When to seek medical advice?

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GlasgowGirl86

GlasgowGirl86

Joined
Mar 3, 2015
Messages
203
So I've went from having loose stools to no bowel movements at all. I haven't had a bowel movement in 3 days. On Saturday night I took some bisacodyl because I hadn't had a bowel movement in the 3 days prior to that either but I ended up with severe stomach pains and watery diarrhoea so I'm reluctant to take more laxatives. My stomach is massively bloated and I have pain all over my abdomen but I'm still able to pass gas. I don't feel constipated, I don't feel the urge to pass a bowel movement at all. At what point should I be seeing a doctor?
 
I was recently hospitalized with a small bowel obstruction and I can say that the pain was different from my normal Crohn's pain - more intense and it would come in waves.

Still being able to pass gas is a good sign, though. I couldn't. Do you feel nauseous at all? That can be another sign of obstruction.

Be sure to keep hydrated - that will help if it is constipation. I would think that going from watery stools to constipation would be unlikely, though

I think it is probably time to call your doc and see what they think you should do or go to urgent care. They would likely do an abdominal x-ray to check or a blockage.
 
I don't feel nauseous but I've lost my appetite. I've just managed to pass a very small bowel movement with a ton of mucus but it's not given me any relief at all. I think if I'm still no better by tomorrow I'll make an appointment with my GP.
 
I think you should at least make the call today. Obstructions and partial obstructions can be serious. Don't take them lightly. (NOT that I'm saying this is what you have)

Hope you feel better soon. Sending you my support.
 
Thanks for the advice. I called my GP surgery who said there are no appointments today and I've to phone at 8am tomorrow to make a same day appointment. I will hold out until tomorrow but if I start to become more unwell I will phone NHS24 later on.
 
How did you get on?

I used to suffer with not going - or going frequently but it was like I was constipated, but I wasn't. I rarely passed gas, but it seemed to sort itself out, and now I'm just frequent without the constipation, but it's definitely not normal either! But definitely something that needs to get checked out.

Are you eating enough fibre? Fibre is a tough one, I find it just irritates my stomach more, same with laxatives. Water is another big one. But, if you are really worried, do get to the GP!
 
I got a prescription for Senna tablets. I'm a bit dubious about using them seeing as I had a horrible reaction to the bisacodyl.
I find that lots of fibre makes me worse and I'm making sure I'm keeping myself well hydrated.
 
Senna as laxatives? Ugh, those don't even touch me, I can OD on those and have nothing happen, but apparently, according to my pharmacist, certain bodies respond to different laxatives in different ways.
Fibre makes me worse too, so I understand that pain. I keep it under 30 if I can help it. Days way under are even better. :)
 
I suppose I had better give them a go, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I'm not even sure I'm constipated though as I don't feel the sensation that I have to go and I think the young GP might just be winging it!
 
Hey Igpcarter thanks for asking 😊 I ended up having diarrhoea and severe stomach pains before I even tried the Senna and now back to no bowel movement for 2 days. I've also been getting dull aching pains in my ankles and wrists and randomly my left index finger which is new. I'm going back to see the GP again tomorrow so shall see what they say.
 
Just back from the GP. Been told to take lactulose along with the Senna and that the watery diarrhoea might just be overflow from the constipation. GP also said that I probably have inflammation in my joints but as her hands are tied without a diagnosis I just got a prescription for ibuprofen gel.
 
Oh gosh, that sounds really bad. It seems like they're given you laxatives like they're sweets! One of my doctors kept doing this to me, and it really hurt my insides to the point they felt like they were constantly knotted!

I'm in the exact same position as you at the moment, my knees have become inflamed and my doctor told me to just use the ibuprofen gel (I haven't used it yet, but I've got a small tube from Lidl for £1.59). Let me know how you get on with the gel and if it helps! I'll be trying it as soon as I get home and have a hot bath. :)
 
Ds uses the ibuprofen gel ( voltaren in the U.S. )
He can't take other NSAIDs due to Ibd but it does help his joints ( heel in particular )
That said he is also on humira and mtx for his arthritis and crohns

Parafin wax /swimming warm water pool helps a great deal as well
 
Thanks for the tips Mr chicken I'll definitely look into getting some paraffin wax.
So I've had one dose of the Senna and lactulose and I've went straight to diarrhoea. I don't understand how I can go from not pooping for 4 days then after one dose of mild laxatives go to explosive diarrhoea :S
Kellehbeans I've been giving the ibuprofen gel a go and it seems to help a bit for a short amount of time. I've found soaking in a hot bath is much more effective.
 
What % are you using? Mine doesn't seem to be doing a thing!!! The hot bath doesn't really do much and I can't do it multiple times a day because of work and just generally being a busy bee. :(

I've suddenly gone from 3-5 bm a day to nothing in 2 - just loads of tenesmus - it's funny how our bodies suddenly change isn't it? :(
 
It's 5% ibuprofen gel. Not sure if that's the standard dosage or not.
The hot bath only works for a wee while as well and yeah we can't spend all day in the bath! Attempted to do the housework today and my ankles are pretty sore. The house can just stay a mess from now on!
I'm going for massage on Thursday with paraffin wax added in as an extra treatment so shall see if that helps any.
 
If you didn't go for 4 days
The solid bm is still solid and the fresh bm becomes liquid and leaks around the solid part.
You need to do miralax ( lactolose ) for three days since that is the time it takes to travel bm through the colon .
I would assume you need to do the senna longer but ask your doc
If the paraffin wax helps get the gp to write a script
Professional paraffin wax baths can be bought and kept on 24/7
Ds uses thermabath pro

Good luck
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
It's 5% ibuprofen gel. Not sure if that's the standard dosage or not.
The hot bath only works for a wee while as well and yeah we can't spend all day in the bath! Attempted to do the housework today and my ankles are pretty sore. The house can just stay a mess from now on!
I'm going for massage on Thursday with paraffin wax added in as an extra treatment so shall see if that helps any.
Click to expand...

I got the 5% too, but I noticed behind the counter in Sainsbury's pharmacy that they have 10%. That may be a little better? I think I'm going to live in a hot bath for the rest of tonight as I am in so much pain. Everything. Aches.

That sounds really, really awesome. I want a massage!
 
I just checked and the ibuprofen gel I have is 10%, and that was from the supermarket shelf (Tescos I think). Weird that the prescription version would be weaker than the off the shelf.

I bought some when my wrists were hurting a lot, and it did help, but not as much as doing wrist strengthening exercises.
 
I think it depends on what the active ingredient actually is
So OTC stuff at 10% may not be as strong as something else by prescription
I checked and Ds gel is prescription at 1% but works better than OTC
 

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