up?

I need to tell the consultant how it's making me feel now. I can't stop worrying

Have you tried magnesium? It’s the only thing that has ever worked for me on a consistent basis. Ducolax just led to stop start and movicol has no effect at all.

Have you always suffered @EvelynShaw?

Ive never considered magnesium. I will have to read up on it.

If I had been suffering long term then I don't think I'd be as worried as I am. It's literally come on since Feb and isn't resolving.

The last week has been the worst as it's mid way between my period cycle so everything just starts. I am hoping this week I start to go again. I can sort of accept every other day or, three. But 5 days I really go into a panic

I did for a long time - 3 days wasn’t uncommon at all and definitely went for 5 days on occasion. I think it’s just the way I am, but with stress an important factor as well.

The last three years or so, it’s largely resolved itself. That being said, I’m rarely every day, unless I’m taking the magnesium.

It’s horrible though - you really have my sympathy.

Long shot but have you tried Alflorex? Read about it, I've been on it since November it costs twenty five pounds for a month supply expensive but worth it, is recommended for bowel issues. Was told about it by consultant at hospital, helps move the bowel. It's a probiotic, has helped me anyway so just a thought for you it might help. Oh and you can buy it in Boots

Thank you @kissmelittleass. Its a bit on the expensive side if I am honest, but should I be exploring a probiotic option?

It certainly wouldn't do you any harm to balance out the bad bacteria with some good guys! This is what I was told by a hospital consultant and a dietician, it is expensive but you don't need to stay on them indefinitely. I was told to just take one month worth as that is all is needed for some people and if I didn't feel it helped then to take for two months and stop as that would regulate the bowels.
I now go every day sometimes twice 🤪 I continue to take them as I had a Candida overgrowth causing my problems, hth

thank you i will look into it

I seem to be in a similar situation OP. Had a horrid few days of reflux about 6 weeks ago for no apparent reason and bowels been on strike since ☹️ I slow down a bit mid cycle usually so tried all the usual remedies, fluids, apricots, linseeds, all bran etc and when that didn't work dabbled with various laxatives which were lurking in the back of the medicine cupboard. Some yielded a minor effect but still feel like my gut has simply seized. Finally gave in and saw GP yesterday who prescribed 2 weeks of Movicol, have had 2 doses so far with no result yet.
Strangely I don't feel particularly swollen or bloated which considering the fact my intake is normal begs the question where the hell is it all going 😮
Am perplexed / mildly concerned as to the cause.

How are you doing Spidey?
I had a colonoscopy last week which was thankfully all clear. The bowel prep cleared me out as intended (I saw evidence on the screen!) and I hoped that might have reset things but 5 days down the line I'm back in the same position - yearning for a proper poo. My diet is good, I'm active and exercise most days and I'm trying more than ever to up my fluid intake (certainly manage 1-2 litres / day)

How did you go? I’m also suffering with constipation I did before I had kids anyway but after kids I went to toilet almost normal I would say not every day but every couple. then recently became constipated again I had my stool checked and I also had a fit test to ease my mind as like you I suffer with health anxiety and I fear the worse, both came back fine and likely cause ibs. I’ve not had a colonoscopy or anything as they’ve said my stool samples are both fine and bloods are fine so it doesn’t warrant further investigations. They prescribed me laxido and buscopan.