Constipation and Diarrhoea in same bowel movement?

[Carrie SA]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in January this year and I'm not sure what's happening now.

For the past week I get the really loud tummy gurgles and then terrible lower abdominal pain and then I feel like I need to go. I sit on the loo and have to push really hard to get the first bit out, and then I wait for a few minutes because it still feels like its more and then I have really runny diarrhoea, like water really. Then I think I'm finished, and the pain is a bit better, and just as I'm settled back on the couch feeling miserable, I have to literally sprint to the loo for more watery D. Then the sprinting carries on that way for the next few hours until at one point I was actually parked in the loo reading my book too scared to get off. The next day, absolutely nothing, not a drop, not a pebble, even though I feel like I need to go, and then the following day, the whole push, water, sprint saga starts again.

My temperature is going up and down like a yo-yo.

I'm exhausted, and don't know what this is. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm currently on Asacol and Bevispas (anti-crampies) with Tramahexal for pain as needed. My GI tapered me off Entocort in March.

 

[Carrie SA]

Nauseous as well, particularly before the push, water, sprint starts.

 

[UnXmas]

I've not had exactly what you're describing, I don't think, but I certainly have what can only be described as constipation and diarrhoea in the same bowel movement. I feel the need to go badly, but can't for a while (hours sometimes) even if I try. Then when I finally can go, I have to strain and strain, it takes ages and I can only go a small amount at a time.

For me this problem is caused by rectal problems - I have recurrent rectal prolapses and other pelvic prolapses. I've had them surgically repaired many times but it just happens again. I have bowel motility problems and I also cannot properly relax my pelvic floor and sphincter muscles - which is why although their is liquid stool there, it literally can't come out. These rectal problems are partly why I'm soon getting an ileostomy.

I have no idea if you have a similar cause, but if your doctors can't think of another reason it may be worth having a rectal exam done. Do you know if you have any strictures or similar problems?

 

[AuntieEm]

I have nausea prior to bowel movements. When I get queasy I know I better be looking for the bathroom. I'm only plagued by D though or the urge to go and nothing. No formed stool for years.

 

[Novice]

I get this alot I suffer bad constipation. I would be making an appt to see ur dr though if I were you to rule out partial obstructions etc and find a treatment cos it sounds a little out of control.

Hope u feel relief soon.

 

[drewbus09]

Ugh I saw this and it freaked me out almost... I guess Ive been feeling so alone because I just haven't talked to people with Crohn's, but I read this and while my heart goes out to you I want you to know it just made my night to see someone experiencing exactly what I seem to go through on a regular basis. Ill have a small incredibly difficult nugget then comes the complete onslaught of essentially JUST water coming out, and the fear just like you that eventually it isn't even worth leaving the toilet. So honestly I have no advice because I experience the same thing but just wanted to let you know it made someone not feel quite so alone in this hell. So thank you, and I hope that things get better for you.

 

[Carrie630]

I'm going through the exact same thing right now. My latest ct enterography didn't show any strictures, but I took a patency capsule and it got stuck. (The patency capsule is a test capsule that can be taken prior to a pillcam to make sure the pillcam can go all the way through the intestines). From what I can determine this probably means I have a partial obstruction. If you have a partial obstruction you can have both hard and liquid stool together. Think of it kind of like a plug. Every time we eat we put more stuff into the intestines which would cause a certain amount of pressure in there. If stuff is trying to move through and it gets held up by something that's in the way, the pressure probably builds up a certain amount until it can push past the obstruction or push it forward with everything else.

For me, sometimes it'll feel like the hard stool is a plug. It hurts sooo bad and eventually comes out, then it's all water until it backs up again.

 

[drewbus09]

That's what I seem to be going through every time right now. Exactly as you said, a plug essentially holding back everything that came in since. Im still new to all of this, and still taking it all in but from what Im seeing and reading I chose to make an appointment Monday with my GI. I think its time to have some more tests done and see whats making these symptoms come up.

 

[UnXmas]

I'm going through the exact same thing right now. My latest ct enterography didn't show any strictures, but I took a patency capsule and it got stuck. (The patency capsule is a test capsule that can be taken prior to a pillcam to make sure the pillcam can go all the way through the intestines). From what I can determine this probably means I have a partial obstruction. If you have a partial obstruction you can have both hard and liquid stool together. Think of it kind of like a plug. Every time we eat we put more stuff into the intestines which would cause a certain amount of pressure in there. If stuff is trying to move through and it gets held up by something that's in the way, the pressure probably builds up a certain amount until it can push past the obstruction or push it forward with everything else.

For me, sometimes it'll feel like the hard stool is a plug. It hurts sooo bad and eventually comes out, then it's all water until it backs up again.

