Bowel retention Question

[pewpewlasers]

Does having bowel retention put me at risk for an obstruction? I haven't found much information on bowel retention and I am curious.

 

[pewpewlasers]

How do you define bowel retention? I *think* the main thing that would put you at risk for an obstruction would be a narrowed area or stricture. If you have one of those AND you tend to be one of the Crohnies that have constipation more than diarrhea, then yeah, unfortunately you would probably be more likely to have risk of obstruction. You having problems pewpew? (I know everyone has given you kudos for your screenname - just thought I add a *love* too it )

I'm not sure. I had a cat scan at the er on Friday and they said that it showed bowel retention (among some other things). I never get constipated, I get D and loose/soft stools very often. I'm having problems with my insurance so I can't see my GI doc right now. From what the doctor said, he said that it's not good. They didn't see inflammation but I wasn't feeling like I do when I have severe bowel pain. Anyways, the conclusion of the doc was that I have crohn's or colitis. It wasn't the first time Crohn's was mentioned, but this time it was more serious.

When I feel like I have a flare up my lower intestinal area hurts so bad that it brings me to my knees and I have to curl up until the cramping is over. The cramps come and go every couple minutes or so. I mostly sit on the toilet trying to poop, in the meantime I sit there sweating and trying to get through the severe cramping. When I finally have to poop I have a solid poop and then the rest is liquid and mucus. The next day after these episodes I usually have tons of thick yellow mucus wrapped around my stool. I know, gross, but I feel like everyone can understand this. To top all of these sypmtoms off I get really bad bloating. So much that the slightest touch to my stomach feels like a punch. The times I've had this happen I knew in the back of my head I should go to the er just in case it was an obstruction but the pain and the pooping prevent me from moving.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the retention, narrowing, crohn's or something else. I hate having this all up in the air. Getting bad news from the er docs and not being able to see my GI doc is killing me.

When I don't have these severe episodes I normally just have an icky feeling in my lower abdominal area. Minor cramps that come and go that are more of an annoyance because it makes me stop until its over. Sometime when I go to sleep if I lay on my left side, my left lower intestinal area hurts, same with the right. The pressure on it must just piss is off.

I feel like there are so many problems that I forget symptoms when I see the doc. They vary so much from minor annoyances that I just ignore because they have become so normal (like getting painful cramps and severe urgency before a normal poop) and severe flare ups that leave me on the floor unable to move. (Luckly the bad ones don't happen so often)

Sorry, this is so much. I feel like I have to hold everything I want to say in because its embarrassing. I can hide behind the internet here.

It was embarrassing enough that I called my Mom crying that I pooped myself and had to tell my boyfriend. Luckily, he was out with our son that night. I decided to stay in because of my stomach). I don't like to elaborate about my symptoms with him, I know he has a little picture of whats wrong, especially those nights where I'm stuck in the bathroom or complaining that I hurt. When I saw the GI doc for the first time, everything I wanted to say just exploded.

I'm sorry for typing so much but my anxiety is through the roof and being able to talk about it helps. I feel like I'm not alone here and that people understand from first-hand experience.

Anyways, thanks for your response and for listening. Oh, and the name compliment too.

 

[pewpewlasers]

It feels so good to know I am not alone!
Hearing all those bowel sounds drives me nuts because I know anyone around me can hear them. Laying in bed at night is terrible because everything is quiet and my boyfriend can hear every creak and groan of my bowels.

The er doc told me to take some fiber supplements but most of them are not gluten free and I have celiac problems as well. Also, I am afraid of taking the fiber and getting bad cramps and pain because of exactly what you said. The body having a harder time to move formed stool through.

I started a rice, banana, and applesauce diet today because everything is bothering my bowels. I had a banana for breakfast and my bowels are groaning and I can feel it too if I put my hands on my lower abdomen. My bowels have been groaning for three days straight now. It normally comes and goes but they are making music down there.

Where can I get Calmoseptine? I've never heard/seen it. My d hurt my bum so bad yesterday I was just gritting my teeth whenever I had to sit.

 

[pewpewlasers]

Hmm, I'll have to see how the banana makes me feel. So far today I am still feeling crappy.
I forgot to get Ensure while at the store this morning.
I've been wondering if I have a problem with dairy. I had gluten free pizza last night and my bowels were in big protest last night.
I'll have to check the pharmacy soon for that stuff. Seems like good stuff to me!