Impacted stool

Hi,

I'm totally new to this site and I was just at the ER yesterday with stomach pain like you wouldn't believe. I thought it was my pancreatitis flaring up bc I'm about to have my pancreas removed in a cpl of mos due to a birth defect and they told me I have a stool impaction. They did a "soap bubble" enema on me, but how do I know if it came loose or not? And since I am on round the clock opiates what kind of enemas would be good to use on a regular basis so this doesn't happen again? I've had this medical issue for six years and this is the first time this has happened and now I am horrified that it is going to keep happening. I can't even sleep at night I've been so worried sick. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :-). And is there any way short of another x-Ray for me to know if it's come loose? Bc I've had really bad diarrhea the past cpl of days and they told me at the ER it's just been going around the impaction.

Thanks in advance for any help...

I would suggest using plain water. Many here on Zity use plain water That assumes your local water is safe. Your profile doesn't indicate where you are from, so I have no idea if your water is safe or not.

Oh, and welcome to Zity.

If this will be repeated often, I agree with the plain water, with one modification: add 1 TSP non-iodized salt to each quart of water, so that you don't absorb too much water from the enemas. That could adversely affect your electrolyte balance. With an isotonic enema (salt concentration equal to that found in your colon), you wouldn't absorb anything. You would just get the cleansing effects.

But there is another major issue here. Your doctor should be answering your questions, and coordinating with the ER physicians. In your situation, you have several serious health issues. Fecal impaction can quickly become a crisis by itself, and the pain you experienced, and your current condition both indicate that the situation isn't resolved. Diarrhea can drain you quickly and sap strength you desperately need for your upcoming surgery. Impaction will lead to inflammation, imbalance of gut bacteria, and could quickly do major damage. The medical community should be responding to this aggressively, not leaving you to figure out what to do next. This is a wonderful community, but you need so much more than our advice and support. I have no idea of your insurance situation, nor do I want to know any details. But my strong reaction is that you are not receiving the attention and the treatment that you deserve and need. Get a referral, find a doctor who will pursue a course of action that will find out exactly what is going on and why, and what can be done. Don't just try different things to see if they might work.

And when this is over, explore the incredible variety of caring people with just a few unusual interests thrown in to keep things interesting. Welcome! And get the medical attention that is your right.

Fecal impaction and peri impaction diarrhea is a problem which can be addressed by your doctor and should be. It's treated by manual disimpaction that with a finger by a nurse or other emergency person. This is usually followed with an enema. Before the disimpaction enemas don't work because the stool fills the rectum and no fluid can get by it. This is something you should talk to your doctor about. As a physician I've handled many such problems. Without actually examining you it would be hard to say if you have one but the diarrhea and pain are suggestive. Once it is treated you should be on stool softeners and if you fail after a day or two to have a BM you should take something like milk of magnesia before it gets worse. From personal experience constipation from opiates is certain. I found saline laxatives such as MOM better than enemas to prevent further impactions. The main thing is get help now or at least in the morning. Good luck.

For an adult, this should only really happen ONCE.

after that you should be aware of what the situation feels like. You should be able to catch the impaction in the early stages before it ever gets that bad, and a 2-qt ESS. with 6 Bisacodyl tablets a couple of hours before should move it.

Flash65 - Firstly welcome to zity

Secondly, ascertain & confirm the status of your medical condition as a first priority through seeking the services of a reputable Gastroenterologist BEFORE anything.

In home "maintenance" go with simplicity as has been recommended, nothing drastic !! with good advice amongst these responses to date

Three points here :-1) It's important to seek a second opinion should there be an error in diagnosis, just to be absolutely sure. .2) Opiate use in treatment together with worry have known constipation attributes. .product labelling should by all rights disclose this !

3) Address these matters as both a priority & a precaution before resorting to an enema as there seems sufficient information to suggest there is an underlying problem based on you're post

Trust all goes well for you !!

Don't let yourself go that long. Buck up and take an enema before it gets to impaction.

So how long would be too long and have a significant risk of an impaction?

I have seen some talk of "do something after 3 days", but that was mostly older patients.