Length of no BM

I was wondering what's the longest anyone has gone without making a BM.  I went a whole month without going and then finally went a little recently.  I know that I may have a serious problem.

Ihave a doctor's appointment coming up.

But I want to hear success stories from people who suffered as much as me.  I want to know that there is hope and that I'm not doomed!!!  Thanks! FG

Two or three days, I think.

You should not wait for a doctor's appointment if you haven't had a major bowel movement after a month without going. If you can't see a doctor now (as in today or tomorrow), then you need to go to an ER. The longer you wait to have a bowel movement, the more it gets impacted and the harder it is for someone to dig out (oh yes, you will have to be manually evacuated; my mother's a nurse and has had to do this before). And then you have to go on strong laxatives and/or deep enemas to get the rest, which usually causes painful cramping and often still leaves you straining painfully.

Even for a person with chronic C, you should go about every three days or so--maybe you'll have the occasional week, like Lil mentioned--but after a couple-three days without a movement, you need to be taking something to get yourself moving. It's been so long now, OTC stuff isn't going to work on you--at least that won't be the first thing they'll get you on. Being constipated with no bowel movements every day for a month is every bit as serious as having non-stop diarrhea every day for a month.

wow, this is scary that I'm the only one on here who hadn't gone for a month.  I finally went today.  Just a little but at least i went.  I will see how long this will go on.  I have been perscribed miralax.  haven't picked it up yet due to the icy conditions where i live.  i have an appointment for the 22nd. but if i can't go tomorrow BM again, then i will call the GI place again pronto.  the ER said that i have to go to the GI, not them.

You know, I hear an increasing number of people who go to the ER for severe consitpation, such as yours, only to have them shrug and dismiss them as not being sick. My mother has always said that constipation is serious, it has to be gotten out, etc., etc. I don't know why people don't find it as alarming anymore. Of course, there's some bad medicine going around at ERs and hospitals now, so I guess this is just part of the trend. My mother's worked with home health patients for years and has dug out the impactions of more than one. I don't know, maybe constipation is more dangerous in old people than young, but I'm confident my mother would be giving you some serious stuff to make you go. I know she gave me an enema once when I was 5 because I was having such a bad spell. And even then it was still very difficult.

I guess if no one will give you any help, you'll just have to try OTC laxatives and see if you can't get yourself going a bit more. I would try the stuff they give you for coloscopies--like Fleets or that nasty Golyghtly stuff; I don't think they make you cramp quite as bad as the laxative pills. I'd think, though, you wouldn't want to start out but with about half the recommended dosage for the first day, because, like I said, that stuff can make you cramp up when you're backed up bad. You might try a liquid or partially liquid diet (lot of broth soups) while doing it to try and keep from adding more stuff into the pipeline until you're moving good again. And you might want to try an enema to boot. It's ridiculous anyone has to try and fend for themselves in this situation. I see now why some doctors have been arguing to give up swearing the Hippocratic oath when they get their license; they already don't give a crap, a great many of them, so why be bothered to swear that they will?

Have you tried a holistic healer? Gosh, I can't help but think anyone would be better at this point to help you than no one at all. Make sure the next docotr you see, you emphasize you haven't passed but a tiny bit of stool in an entire month, and can you please try Zelnorm or something like it?

Hi, the longest I have went is just over three weeks. It was weird cos after about the tenth day I stopped being bothered by it, until 3 weeks when it was absolutely agony. I know I have a really bad problem too. I've been waiting over two years for some answers, and until I get them I rely on enemas. Even with severe constipation like this my stool isn't hard though, always soft and mushy?? Good luck with getting some help. x x

I can't believe what I am hearing. How does one function in those cases? Don't you feel terrible or swollen or something? What do you eat and do you take a laxative and still not go? It sounds like you need something to get the contractions going. I know we have a lot of intestines. Frankly I am not sure that at this point I would try Metamucil till you see Doctor. If you have a blockage I think it might make it worse. IMHO I hope you are seeing a Dr. and not just a nurse practioner though they can be very good. I am still in a state of shock that someone can walk around that long with all that you know what in them. I once didn't go for 4 days and couldn't believe it and I have IBS-C. Dr. said if I wasn't in pain, which I wasn't to take a laxative and stool softener and if that didn't work call him back.

Post Edited (Canyonbabe711) : 2/15/2007 11:48:14 PM (GMT-7)

Victoria said...
When I was in hospital, I got so constipated due to new meds I was taking and the fact that I had to share a toilet with so many other people!!! I acyaully went 2 and a half weeks without going! It got me so worried, I would sit on the toilet every day and try my hardest!!!!!!!

Wow, Victoria that must have been no fun at all!!!!

It is hard work for some of us and sometimes impossible!!

I'm glad you are no longer experiencing this problem and that you are doing much better! :)

Thanks so much for sharing!

friendlygal

Been in the hospital twice for this . Gastro dr. called in and didnt seem worried . It was 3 weeks for me . I have been on everything. including miralax and you are wasting your money . I was even on Charcoal. My meds are doing it to me . Dr. said Percocet is the worst . So off that and on Trammadol . well 14 enemas later I finally went. But have now bought Sennekot-(S) it is for people who take alot of medicene. It works but I go now every 3-4 days which is alot better than 3 weeks. Good luck

meds and things I have been on;

Zelnorm , Reglan , Myrliax , metemuc, fibercon, x lax , correctol, duxcolax , charcoal , prunes and prune juice , physillum husks, milk of mag

Have any of you ever tried colonic hydrotherapy? My friend had it the other day but I don't think I'd have the guts to!!

lion00, i am so so sorry that you had to go through docs who treated you badly!!!!!

I know how that feels!!!!!

In fact, if I were taken seriously before, I wouldn't be in this mess!!!!!

I probably have gastroparesis.  nerve damage in the stomach.  so I have slow emptying. 

I will tell you more about that later.  I'm going to try to go eat something now.

I hope everything works out with you!  Looking forward to more updates!!

Hi Kagome,
Welcome to HealingWell! 
Have you tried aloe vera?  It is a natural laxative.
I used Fleet Phosphosoda for my colonoscopy prep.  It worked great for me... Cleaned me completely out.  I wonder if someone using it for C relief should only take a portion of the dosage.  Maybe 1/2 of the dosage and then wait a few hours to see if it kicks in.  ???  Oh, I didn't have any cramps, bloating or gas with it either.  It didn't taste too good, but at least it wasn't the Golytely stuff.