I am suffering for 2 years now going onto 3 with severe constipation, severe bloating and severe trapped gas in my rectum. I feel everything in my butt. It literally feels like I have so much sitting there and my stools are soft. I go once in 2 weeks - a month and it all depends on when it wants to come out. I literally have tried diets including low Fodmap, excoriating , yoga, more water, more fiber, less fiber. I’ve tried literally all laxatives and nothing works on me. It only comes out when it wants. I’m in pain every single day. I literally probably feel good once a month just for a couple of hours. I don’t know what it is. They say it’s ibs but I don’t understand. I’ve done testings everything is normal but I’m not normal. My butt hurts everyday and I feel relieved as soon as it comes out. Stools are soft but it keeps building up because it won’t come out. I never have a form when it does come out but I’m severely constipated. This is very painful and I don’t know what to do and the bloat literally looks like I’m pregnant. I feel the poop in my rectum all day long and it’s very painful and uncomfortable ! I cannot live like this. Any suggestions ?
stools and bloat: I am suffering for 2 years now... - IBS Network
stools and bloat
Have you tried glycerine Suppositorys they may help you.I use them every now and then if I get really constipated.
the thing is I am constipated every single day like no joke every single day. People think I’m joking but I’m in pain everyday in my bed crying. Yes I’ve tried those suppositories! I’ve tried literally everything and nothing works that’s why I’m scared
Maybe you need to ask the doctor about this. There might be some way the muscles and/or nerve impulses aren't working the way they should. There are tests I think for that.
It's so weird to be constipated yet when you pass a bm, it's very soft. That's not the same as overflow diarrhea....well from what you described I don't think so? You might have spasms in the rectal muscles maybe..
yeah but what are spasms ? Because I actually feel stool there and trapped gas and it takes like a day or two to relieve the trapped gas and even when I do it comes right back in an hour and I’m in pain again. The stools are very soft not diarrahea but just soft like a mashed potato consistency. I’m sick and tired of this and I’m not getting no help. Everything is showing normal but trust me I am not normal. I hate this feeling so much and I just want to go back to normal. I have 2 years that I have not actually gone out or celebrated my birthday because of the pain . I can still eat though. I eat very well and I’m just so annoyed with this situation because I don’t want to live like this forever
I've been on methadone for 5yrs now and the past 3 years I've been having the same exact issues I know mine might be contributed to my meds so if your on any sort of meds look into it but everything you claim is same exact thing except my constipation is lumpy like balls and it only comes out when it wants to also it is so bad I'm so tired of having these issues with only occasional relief. I feel u ur not alone prayers to u
I mean, if muscles inside go into spasms, it might stop things getting out, including trapped gas. That would be painful. And though you can't go for ages, when you do, it's soft stool, so not like regular constipation really. Maybe more like something is having a hard time coming out. Tight internal muscles could do that.
Do you think your doctor would be any help? Or maybe your doctor isn't very good...I don't know. They're inclined to dump us once an IBS diagnosis is given. But we have a right to go back when needed and ask questions.
It must be horrible having this all the time.
that’s what I’m saying . They just don’t care and how can they prescribe me things for spasms because it’s so bad. I can never relieve myself and it’s not hard because I know the difference when it’s hard or soft. But it’s always soft. I changed hospitals and now I’m waiting to see what they can do because my last one was just telling me it’s ibs and there’s nothing we can do but there’s no right to leave a patient that complains about being in pain. I’m suffering everyday and they don’t care
I use a micro enema every day to shift my stool but it is hard lumps, I also have constant gas and bloat. Seems no end to it. Been over 2 years for me, I have a very bland diet chicken veg
But in the morning have some coffee which helps move it along with water. Hope you get some help soon
Yes... try drinking a large glass of water every hour throughout the day... and have chia seeds with it in the morning... with lemon... it will help a lot.. believe me.If not, please talk to your gp and ask about Macrogol..... I am on Macrogol now (due to sjogrens and no water in the bowel ie severe dehydration plus dysmotility... it is a game changer.. life changer.. I have a sachet am and pm with two bisacodyl (gunpowder as I call it..) at night.. and BOOM, my 60yrs of severe constipation with rabbit droppings at best has gone...). Plus stay off the broccoli, lamb and other stuff that I've identified give me agonising pain for hours. Hope you trial this. D
hi Have you been checked out for pelvic floor dysfunction such a rectalcele? This is a pouch that forms in the bowel before the rectum and makes it difficult to empty the bowel. It sounds like a bowel mobility problem if you are not passing for so long, don’t give up with the drs insist on more tests. If you are in the uk the Functional Gut clinic might be able to give advice but it is private not nhs.
