trying to fix it on my own. It is not working. My stomach is sticking out so bad now that I think it might pop - it's been over a month .... I can take 4 laxitives at night and not have even a little bowel movement the next morning. I do enemas and stuff but only a 10th of what I eat is coming out. somthing is seriously wrong..... I think I might die if this is not fixed soon and I don't have insurance so going to a doctor is not an option. Can anyone give me any suggestions? Please?

Sound like you are having a fairly awful time. You have my sympathy.

However although i have been through a lot I don't think that I or anyone on this board will have the necesary medical expertise to give you advice on prognosis or treatment. I have included below some things you can try until you are able to get medical help.

If you cannot afford to see a doctor at the moment, perhaps you can seek medical aid on-line at websites that may have qualified doctors.

I don't know how your health system works in the US, but there must be medical facilities that can give you help.

If you have a blocked bowel then it is most probably for a reason, often inflamation causes the bowel to effectively close, or you could have a strangulated intestine - very difficult for anyone to diagnose without seeing you. You could even have an appendixitus.

If you think that you may have a partial blockage then try to eat soft food which do not contain much fibre until you get medical treatment. Do not use any laxatives which stimulate your bowel as this will put it under more stress. Drink plenty of water and aviod caffiene and sugary fizzy drinks.

I am sure that there will be some laxatives that you can take to help. Picolax if you can get it is used in the preparation of the bowel prior to colonoscopy (putting a flexible camera inside the bowel) and is very effective. the other laxitive I haveused is called Movicol - this is quite gentle and very effective. Either of these two will require that you are very close to a tolilet after taking them as they can be allitle explosive. Milk of Magnesia is another laxative wihich works by drawing water into the bowel and helping to softern stools.

If your bowel is going into spasams the you can get from a chemist or pharmacy anti spasmodics - athough you shoudl not use these unless you have seem a medical professional, as they can slow the bowel even further.

Do not take ibroprofen under any circumstances as it acts as an irritant to the bowel - any pain relief it gives you will be shortlived and followed by a lot more disconfort.

Ultimately if ou have a partial blockage you will need steriods. If it is something else then the treatments will of course vary.

Updated - you could try this link http://www.ccfa.org for help and advice.

Good luck

Mischa

Hi Pk

You really need to get to a doctor as soon as possible.

I have suffered from a bowel obstruction and twisted bowel, each time i had to get emergency treatment. The hospital made me nil by mouth for 10 days, was on IV fluids and complete bed rest. Under no circumstances would they give me anything to help me go to the toilet as they said it can make the problem alot worse........perforated (sp) bowel. They made me nil by mouth to give my bowel and my digestive system a rest. Fortunately after 6 days my bowel corrected itself and a few days later they started giving me laxatives.

Please get professional help as soon as possible, you need it. Does the US have a system for people who don't have insurance?

You HAVE to go to the ER and just deal with the financial complications later. There are payment options you can figure out afterwards. There's nothing you can do to fix this at home and your life is at stake. Go to the emergency room NOW.

Some hospitals have to give a certain amount of free care if you qualify. That would be something to look into. Also, most hospitals would be willing to set up a payment plan, that probably would be less a month than paying a large insurance bill.
I wouldn't let a problem get worse and worse. At least go to the ER and figure out what is wrong. From there you can decide what you want to do and what you don't.

Lori

Hi you guys, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your replies. Someone at work told me to get epson salt and it would solve the problem but you guys are all saying DON'T take anything like a laxative because it could make things worse. In America we have TERRIBLE hospitals for the uninsured. Mostly they are full of illegal immigrants from Mexico that come here for free medical care. Several years ago I went to one and waited 18 hours to see a doctor and he was so new at his job he had no idea what my problem was and just sent me home. Also, in the US, you cannot buy health insurance if you have a bad medical history like I do, they just turn you down. I have been turned down by all insurance carriers because I am a high risk (long story) Im not, but they think I am. The ONLY way I can get medical insurance is through work and my job only offers me medical insurance after 6 months on the job and I have only been there 4 months. Well now that I have told you about how lousy our medical situation is here in the US, I would like to ask any of you ... should I not take the epson salt ??? I was also told to try a high colonic (spelling) where they shoot water up your bum and that could flush out a blockage ... anyone here think that is a good idea before going to an ER? Any advice is appreciated and THANK YOU SO MUCH for your replies. An embarrasing problem but what can I do .....

In the US even there are clinics you can go to and even hospitals that have to see you if you are in pain or having a issue... have you tried mild of magnesia??? I had a small surgery last year and after got soooo constipated for the pain pills I was in so much pain, called my dr at 3am, I took about 4* spoons full every 20 mins, and I went finally and whew I could breathe again.. if you dont go after that, Id go to the ER.
I had too tried laxatives and they did nothing for me.

good luck

You really need the Er

If you have got a partial blockage and you take laxatives it can put that much pressure on your bowel you can end up having a perforated (sp) bowel which can kill you as toxics leak into your system. Im not trying to scare you or say this will happen but you need medical help.