Posted 12/13/2015 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Don't read any further, if a strongly worded and graphic story would offend or bother you.
I hadn't gone for a #2 in about 3 days. I take 500-750 mg. of stool softener every day, plus Miralax every night to help myself. Between chronic obstruction issues, and being on opiads long term, I sometimes have issues, but not usually at the severe level.
Yesterday afternoon, I had come home, felt all cramped up and needing to go, but couldn't. So I took a full dose of Milk of Magnesia, something I hate doing, but have to from time to time, as well as another couple of stool softeners. Then I went and laid down for my normal afternoon nap, as I was totally wiped out.
In less than an hour, it was about 4 PM., started having severe stomach spasms, like when you really need to go but can't. They were unlike any I have ever experienced before. Wife was at work, I was alone. Over the next 2 hours, they got worse and worse, pain level 7-8 if not more, and what was weird, they kept coming like contractions, about every 60-90 seconds, then they would let off.
By 8 PM, four hours later, they were getting worse, called my wife, debated about going to ER, so afraid of another major bowel obstruction. I had just seen my surgeon 48 hours before, we discussed this scene, what should I do? When do you know if you should go to ER, etc. And now it was playing out.
By 9 PM, spasms were hitting about every 30-45 seconds, pain level 9, going out of my mind in pain, and no bowel relief. Called wife again, she left work 2 hours early, I felt bad about that, but was getting scared for my life. She put a suppository into me to see if it would help on the other end, but to be honest, only made things worse. Had me drink a hot beverage, a trick they do where she works with the old folks. Didn't help.
We debated next 2 hours, hoping it would resolve itself, but it got worse. At midnight, decision was made. I was in complete meltdown and total panic, honestly thought I was dying a painful death. Pain level was a full 10 and was getting hit at least every 30 seconds. I had to lay down in the back seat of her car, couldn't even sit up. Felt bad for her, because I was screaming out loud in pain every time a new spasm hit, I know it was terrible for her. At that point, I would have gladly died, just being honest, to be relieved of such severe pain.
Get to ER, they didn't have any rooms or beds. Had to sit in wheelchair in lobby for over an hour, in screaming uncontrolled pain. Finally got into ER room and on a bed and at least able to lay on my side which helped some. We spent from right after midnight, to 7 AM this morning in the ER. All they did, was to do some X-rays (no obstruction indicated), took some blood (never was told results), and finally, a contrasted CT, also showing no indicating of a blockage. ***?
Over the hours laying there in pain, I believe the suppository may have helped in the end, some leakage came out of me on the table, and the spasms lessened over the course of a few hours. Yes, I have been blocked up before, but never had 8-10 hours of continuous stomach/bowel spasms before. Doctor said I didn't even look particurally backed up, they didn't even offer any kind of enema. 4 hours after entering ER, they finally gave me 2 MG. of Morphine via IV, it helped a little, but not much, I am normally on way more pain med than that on a daily basis.
We didn't get to bed till 8 AM this morning, been weak and achy the entire day. We don't regret going to the ER, because based on what was going on, it could have been a life or death situation. Pain level was so high and so frequent, it would have been foolish to tough it out longer (had already been 8 hours). Felt so bad for my wife, she had been up since 7 AM yesterday, and then had to deal with this.
Just when I think I have experienced every level of severe pain, I had to learn a new lesson, trust me, there are degrees of hell, even after dealing with pain for over 5 1/2 years now, this level was a new one for me. Worse part, no real medical reason. In a way, I wished one of the scans had shown something wrong, that would have made more sense.
Worse also, is I am becoming so traumatized by pain, wife has noted that its like a form of PTSD from all I have been through. Now every time I start to get blocked up, I am going to freak out from this experience.
Please continue to pray for me, I honestly can't deal much more with this life I have been living, so afraid of what might happen next time, is it going to be even worse? Why can't a single doctor get this figured out. I don't really blame the meds, I have been on most of them for over 5 years, and constipation has been a low level issue over the years, not like my doses have been increasing. Just really scared and afraid at the moment. If you didn't read this thread this far, I don't blame you. It's a tough read, but trust me, it was much tougher living through the past 24 hours. It was just this time last night, that I was standing up, shaking all over in pain and beating my fist in the air and on the wall begging for relief as wave after wave of intense pain wracked my body.
Please remember me, I am at the end of my toughness, my endurance, my will power, etc.