hi so sorry to hear your situation, however mine is similar and also have suffered for 2-3 years. The only test that actually showed up for the medics to see as a problem was a transit study, which showed the transit time was slow, initially I found senna helped as it is a stimulant. The medics did not prescribe anything and I refused fybogel as I feared it would block me up further. I also found peppermint capsules helpful for the spasm type pain I used to get after a bowel movement. Trapped wind can still be a problem but a targeted massage on my abdomen can help it break up. I now only have a teaspoon of milled flaxseed on my cereal and usually go every day. No diet helped me , doctors and consultant tried but generally dismissive. I have now started Symprove which is expensive but worth a try and feel some improvement….but early days 🤞Very best wishes and hope you can find some answers soon, keep us updated. Mutley
Liquid paraffin is often effective when all else fails. The transit testing sounds a good idea - you need a good gastroenterologist, and a scan of the structure of your bowel. Also would be worth breath testing for methane SIBO. The NHS do offer breath testing now. If you have overgrowth of methane producing organisms (archaea) it can be very constipating, and then you need a course of antibiotics or herbal antimicrobials to get rid of them. Hope this helps.
I have had Ibs for 26 years but it changed to severe bloating gas constipation 2 & a half years ago doctor said ibs but I felt it was something else happening so eventually i went to a naturopath she did a blood sample under microscope which showed it was my liver was not functioning properly also it is fatty liver she prescribed bitter herbs & no grain dairy or processed foods & only good oils like olive coconut avocado, thought that might be an option for you to see a naturopath
I suffered (no hyperbole or drama. It can be hellish) for years and years and years. My gut controlled my life. Finally, I found 90% relief with a combo of low Fodmap, added daily fresh fruit and vegetables (daily kiwi, red peppers, fodmap amts of avocado-tomato-etc), very high daily doses of 25 mg tabs of OTC senna, at least 4 to 6 cups of water daily), and FODZYME enzymes ***. It took me two years of detailed journaling of intake and symptoms, yet I am, with much effort , living 90% free of pain, bloating, and misery and having daily bms most of the time. Beh. PS i do not know if this site allows email contact . My email is ken_barbara at yahoo
Have you tired milk of magnesia that always works for me there is no holding that in….but I agree with others it sounds like there is a kink in the rectum I had this due to endometriosis however it can be caused due to weak pelvic floor or many things. This can be diagnosed by an MRI proctogram, if you are under a gastro which you should be then they can easily order this via the nhs.
even that doesn’t work on me ! They haven’t found anything on me and I’m tired of living this way
have you had an mri proctogram?? How much of the milk of magnesia did you try taking??
this sounds totally awful for you Liv-a friend with ibs told me to not eat large meals so I do 3-4 small meals during the day and just a yogurt with probiotics 2 hrs before bed time also I try to walk around after I eat for 10-15 minutes and never lay down and sleep right after you eat-wait at least 2 hrs after eating -walking around during the day helps me a lot and since I started only doing small meals, the gas is minimal-used to blow up like a balloon- mine is fueled by anxiety more than food so starting on an anti-anxiety med has helped me sleep better and control my symptoms- unfortunately, everyone is different and there are no cut and dry answers- hope maybe some of this helps you
Dear Liv.. so sorry GP/NHS aren't truly helping you with this. Goodness it's severe. OK long story coming but I hope it will resonate/help.
