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Posted 3/4/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had an impacted bowl? I definitely have this problem, and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I can't seem to get through to a doctor, not the surgeon who operated on my abscess, and is still treating it. Or my GI doctor. I can leave messages, but no one has called me back yet. I appreciate any advice!
Posted 3/4/2011 3:45 PM (GMT 0)

nikki, not good. what is the rule of thumb with impacted bowel? ng tube, and I.V. do you have bowel sounds or is any gas moving?

AG

Posted 3/4/2011 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
It's impacted right at the exit. Luckily things seem to be moving fine until that point. It's just uncomfortable, and I think repeated large hard stools may have caused a second abscess for me. But hopefully not. I just need the stool out, so I can concentrate on sitz baths and see if the hard lump will go away. I do not need two abscesses.
Posted 3/4/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, that sounds awful.
I hate to suggest this, but can you *safely and gently* break it up with your finger and some olive oil or something?

Also, is there a health phone line you can call? Or talk to your pharmacist—maybe something OTC can help?
Posted 3/4/2011 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the suggestion, Roni. It's actually the route I have chosen, and has actually started to work! I think I've passed about half the stool at this point. The colorectal surgeon has called back and suggested a laxative, but I think I'm going to wait to see what happens first. If I can pass it all without, then I'd rather just do that. Plus, I need to get a hold of my OB first since I'm pregnant. I've been taking colace for a week, I started benefiber 2 days ago, and increased my water and fiber intake. Hopefully this will be the last stool like this I need to worry about. It's been every bowel movement for a week now!
Posted 3/4/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
The EXACT same thing happened to me when I was pregnant! I think it was my hubby and MIL who told me what to do and it worked for me too. I also used a lot of vaseline.
I was so scared when I was pregnant to have that happen. It was one of the few times while being a crohnie that I even had a solid stool. I think my bowels just forgot how to react.

Hope you feel better!
Posted 3/4/2011 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, lubrication and soaking in a hot tub of water. The tub of hot water relaxes you AND the rectal area muscles. Plus the sitz baths, of course.
Posted 3/4/2011 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. I think the issue maybe a little more complicated now. This has been going on for probably a month and a half now. Initially I suffered through and ended up with an abscess I am sure was caused by overly large, hard stools. I was put on antibiotics in the hospital and left with diarrhea, which was a welcome change. After I was done with the course of antibiotics the constipation with huge stools came back immediately. I told my colorectal surgeon and OB with no helpful suggestions. I have had several stools stuck several times in the past week and I feel like another abscess has formed. Bah! I do not want to go through this whole abscess thing again. And I'm just afraid this will keep happening for the next 25 weeks until I deliver. Roni, did your constipation problems go away, or was it recurring?
Posted 3/4/2011 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
I started eating more fruit like blueberries, and I was taking probiotics which helped too.
I also had a stricture when pregnant and that did not help at all. I had a mix of d, c, and obstructions. It was awful. Baby was just fine though.
Posted 3/5/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad to hear the baby was fine, Roni! It's amazing what a baby can make it through. Were you put under anesthesia at any time during your pregnancy? With my last abscess I got a spinal block for the second surgery. I have no idea how they will deal with my newest complication. The old abscess is hurting more than it has since before it's been operated on, and the new abscess hurts even worse than that. There is no 'good side' for them to touch. I wish I could just be knocked out, or given a spinal block the whole time I'm' in the ER (I've decided I have to go tomorrow, I can barely walk, and I'm literally afraid to poop.)
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