It sounds like you're describing something like impaction and overflow? I've had that too. I had a laparoscopy once and the surgeon said my bowel was impacted, and that I was getting diarrhoea because the liquid could get through past the solid impaction. I wasn't sure whether he was right though, as I had so much diarrhoea.

 

[723crossroads]

I have days that I will go and it is very difficult to get out and it is hard and finally comes out, then right behind it is pure liquid, totally different. Or sometimes the stool will be dark colored on one side and the back side be pale. Now how does that happen? I don't mean end to end. I mean side by side, same stool?

 

[my little penguin]

Hugs
DS has had that. He also has motility and rectal problems (prolapse).
Typically if its too bad Gi orders a clean out to remove the old stool so he can start fresh.
He is also on miralax daily to keep things soft .
He is having more tests soon as well.

Hope your GI can get to the bottom of it for you and get it under control.

 

[Carrie630]

The only thing about impaction though, is that I just came off a week of liquid diet and a colonoscopy. I know nothing is impacted in my colon, can you get impacted in your small intestine?

 

[723crossroads]

The only thing about impaction though, is that I just came off a week of liquid diet and a colonoscopy. I know nothing is impacted in my colon, can you get impacted in your small intestine?

You can get blockages. My daughterhad that happen and others on here too.

 

[Carrie SA]

Thank you all, sorry I didn't reply before, I've just spent three days in bed (really really close to the loo) feeling exhausted. I haven't gone to the loo at all since yesterday morning and am feeling very clogged up. I'm seeing my GI next week Monday (appointment booked ages ago, seeing him every two months) so I'm going to try and hang on until then. If the pain gets any worse or if I can't get anything out at all by tomorrow I'll go and see him this week.

I was only diagnosed in January this year. It took a while to get it under control, but I thought I had it sorted. Naive optimism of the new Crohnie I guess! :ybatty:

It really helps knowing other people are going through the same thing and my bowels are not uniquely insane! :eek2: Now I have a better idea of what is going on.

Many grateful thanks.

 

[mish2575]

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in January this year and I'm not sure what's happening now.

For the past week I get the really loud tummy gurgles and then terrible lower abdominal pain and then I feel like I need to go. I sit on the loo and have to push really hard to get the first bit out, and then I wait for a few minutes because it still feels like its more and then I have really runny diarrhoea, like water really. Then I think I'm finished, and the pain is a bit better, and just as I'm settled back on the couch feeling miserable, I have to literally sprint to the loo for more watery D.

I always got this too and though it FEELS like constipation I'm pretty sure it is not, I think it is just that we are feeling a nerve, a muscle or something inside being irritated and making us think there is a big poop stuck along the canal when it really is just a little bit of something stuck in the diarrhea. Then the anal pain starts because i've sat pushing so hard for so long. When i get the 'CONSTIPATION' feeling i keep reminding myself to sit and relax. I no longer try to push it out. . . i've come to realize that it really takes the same amount of time in the end but with less pain if i just sit for a while on the loo and relax. (thank God for smartphones)

 

[Carrie630]

are you having "false urges"? That's what seems to be the clinically understood term for when it really feels like you have to go, but there's nothing there to come out.

I used to call it constipation which is just a bad idea. once a doctor thinks you have constipation and diarrhea it's IBSlandia for you! bah. anyway, I'm always trying to figure out the proper terminology so that the doctor's understand me better..

also don't push too hard, you can get a hernia :/

 

[Carrie SA]

Thanks for the right terminology. That is very helpful to know, I never quite know what the right words are. Although my GI did diagnose me so he's got my pathology and bloods and the bright technicolour colonoscopy pictures with the crater sized ulcers, so hopefully he will understand what I'm going on about!

 

[Moogle33]

are you having "false urges"? That's what seems to be the clinically understood term for when it really feels like you have to go, but there's nothing there to come out.

I used to call it constipation which is just a bad idea. once a doctor thinks you have constipation and diarrhea it's IBSlandia for you! bah. anyway, I'm always trying to figure out the proper terminology so that the doctor's understand me better..

also don't push too hard, you can get a hernia :/

I'm too familiar with IBSlandia, haha. I think I'm stranded on that island at the moment. I am having similar experiences with Imodium. It stops me up and then you have a build up. Does anyone else feel that way with Imodium?

 

[carolhew]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have all just described my BMs, lol! It's nice to know I am not alone!
Moogle, I have to be very careful with the Imodium, I only take it when I have to go to work when the D hits.

This vicious cycle of C then D then C....drives me nuts!

 

[mish2575]

Yes, "false urges" sounds right.

I try to only take immodium when I cannot get off the toilet. Then I only take 1 every hour until it seems to pass - a max of 3.