Constipation

Hello, i had chest pains a few months back, concerning a hiatus hernia and having gall bladder removed.

Since then i get so bunged up i get a bigger lump inside me that is bigger than my anus ! when i do eventually shift it, with suppositories or enemas, i see to have the squirts .

Ive mentioned constipation to docs, but no one seems interested, any thoughts ?

Is this common with my health problems.

First off, have you had the hernia and gallbladder issues corrected surgically or otherwise?

Secondly, constipation can be a problem for a number of reasons and for most folks in the middle age bracket (please don't bristle, I'm there too) it becomes more of an issue. You say that you've tried enemas and suppositories, but those are immediate fixes to what tends to be a long-term problem. Have you tried drinking more water, most adults don't drink enough H2O. Moving your body will help you move your bowels. I walk 1-2 miles every day and that helps me a lot. When I get in "stuck" mode, I walk more. How about fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fiber? All of those will help your system naturally rather than with stimulants.

If it becomes a serious issue, don't just mention it to your doctor, open up a can of whupass and let them know you can't deal with it on your own. Try the other remedies first though because those are the first questions you'll be asked.

Hi, gall bladder removed via keyhole, hernia looked at by camera down throat.

This constipation really started when i was initially taken to hospital when chest pains started, (suspected heart attack )

I walk about 3 miles a day with dog, eat apples, bananas, grapes as well as veg in meals, i am active in my work as a tractor repair man etc.

Liquid intake is perhaps low, mainly in cups of tea or decaf coffee, some water.

Once ive managed to go, i spend a long time feeling like i have the squirts !

Gone from needing to go once a day, to maybe every 3 days, and seem to have no feelings that i need to go in between.

I've heard that many patients have changes in bowel functions post-cholecystectomy and this may be what has happened to you. I have a similar issue, constipation followed by diarrhea caused by diabetic gastroparesis. It's no fun, takes some management and I find that doctors don't seem to be very concerned unless you end up like the late, great, Johnny Cash. In my case, there isn't much that can be done but I would advise that you make it very clear to a healthcare professional that this is uncomfortable and is no longer manageable in a do-it-yourself environment.

You might consider fiber products, like Metamucil, Citracel. These add moisture if its needed and soak it up, when there is too much. Also think about the PEG solutions, the O.T.C. versions of Co-Lyte, Go-Lytely.

Your alternating bowel conditions make me think of I.B.S. Ladydoc is right; doctors don't care about diabetic patient's bowel problems. I complained to my oncologist about the damage radiations caused to me in my treatments and he said, "It's better than being dead from cancer, isn't it!" He left it up to me to deal with. I talked with a proctologist to get some good info.

Not diabetic, as far as i know, might i ask what happened to johnny cash ??

Near the end of his life, Johnny Cash was diagnosed as diabetic and there was some indication that this was a family trait. He did not manage his condition well, nor did anyone else but I suppose because he was a recovering alcoholic and former drug abuser, he probably thought that diabetes was the least of his worries. In the end, he developed gastroparesis, which is literally paralysis of the gastrointestinal system. It is characterized by lack of hunger, early satiety, slow or nonexistent emptying of the stomach contents, constipation, intestinal impaction and blockage, and loss of sensation indicating the need to eliminate. Yeah, not pretty. Unless the patient is very motivated, in the late stages this condition really requires top-notch nursing care. There are medications and therapies available but in sum, there are side-effects and a loss of dignity that many patients are unwilling to put up with.

Yes, I am the Queen of Medical Trivia and Oddities Knowledge. A former boss used to call me a cesspool of knowledge, it comes in handy when playing Trivial Pursuit though.

Thanks Ladydoc. I never knew those things!