I am a 60yr old sufferer of v bad constipation since 7yrs old. I hadn't gone to a gp about it until I could no longer stand it approx 4yrs ago.. because I was embarrassed. I don't (didn't!) like talking about bottom stuff.. but I should have. And you truly have to as you are in a very toxic situation - ie your bod and mind are affected rather adversely.. with toxin. I have a long time friend who I write to (she's far away) after "meeting" on here with similar stuff - and she was nearly as bad as you ie only having one poo a week. We should be going daily.. end of.
Anyway, I realised I was dehydrated severely due to my Sjogrens that was identified via rheumatology and ophthalmology etc.. and finally after going to my gp, getting a referral for urgent face to face NHS gastro but this didn't happen until last December (3yrs of phone consultations... in which I was diagnosed with iBS and put on ruddy FIBOGEL on top of my Bisacodyl laxatives.. - result = 2yrs of utter agony every night as my DRY BOWEL with a large lump of fibogel in my bowels pushed around our very long GI tract by the gunpowder Bisacodyl... can you imagine... hours of whimpering in pain).
So I went to a private gastro recommended by a friend who had put up with an NHS gastro I was about to talk to (again) for 4yrs and went private which was a breakthrough for her.. so I saw this private gastro too - she identified that the problem was no water in my bowel due to my sev dehydration (despite drinking about 4litres water a day as permanently thirsty but unable to absorb it due to Sjogrens.. and prescribed Macrogol... but continue taking the bisacodyl... WELL! This changed my life! Nearly 60 yrs at that point of messed up insides, plus stretched colon and wotnot from the FiboGEL effect.. Macrogol is a sachet of salts that draw water into the bowel - but you MUST drink lots of water with it all day (should be any way, and many of those on here's life would change if they made this change ie pint of water on waking, plus 2litres in day ... and a friend has added a tablespoon of chia seeds plus fresh lemon in morning - and has gone from once a week in agony to... every morning... having a poo! But she is also on laxatives and a Macrogol type drug as was like you ie BAD. The merits of drinking of water every morning on waking ie a pint... and then throughout the day (we all need 2.5litres especially those talking about dysmotility.. because the bowel and food in it must have water in it to move everything around.. makes sense eh?
So. Please will you try the pint of water tomorrow before eating anything, so it makes your body start working... and then have a large glass of water every hour through day always (put a load of reminders on your phone if you have to and post-it's everywhere.. because this will change things - I promise you). It's that simple sometimes.. but chia seeds are weird in that they form some gelatinous stuff around them once in water or inside us...as long as we drink water.. and that really helps the bowels work.. and plus it's full of Omega 3 so great for our bodies and brains.. and adding fresh lemon to it will also clear through the system.. I bet you you'll be back on here in a week saying er....... things are a-moving! They can't fail to.. honest. I do hope all this makes sense.
But... having said all that, I'm going to back track...... I REALLY feel you need an urgent appt with your GP... as it sounds like you are almost impacted.. The Macrogol has a way to use it with severe constipation.. you use about 8 sachets over a one day period.. and well, you will have quite a movement... many. BUT as you are in such a truly bad state, sorry to stress this, I do think you need urgent assessment/prescription via GP.. or even A&E.. I feel quite strongly about this.. OK? Not to scare you but you are in a bit of a situation internally that needs careful assessment and advice... if it really is sometimes once a month.
The poo in your rectum means you may have a prolapse situation... is rectum pushing outside your poo hole? I have had this after another op (lots going on) couple decades back.. after tons of opioids making my usual severe constipation even worse and hadn't gone for 5 days.. so I used a suppository and split my anus... so I don't think a good idea to use them. You could probably do with a an enema for now.. to get you back on track.. and then please bring up macrogol and bisacodyl.. it is clear you need to drink lots more water... and don't eat any white bread or similar, as that has no roughage in it.. so will be like eating cement (as was taking Fibogel.. cos it formed a lump in my desert-like bowel.. and cannot go anywhere without water inside the bowel... ) I know I'm going on here.. but I am a very experienced sufferer who has gone through it all... I had an enema in hospital after a mastectomy because they wouldn't let me up my Bisacodyl laxatives as I knew I had to.. as had had two general anesthetics (issues led to me being reopened within 4 days) and tons of codeine.. a known blocker upper. That was appalling as didn't need to happen.
