Suggest Treatment For Constipation, Bloating And Sharp Pain In Abdomen

Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015

Question: I have been constipated and bloated for the past three weeks. I saw a doctor I was given a laxative, still could jot pass out stool. After the third I started feeling a sharp pain in my lower abdomen all the way to my lower back. I went to the hospital got some blood work done and an x-ray. The x-ray confirmed that I have a lot of stool in my colon, but it's not coming out. And before the x-ray I had an inserted into me and a liquid pumped into my stomach, but the stool still would not come out, all that came out was a little stool and the rest was the liquid. After that I used the washroom twice but all that came out was all mucus and blood, jogh times. I thought the doctor will do other test to see why I can't pass stool. But instead I was given another laxative. I took the laxative. (Magnesium citrate) after taking the laxative, all I pass out was the liquid nothing came out with it. But the x-ray shows that I have a lot of stool in me. Now I'm in pain in my lower abdomen on both sides, bloated and still constipated. I can't eat anything because I'm so full. I don't know if I should go back to the hospital. But I'm in pains.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Saline/water and soap enema may work.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history, well put chronologically.

Understood that none of the laxatives or enema could help you.
I would advise in such a situation the following:
Please report back to the hospital.
Insist for soap water/saline enema. This is the oldest method that always works but replaced by the newer laxatives and ready-to-use enemas which do not work when the colon is so much loaded with impacted fecoliths. Over times these (fecoliths) become so much impacted and attached to the colonic mucosa that the routine medicines do not work as seen in your case.
The lots of mucus is either a body's reflex action to facilitate the passage of fecoliths or may be due to a mass which was responsible for the impacted fecoliths.
Blood comes due to separation of fecoliths from the mucosal lining of colon or due to a mass.
CT scan of the abdomen can help to rule out any mass in the colon.
Colonoscopy is not possible until all the fecoliths are cleared from colon.

I hope this answer helps you and your Doctors for further management.
Once the emergency is over, get thoroughly investigated to find the root-cause.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (10 hours later)

hi thanks for the answer. I have been in the ER for the past 12 hours, as a result of an excruciating pain in my upper and lower abdomen. I was given morphine to help with the pain and another abdominal x-ray was done, and for the second time, I had the saline enema. but nothing came out, except like what happened the first time a tiny mucus came out with blood. the doctors confirmed that the x-ray shows that I have a lot of stool on my right side of the colon. he place me on some stool softner and ask me to do and take the same things I have been taking. but the pain is still there, but it has gradually moved to across my lower abdomen and occasionally a sharp pain in my upper abdomen where it all started from.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Soap mixed with normal saline.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your feedback.
Sorry to know that nothing is helping.
As we discussed above,
Soap mixed in saline alone can help you.
Plain saline enema does not help.
Soap is to be mixed with saline - saline is used as it is isotonic and sterile.
Please get this done, insist for it for you to get a relief.
And secondly, a CT scan is needed to identified whether there is any polyp or mass that is causing obstruction.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (14 hours later)

Hi, my family doctor requested for all the test results and the x-ray. she also confirmed that the enema I was given was saline mixed with soap water. she has referred me to a specialist. I have attached the results from my blood work. but the doctor told me that everything that should cause for concern is all good.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Reports are within normal limits.

Detailed Answer:
Seen the blood results, all are within normal limits.
Nice to know that enema was soap and saline.
I hope that there is more evacuation and you are feeling better.

Consulting a Specialist will allow for proper clinical evaluation, examination, finding out the cause and proper treatment.

Wishing all the best.
Please let me know the progress.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar