Morning,
I had the following posted under "Digestive Disorders" and it was suggested that I post it here. Hopefully someone (anyone) can offer me some advice or info.
I am a 37 yr old female who has had several surgeries (about 5) for endometriosis, including a hysterectomy. I have been experiencing bloating, gas, cramps and constipation since my first surgery. (In 2000) I have tried several herbal "remedies" (i.e. taio he cleanse, bowel cleanse, coffee enemas...) I finally went to my gyno and she thought that the pain may be adhesions. She did a laproscopy, but all was clean. She directed me to a doc specializing in internal med. Since I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago (I had a hemorrhoidectomy) he didn't see a need to repeat the procedure. (My age, no family history of colon cancer) He prescribed miralax and citrucel for the constipation. (and cramps) I followed up with him this week and told him I had good news and bad news. Good news: I am having bowel movements everyday or every other day and my stool is (not to be gross) is thin and soft. Bad news: the cramps are worse...it even is painful to put pressure on my lower abdomen. He took me off the miralax, but said to stay on the citrucel. Well, I am still having the pain. I can't eat fried foods, red meat, or chocolate because those foods make the cramps more intense. I am eating mostly veggies, fish, pork, and cereals. Oh, I also take synthroid because I am hypothyroid.
Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
PS: I am up so early cuz of the cramps. They are really starting to become more than an annoyance.

Tweetie,
It's not that early here!!

Several things that you may need. Take a probiotic supplement that you can buy at a health food store and take a calcium /magnesium supplement.

Your intestinal bacteria may be out of balance and needs to be re-colonized. Yogurt or Kefir may also help.
Lack of either calcium or magnesium can cause cramping as well as spasms anywhere in the body.

God Bless---Harry

Thank you Harry. Will give it a try.
Take care and God Bless.

PS: My original posting was around 4am, which is early for me. :-)

Hi,
Anytime I read of someone with chronic and/or severe abdominal pain that has not had a 'very recent' colonoscopy, it get's my attention.

You need to be seen immediately by a gastroenterologist not an internist or any other speciality. Chronic pain anywhere is your body saying to you it needs immediate and qualified treatment.

I did nothing with the abdominal pain, intermittent constipation and diarrhea for 4 months but listen to my internist who had me on a tranqulizer for my "nervous stomach". I was on a liquid fiber drink and gentle diet. One day, July 4th to be exact, my colon perforated and the resulting exploratory surgery(nobody knew what was wrong) took 5 hours. I had a section of my colon removed and a temporary colostomy, in the hospital for several weeks and 3 more abdominal surgeries related to it.

Had I been given a colonoscopy in the beginning, it could have been cleared up with antibiotics, radical diet change and stress reduction techniques.

Please stay away from any type of colonic cleansing. When you don't know precisely what is the problem, that kind of procedure is useless and can be fatal. If you had a block and did that, well, you can imagine the howcome?

It's your life, but take it from someone who paid a big price by not seeing the specialist, a g.i., for this issue.
Best wishes, Toree