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What Causes Constipation With Abdominal And Middle Torso Pain?
Question: I have been constipated for about 7 days, at times very extreme abdominal and middle torso pain. The bowel movements I have had are small pebble sized and only few in number. The bowel movements are very painful where I have to harshly strain causing light headedness
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Brief Answer:
High Fiber diet
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical question.
You are concerned and experiencing severe constipation and possibly even IBS with constipation. Your stools are hard and pellet like because they do not have enough fiber and water to maintain proper form and easing passing. I see this frequently in my clinic.
One of the first things I take is a history and in that history is use of medications. Medications can frequently cause constipation. The most common ones are pain medications like Naprosyn or opiates like codeine. Other medication including water pills and hypertension medications are also offenders.
The second thing is diet. I recommend eating a diet high in fiber and drinking plenty of fluids. A high fiber diet includes lots of green leafy vegetables, citrus, legumes. The more leafy vegetables you eat the more likely your stools will be better formed and easier to pass. Drinking fluids allows more fluid to remain in your GI tract and again softer stools.
The last thing I recommend is using medications. Stool softeners like Colace, psyllium or Metamucil. These all make the stools softer and allow for better movements again. Only when you can't move your bowels do I recommend medication or laxatives like ducolax or senna. These medications are stimulant laxatives and can potentially cause more cramping and if used too often over reliance on laxatives.
So the short answer is use diet and fluids first. Then if not helping then supplements like Colace or Metamucil and lastly stimulant laxatives like senna.
Hope I answered your question. Please feel free to contact us again for you medical concerns and questions
High Fiber diet
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for contacting HCM with your medical question.
You are concerned and experiencing severe constipation and possibly even IBS with constipation. Your stools are hard and pellet like because they do not have enough fiber and water to maintain proper form and easing passing. I see this frequently in my clinic.
One of the first things I take is a history and in that history is use of medications. Medications can frequently cause constipation. The most common ones are pain medications like Naprosyn or opiates like codeine. Other medication including water pills and hypertension medications are also offenders.
The second thing is diet. I recommend eating a diet high in fiber and drinking plenty of fluids. A high fiber diet includes lots of green leafy vegetables, citrus, legumes. The more leafy vegetables you eat the more likely your stools will be better formed and easier to pass. Drinking fluids allows more fluid to remain in your GI tract and again softer stools.
The last thing I recommend is using medications. Stool softeners like Colace, psyllium or Metamucil. These all make the stools softer and allow for better movements again. Only when you can't move your bowels do I recommend medication or laxatives like ducolax or senna. These medications are stimulant laxatives and can potentially cause more cramping and if used too often over reliance on laxatives.
So the short answer is use diet and fluids first. Then if not helping then supplements like Colace or Metamucil and lastly stimulant laxatives like senna.
Hope I answered your question. Please feel free to contact us again for you medical concerns and questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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