BMs getting skinnier?!

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Jan 20, 2017
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Hi all,

I think I have originally posted this in the wrong section (and can't find how to delete it? :frown: Does anyone know how to do this? Sorry!)

I'm currently in the process of being diagnosed with what my GP believes to be Crohn's. He's done all of the testing he can do & has furthered me on to the hospital system to get me an appointment with a gastroenterology specialist.
After a few months of waiting, my appointment is now in 2 days time.

I am having issues with my BMs - they've been getting increasingly skinnier over the past couple of days & I am unsure whether to head to the ER or wait to see what the specialist thinks in 2 days time. Please note that this appointment will be my first, therefore it will be a consult & I assume nothing will actually be done on this day.

I first noticed 5/6 days ago that my BMs had become less frequent, despite no change in diet. I didn't think too much of it until I noticed that my stool was quite small in size compared to normal. It would have been around the size of my index finger and a hard consistency. I assumed I must have had some kind of blockage, so I took Movicol as directed by my GP a few months back.

My BMs went from hard to a medium consistency, however continued to get skinnier. They went from index finger size, to pinky size. I then experienced difficulties passing anything, and with a little help from a cup of tea, I was able to pass a very small, pencil thin stool last night.

I hadn't had any movements yesterday, despite eating foods which would usually have a laxative effect on me. Throughout the day I felt bloating, waves of nausea, pain throughout my lower stomach (localised more to the left and bottom right hand sides), a cramping feeling like urgency of needing to go to the toilet, and a burning sensation up and down my oesophagus as if I needed to vomit.
By 6pm I was feeling quite over this and decided to try and see if I could speed things up with a tea (this usually has a laxative effect on me). 10 mins later I was able to pass 1 very small and pencil thin stool. This did not relieve my discomfort. I called a health help line we have in Australia which you can call if you're not sure whether to go to ER. The nurse suggested that while this isn't normal, I shouldn't proceed to the ER until my stomach cramping is extreme, I pass blood or I stop passing all together.

Flash forward to the next morning, I've had a restless sleep, my stomach is making noises so loud it sounds like like it's trying to speak whale and I feel like I need to go to the toilet still. Nothing is coming out at all and the discomfort is now so bad that I am walking half folded over to ease the pain that I have on the left hand side of my stomach.

I am not in extreme pain, which is why I am asking here rather than going to the ER. If I do experience enough pain, I will go, however I would love to hear if anyone else has experienced this before. I am not sure if I should try drinking another tea to see if it will encourage another BM or if I should wait & see how it unfolds naturally..
 
I myself would wait that couple of days for the appointment with the GI, but no one can tell you what's best for you. I remember a couple of years ago I was doubled up in pain for a week or so and rang the specialist IBD helpline at my hospital. They took it very seriously and gave me an urgent appointment within a few weeks, but they didn't suggest attending A and E. Please bear in mind though that I have no medical knowledge at all and I'm not trying to give you advice, I'm just saying what's happened to me in circumstances that sound a little similar (but could be wildly different clinically). If in doubt you should perhaps go to A and E to put your mind at rest. Unfortunately, in the UK we are strongly discouraged from going to A and E because of the crisis in healthcare, also the quality of diagnosis in A and E tends to be rather poor, and so that probably colours my view, as I would much rather get specialist GI advice - hopefully you are more fortunate in Australia.
 
Haven't seen your other post. Looked for it before replying.

My thought is that you are possibly getting some inflammation in the rectum. I have a similar type stool - call them ribbon poops - and for me it is due to inflammation and scarring. For me it has become permanent.

If your movements stop completely and you start bloating I would then head towards your A&E - that may indicate a blockage. If they don't stop, see if you can wait until your office visit and make absolutely certain you tell your doctor about it.
 
Thanks all for replying.
I was able to pass a small BM later the day I originally posted, so I decided against heading to the ER.
Since then I have passed only been able to produce 2 more BMs. They've been 1-2 cm pebble like stools and have had a lot of mucus to come with them. I have still been experiencing the discomfort I described in my original post.

I have my GI appointment this afternoon so fingers crossed they're able to help!
 
I had exactly the same symptoms when I had bad rectal inflamation I'm in melbourne when I first got diagnosed my GP did a blood test and then when the results came vack sent me to the er and they admitted me and did a colonoscopy thats how I got diagnosed.

I will tell you they said to me diet doesn't affect crohns well it does it's a digestive disorder and if you drink alcohol I would stop as it will only make things worse they never told me this.
 

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