Please take all this info in.. re-read maybe. You know we all need a healthy diet ie veg, fruit, fish (or whatever if vegan/veggie) seeds, nuts etc diet.. with lots of water... but after you've been assessed medically. I'm not a doctor, no, but I am an intelligent, very healthy eater, with years of going through the medical system and out the other end (excuse the pun 
and now realise why was always constipated = I have dysmotility and complete dehydration, inside and out. So, my advice:
(1) Pint of water in the am on rising, before anything else, hopefully with fresh lemon and large spoon of chia seeds,
(2) 2-4 litres of water a day, broken throughout the day and prob stop couple of hours before bed so not up all night peeing (as I have to drink all time and take the Macrogol before bed with laxative - but you can take the Macrogol anytime)
(3) no white bread/rice/pastries etc... as have no nutrients in anyway, but will block you up - instead have wholemeal bread and whole rice, lots of veg, salad, fruit everyday (not just bananas - kiwis are brilliant for poo... as is pineapple which is full of digestive enzymes, oranges, mango (not good for IBS so avoid perhaps), apricots, peaches, pears - brilliant for laxative like effect), and fish and whatever else healthy, large salads.. granola, and if you need to add squash to your water to make it palatable (I use a bit of ginger beer) - oh and maybe try crystallised ginger... fab for stomach and intestine pain... It's all out there.. the info.. and in the end it all makes sense.. our bodies are our cars.. and we have to put the right stuff in it, and keep it well oiled and watered to have it going well.
MONDAY - GP. Urgent. IMHO.
Let us know how you get on? D
the thing with me is that my poop is sticky/soft when it comes out and it is usually 2 weeks - a month to come but not all of it. I still feel like I have more so I’m always feeling poop in my rectum every single day and as it builds up it gets more and more painful. My bloat is very severe and I’ve tried everything: they’re not taking me serious at all. I have no form when it comes out and I can push for so long and it will only feel like I’m pushing air but there is poop in there and it won’t come out. I’m tired of these issues. I don’t know what it is but it’s affecting me everywhere
Well its dysmotility by sounds of things and need for more water and roughage in diet probably... Not going more than once every 2 weeks is very bad indeed. Ask for an urgent referral to Gastro... and don;'t take no for an answer. Hope you can follow what I said... and do the stuff I suggested.. /all the best to you. D
Hey Liv - how goes it? What is happening since all these answers on here and also my advice to start drinking water all day and also to rattle your ruddy GP's cage and get you seen pronto! Here's hoping........ D
hey they’re trying to give me antidepressants/nerve pain medication but I don’t know how I feel about this. The constipation is so severe. It’s throughout the whole day all day. I never get one break and what is a prolapse? What do you mean my rectum falling out ? I strain but no poop comes out and when I finally do actually poop I feel so good . They are going to do a defecography on me soon but I’m so scared they aren’t going to find anything and let me live in this pain.
Hey Liv -
I'm sorry to hear you've not had any improvements. Have you tried my suggestions? Water all day is essential... And I have started having freshly squeezed lemon in warm water (a very large glass) on waking and this has helped with the bloating too.
I was on Pregabalin (similar to Gabapentin) a couple of months ago.. is this what they are trying you on? Hopefully not as certainly isn't to help with GI tract pain and constipation.. well, not that I've heard of. It made me very bloated, I put on half a stone in 2 wks (I'm slim) and gave me lower leg oedema... so I'm not a fan. I was on it for my full body muscuskelatal pain.
