Could I have possibly had a partial obstruction?

I had a total colectomy 5 years ago for colon inertia. The first 5 months or so afterwards were great, and then I wasn't able to get anything out without an enema or drinking lots of prune juice. I would get horrible rectal pain and it was determined that I have an outlet issue, so my doctor recommended miralax 2 x a day and that has worked well for over 4 1/2 years.

Last night after drinking my miralax, I started getting the most horrible gas cramps and pain in my abdomen that continued from 10 pm until 5:30 am when I finally passed a little stool. After that, the pain was gone, but my abdomen has been sore all day. During that time I was running to the bathroom, but all that came out was white liquid (miralax). My husband was out of town for a long weekend, and I didn't want to wake up any neighbors, and I was in too much pain to drive, so I waited it out. I'm wondering if this could have been a partial obstruction?

I ate carrots and celery, as well as trail mix that I don't usually eat. I sometimes eat carrots and tiny amounts of celery, but I think I got carried away and ate too much. Could that have caused this? I've been scared to death to eat all day, but had some yogurt earlier, and then clam chowder for dinner. Hubby is home, so if it happens again, I don't think I'll wait it out. I delivered a 10.3 lb baby and don't remember the pains being so bad. It was almost like labor though, because it would come and go.

Also, I'm taking an antibiotic for a UTI, and at first I thought maybe it was the meds, but too coincidental that once I went to the bathroom the pain stopped. What do you think?

Thanks,
Janie

Hi Tracy!~ It IS Tracy, isn't it? I hope I have the right name with the screen name:)

How have you been? You ended up with an ileostomy, didn't you? Are you doing ok with it?? I lurk here from time to time but don't really have anything to add, so I mostly read. Was so sorry to hear about Rosemary passing away. So so sad. Lizzie and I are FB friends, so I see how many issues she's still having. I hope you're doing well!

Do you know what caused your blockages? I'm guessing and hoping it was the celery and carrots, but I really don't know. I've eaten them before. The trail mix is the only thing I hadn't had before, but I've never had a problem eating anything, so it was a shock. I've never been in so much pain for so long. It was horrible and I'm scared to death it will happen again!

I'm feeling better, but my abdomen is still so sore. I guess I've been really fortunate because since I started the miralax 2x a day I've been going. The surgery sure didn't turn out like I was hoping, but I guess it's better than taking laxatives once a week and being in misery until or even IF they decided to work.

I really don't eat much during the day. I drink miralax in the AM, and then 30 minutes later drink a blended coffee. I have no idea how or why that works, but it seems to really clean me out. Regular coffee doesn't work! The problem is that if I eat anything during the day other than maybe some yogurt or soup, my rectum gets so sore and full and I'm miserable until I take an enema or more miralax. So my schedule is miralax and coffee in AM, maybe some yogurt for lunch, and I have to take a lomotil to keep things from moving too quickly to my rectum. I eat dinner and so far I've been able to eat most anything. Then I drink miralax after dinner again and I go a little in the evening and start over the next morning. Days I don't have to go out in the afternoon or evening, I can eat early if I take a lomotil, but that only holds the food from getting to my rectum for about 4 or 5 hours. Once it hits the rectum I'm pretty uncomfortable until I take the miralax. It's a vicious cycle, but it works. I'm going to my GI Thursday for some advice though. I'm so tired all the time and I think it's because I'm not eating well. By the time I eat dinner I'm so hungry that I eat too much and a lot of times it's not the right things. I've thought over and over about an ileostomy, but I know that comes with issues, too. I just don't know what to do. We used to travel a lot more, but it's much more difficult now, especially if we go with friends. Trying to find blended coffees and having them ready in the morning, not being able to eat breakfast and lunch with friends, etc. My husband is great, and he understands as do my friends, but it's just not as much fun anymore.

I have two little granddaughters (almost 2 and 5) and that keeps me busy. I'm actually at their house keeping them today. They live an hour away, but I come over once a week to keep them. Having all boys, the girls are such a treat!!

Thanks for responding!! Are you on FB? I'd love to keep in touch:)

Janie

Post Edited (Janiepain) : 6/10/2014 9:14:04 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Tracy,

Wishing you well tomorrow! Hope surgery goes well and you're up and around again soon:). Also glad to hear you are having good luck with your ileostomy. If I decide to go that route, I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.

Keep me posted on how you're doing! So nice to chat again:)
Janie