women suffering constipation - page four
The tale of...Ann
I have had what my mom used to call "spastic colon" since I was in my late twenties. I used to take two charcoal pills from GNC to help with the pain and it was a miracle drug. Unfortunately, it was explained to me that charcoal will also hinder/or knock out other drugs from your system.
I'm not sure of the validity of that, but being on Prozac, I didn't want to chance it. The Prozac was for anxiety by the way (OCD symptoms) and that saved my life. So, the charcoal was out, but no problem as the attacks were so seldom.
Anyway...a few months ago, several years after the last bout of attacks, suddenly the dang spastic colon starts to act up again. I am so used to it, and it was so infrequent, I never really thought about consulting a doctor about it. That was until about a month ago. All hell broke loose.
A few weeks prior to the big nightmare as I call it, after I would eat, I would feel have terrible pains that would only be relieved upon, well, how do I say this gracefully, "going #2". And we are not talking smooth sailing here either...we are talking either disgusting diarrhea or even worse terrible constipation.
One night...I can't remember what I ate...I started feeling the pain come on. So, I head for the bathroom to relieve the pain and I take what I would call a respectable "pooh". Well, it didn't relieve the pain.
Throughout the whole ordeal of trying to go to the bathroom, I am sweating, cursing, crying, praying...my roommate didn't know what to do. Usually I lock the bathroom door and just suffer the pain but I knew this was different. I gave up trying and decided to lie down on my bed and I was in a fetal position the cramps were so bad.
Oh! I forgot the best part. I tell my roomie to go get me the Fleet enema and I tell her to get two as I'm not sure I know how to work those things! Anyway, I read the back and it says to hold the water in for a couple of minutes or something?! Um, no. Not gonna happen. Needless to say, the enema failed. Finally my roomie says we are going to the hospital now!
I really didn't feel like riding in a bumpy pickup truck for miles and miles, especially when I wasn't sure when I would feel that "knockin on the backdoor" if you know what I mean. Turns out, it wasn't a worry as I was constipated the whole time in the Emergency Room.
The first ER doc gave me a shot of Demerol. The nurse and my roomie assured me I would be "feeling no pain" soon. Half an hour later, nothing. N relief from the pain. I was on my side and had just endured a proct. exam where this doc tells me my rectum is "empty". You could have fooled me! I told him I was in major pain, and he responded by going off duty.
So then another doc comes in and if I have to tell one more hospital staff member my "story" I am gonna freak. Finally...after about HOURS have passed...they give me a dialudid drip. Ahhhh relief. I have to admit, it was almost worth the pain! Almost but not quite, as I am sure you sufferers can empathize with.
So I am high as a kite and go get the obligatory x-rays and all looks fine. The ER doc sends me home with Vicodin...gotta love that constipation inducer...and something for nausea. I go to my regular doc and he says he thinks it's IBS. He gave me some Nulev to take before eating and the attacks have since decreased. I also have read up a lot on IBS and constipation, etc. That's how I got to this site.
I was so moved by all of your stories I had to share mine. I am going to the GI doc soon and we will see what he thinks. I really hope I can get some medicine or hints on dietary changes to help me out. In the meantime I am off to buy a coffee grinder as one of the folks on this site mentioned freshly ground flax seed and its benefits. (Thanks Marian!)
Peace and healing to all of you as I know what you go through. Please continue to update your stories as it's great to get hints here and there as well as know you aren't alone.
The tale of...Blue
I don't believe my story stands out as extraordinary now that I have read so many of the suffering tales of my fellow IBS peers. But in the hopes that someone can learn something or at least feel a common bond, I will write my story.
I was married in 1992 and my health was perfect. I began to take birth control pills and six months later began to be constipated and gassy. I dropped the pills and had the Norplant put in my arm. My symptoms became worse. I gained 15 pounds and I just couldn't get any relief from the constipation. I saw doctors, but no answers and no sympathy, just a diagnosis of IBS.