Prolapse is indeed the rectum falling out due to straining. I'm 60 now and been doing that since a young child.. but it finally went after an operation in a related area, getting hugely blocked up with the codeine they gave for pain and the general anaesthetic, then putting suposetaries up myself to get rid of the cement stuck in my rectum.. which exploded and ripped. Was never the same.
What does you poo look like when it comes out? Rabbit droppings? Have a look at the Bristol Stool Chart on line and make sure you tell your clinicians which one/s you have..
I can't believe they're putting you on antidepressants and nerve pain meds for constipation..but no doubt you are down if full of toxin from poo... so so bad for us.. and yes, when you do go it's like a huge release... and a complete change to how we feel altogether. But very glad to hear they are going to do a defecography (never heard of that). So you are under Gastroenterology.. good. Just looked it up and sounds totally perfect. Once that is done they will hopefully believe you and get you on the right meds. If you are dehydrated (which sounds like you are) do discuss going on `Macrogol which draws water in to the bowel... it changed my life.. the poo can then be moist enough, and the actual bowel too, for the poo to move around your miles of intestines and leave the body! But if dysmotility is also the problem (and the two go hand in hand in my surely!) then you will have laxatives too.. I'm on the Bisacodyl.. two a night and a sachet of macrogol am and pm. Sorted. I can't believe they've not tried you on this.. but maybe they are concerned you'll split something.
Let me know if you've discussed the aforementioned with them, and if you are drinking tons of water throughout the day (ie 2.5-3 litres) everyday and also have a good diet with lots of vegetables, citrus, kiwi etc fruit every day, wholemeal bread, nuts and seeds, wholegrain rice and pasta (white, refined anything will just be like eating cement, but up to you if you do...). If you're not doing this, then sadly, anyone can get very bad constipation, depending on activity levels - and if they have tons of coffee and cigarettes as they are known to make things move.. but hardly good for one, of course.
Looking forward to hearing back, good luck.
D
they are trying to put me on Gabapentin but I said no and now they’re trying to put me on duloxetine.. I don’t know if that’s going to help and also on the bristol stool chart, my poop is not hard. It comes out in soft blobs, no form at all . It’s not hard. It just sits in my rectum and I cannot take it out or strain it out. It is so painful because more just keeps adding and it stays there until like a month later. I’m in so much pain and the pain I feel is only in my sigmoid colon/rectum and lower back that’s it. No stomach pain besides bloating. I have tried everything and nothing works at all. When I take Dulcolax pills, it helps move the next day or two days but it’s diarrahea and the stomach pain is terrible so I can’t take that all the time because mine is literally constant all day 24/7 I feel poop and it’s been almost 3 years now. No answer . I drink tons of water. I eat fruits to make me go. I try everything . Nothing is working. My poo is very moist
OK Liv, very helpful. I am a lifelong constipation suffered, so really really want to try and help you.
Hmm.. so it sounds like dysmotility then.. and your rectum has possibly got problems doing what it should. When are you due for the test? Can't come quick enough by sounds of things.. and will REALLY help show what's happening for you..
What else do you eat? What does your daily diet look like?
How much water do you actually drink?
I really thought I was drinking enough... and I truly wasn't. I'm sure you are... but I would say try and drink a large glass once an hour.. and lemon in the morning first thing might help... I can tell you are at the stage of trying anything! I did a test on myself by filling up a litre bottle of water, knowing I need to drink 3 of them a day.. I was probably only having 1.5 initially.. well, many years ago.. as been gluggling it back for a decade now as I have Sjogrens and this is all about constant thirst and dry eyes.. but also dry everything inside and out.
Duloxetine is actually Prozac, as you no doubt know. That's quite a leap to give someone with constipation, but... they presumably understand it from you that you are very depressed? When you say you are very down, does your mood improve HUGELY after you've had a poo? Have you told them this? Or are you generally quite down? Constipation certainly affects mood... and there are tons of articles and videos on Zoe (or anywhere these days on relevant sites) to explain how the (bad) gut/biome affects mood without fail. Toxins in your body, no energy, and unable to do anything but want to poo is very bad for us, of course.
Hope OK to try and help like this.
Dx
So I don’t know why they’re giving me an antidepressant as I’m not depressed. Yes I’m upset that I can’t poop because I’m in pain every single day but I feel like anybody would be upset if they feel poop in their rectum but can’t get it out or have an urge to go. It just sits there. And trust me I’ve tried everything you’ve said. Nothing helps. This sucks. I’m only 22 . It started since I was 20. I want to be normal again. I drink about 4-6 16 ounce bottles a day and I’m only 110 pounds
OK so are you going to decline to take the Fluoxetine also? I have to say I was prescribed it for my Raynauds (white fingers no blood etc) and it gave me horrific nightmares. I'd never take it again, and thankfully my usual medication for Raynauds came available again so I didn't have to. Not sure they're hearing you if you say you're not depressed..
You just need that test to be done which is key... and hold off on any medication they prescribe for things you don't have ie depression.. and gabapentin is also for anxiety/mood but also for nerve pain, as you know.
Hoping the test is very soon. If you can take Bisacodyl but have dysmotility and a very dry bowel it will definitely be excruciating as it's like gunpowder and if you have boulders in your intestine it will just push them through and we have a very long GI tract. I used to take it at night but at the same time as IBS pills.. which I only read very far down the line that that is the worst combination. But in the end it was due to my very dry bowel, taking fibogel at the same time, as the laxative, and the laxative pushing the boulder of fibogel and anything in its path round slowly - so I had about 3hrs of agony a night. I just hope you get that test asap, as they truly need that to see what the issue is.
So sorry you're going through this.. but sounds like a eureka moment is nigh with that test.
Fingers crossed for you Liv.. please let us know how it goes eh?
I take bisadocly here and there but it doesn’t work till either the next day or the day after and I have diarrahea all day and my stomach hurts so bad from it that’s why I don’t like that and also it still doesn’t empty me out completely even if I did diarrahea all day . I still have more
This might be interesting to read... joinzoe.com/learn/gut-brain...
Hi so I ended up doing a defecography at another hospital and they found intra-anal intussusception and 2.5 cm Rectocele ! What do you think of that ? Could that be the cause ?
Hey! Well what did they think/say/advise?? They should be telling you. I have no idea what those things are. I shall Google! 😆
Right - straight away I found this... Try to get yourself up to speed on all these things as then you can have an informed decision on what treatment they suggest... And... mayoclinic.org/diseases-con... My team think I have this... probably both.. but it isn't the reason I can't poo... mine is dysmotility (ie the bowel doesn't do the natural moving out of poo action without help ie Movacol and Bisacodyl). I think I said I have rectal prolapse too. So...... I will leave you to have a good ole read up and search for more info on line if you need. And when is your next appointment to discuss what to do next?
oops meant to put this one in for the Rectocele mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...
sounds like pelvic floor dysfunction or Obstructed defecation disorder . Both can cause constipation and your symptoms ..Also IBS C ?
look up pelvic floor dysfunction as I have suffered similar to you and found help from the relevant exercises. Good luck
N.b. Turmeric also helps
I use acupressure the v between my right hand finger and thumb. I use my left hand thumb to massage it. It can help your bowel to move. Amazing but true
please try going gluten free for a month - you’ve got the symptoms I had but this has worked - I also went lactose free as well but that’s up to you - definitely try gluten free. Good luck 🤞
0h, poor you. I really do sympathise with you because I have been there. Folks didn't believe me when I said I only moved my bowels a couple of times a month!! Apparently normal is anywhere between 3 times a day (my husband) and 3 times a week. My situation is different because I have MS and through testing it was found that my brain can't talk to my intestines and my anus can't coordinate itself with my colon. Plus very slow transit. Anyway that aside I feel the solution may be same for you. I irrigate daily. It offers wonderful relief . It can be be a tie sometimes and going away is like packing for military manoeuvres but as I say the relief is wonderful and pretty amazing .
I accessed this through The Pelvic Floor team. Really hope you find relief.
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