Two years went by and then a friend told me to use prune juice. So, I used prune juice as a laxative for six years or more. I was able to perfect the formula by constant use. I would drink 5oz of juice and three 16oz glasses of water as a chaser. That worked for a long time, but then I got pregnant and things became more difficult. After the pregnancy, my fluctuating hormones affected my symptoms and I begged a Harvard-trained gastroenterologist at my clinic to test me.
He performed a sigmoidoscopy and then later approved me for a colonoscopy and barium enema tests. I had balloon tests for the rectum and an x-ray etc, etc. Those truly were humiliating. In the end he couldn't help me and gave me a prescription for Lactulose and said goodbye.
In the subsequent years, I have become my own research team. I search the internet and medical journals, magazines and anything with info about new studies and really the internet has been my greatest ally. I am so grateful for the IBS self-help websites.
I think after 12 years I've learned how to deal with my body pretty well. I survive each day by drinking four, 18oz glasses of water at one time at 5:30 am, then I wait a while, and drink another 18oz glass. This pretty much cleans me out after being in the bathroom three hours straight. It may end up damaging my health in the end. I am sure I am washing out many minerals and nutrients.
I can't eat after 6:30pm. I don't drink milk, don't eat bananas or whole wheat or oats, or raisins, red meat, ice cream, blah blah. A long list of don't do's. I never do any movement that requires my stomach muscles to be used because then I suffer pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. (That's one I haven't figured out yet.)
My husband and three kids are supportive of me, in spite of the hardship my illness causes them. Of course, some things can't be avoided. I spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Sometimes I can't even figure out what happened and I'm in again later in the day.
I am tired of the pain, and the unpredictability and I am tired of looking like I am five months pregnant. But again, I am so thankful for the support of all the other IBS sufferers who care enough to write and encourage the rest of us.
E-mail Blue: lebluehour[at]yahoo.com
The tale of...Gerry
I am a 63 year-old woman with two problems which are getting worse and more confusing/exasperating to deal with.
First problem: I had colon cancer in 1994 (large bowel). From the surgery and subsequent adhesions I have had small bowel obstructions every two years, five in all. The last one hospitalized me for five weeks, the last just last month subsided in eight hours of hellish pain and one vomit. Since then I've had a very slow return to health and the IBS is worse...
Second problem: My IBS is horrible constipation. The stools get harder and harder and so does the straining until even missing a day affects my mood (irritable and then adrenalin rushes). After taking more and more Prodium Plus (fibre and laxative combo) plus Milk of Magnesia the dam bursts and I have bad cramps for two days, then a migraine for two to three days (which I can't take any painkillers for because of the small bowel problem), then fatigue and depression from all the above.
My Gastroenterologist put me on Modulon/Trimebutine for the past eight years at $200 every second month. I saw two GPs in the last two wks (I've moved and don't have a regular doctor out here), both of whom say this medication does zero for constipation - one suggested Domperidone and the other Dicetel. Who do I believe?? If anyone has had experience with this situation I'd be grateful to hear.
E-mail Gerry: glc[at]interchange.ubc.ca
The tale of...Julie
I have been dealing with IBS for a year and a half now. After spending Christmas with my fiancé's parents and eating one of his mother's home cooked meals, I became violently sick. The next day we had to stop at at least four rest stops due to me having severe diarrhea. This lasted a few days, along with a fever and the chills. I noticed that (I know this sounds gross!!!) when I did go it was covered in this weird substance - which later I found out is mucus that is produced by your colon that helps along the digestive process.
My IBS symptoms had disappeared for five months and now they are back with constipation, shortness of breath and fatigue. Nothing has helped my constipation and the Dicyclomine I take when I feel a bout only makes it worse. I am going to start on Zelnorm tomorrow when I pick up the prescription. I make myself crazy thinking that it's something more serious - just because there is no rhyme or reason to this!!! And fiber is not the solution for me either.
E-mail Julie: julrams[at]hotmail.com