Life is Hel*....help. - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Smile4uhun · 01-04-2004, 12:37 AM

For the last 9 months or so I have been dealing with agony. Living every day is excruiating. When I first started with symptoms, Dr.'s thought it was a large hernia that I had removed, the symptoms didn't stop, I knew before it was removed that it wasn't, I knew my body, but felt they were better qualified to tell me it was my hernia.

I have horrible constipation beyond words, at first bearable, I controlled it was stool softners, but now I am up to 3 Zelnorn tablets a day-it now longer works. I go sometimes up to a week without a BM, even with higher fiber and prescription fiber stuff GI Dr. gives. I either am sitting horribly trying to eliminate rock hard BM's or a rush of diahhrea from so many Zelnorm tablets. I am on Phenobarb for cramping, it no longer works, 2 tabs every 6 hours. The abdominal pain is constant 24 hours a day, never stops anymore. I feel horrible, the bloating, the pain...so bad that I need to stay lying still on the couch most days.

A new development the day before yesterday I found a small bit of blood in my rock hard stool, then yesterday I found white mucous (sorry if so gross or graphic) in yet another rock hard stool.

Stress irritates my pain...my depression has gotten worse, I am on several medications for it, but it doesn't stop. As we speak I am in agony. Living this way for nearly a year has changed me, I feel angry and sad and tired of pain, tired of living my life in bed or on the couch at 34. Over the last months I have begun drinking a lot, my bf is worried, my family is worried and so am I, but it seems at times it is the only time I don't feel pain.

My GI Dr. told me the other day that as of the moment he is giving me the best treatment he can until my Colonoscopy. I get one on January 15 what if the answers don't come up? Someone tell me what this is. It doesn't seem to match up to IBS..cannot live my life like this if it's IBS...there aren't many treatments that I know that stops this 100%. it seems as though it's something else, I am at a total loss, I just don't know anymore.....

It's horrible to admit, but I admit sometimes that I wish it were something worse only because then i would know. I What do you know out there? Is anyone else living like this daily and if you are what do you have....please, help, I am desperate...

Smile4uhun · 01-04-2004, 08:32 AM

Can't believe that I haven't heard anything from anyone...it's hopeless.

nyxin · 01-04-2004, 08:59 AM

it is not hopeless hun, you just posted that when everyone is asleep.

first of all i would like to say that i am very very sorry for what you are going through. i have been through some MAJOR health issues myself so i know how difficult just getting through one day can be.

i wanted to comment on ALL of the medication you are on as i too am on a variety. sometimes doctors can't seem to take their heads out of their butts long enough to look at all the medication you are on. i would do a search on each one and if more than one brings up constipation then i would start to look in that direction.

as far as the blood in the stools, it is probably from a hemmeroid (sp?) because of your constant straining. it sounds to me like getting a colonoscopy is a great idea. i had to get a barium enema. it was awful. they say that a colonoscopy is 95% conclusive and you can be sedated for it.

i had a lot of complications with my pregnancy and birth and i ended up with a rare colon infection that is usually fatal. but here i am. i have a lot of anxiety because i got so sick and i am afraid of it comming back. i think that my anxiety plays a big role in all of my on going problems.

as far as you go, i think it is great that you are trying to figure out what is going on. please know that the colonoscopy will help get you those answers. the prep you have to do isn't so fun, but once you get all cleaned out i bet you will feel great.

as far as the drinking goes, i would hate to see you drown the pain and problem away. i know you reach a point that any numbing factor is greatly needed. just remember that it dehydrates you, which for what your symptoms are is a bad thing.

i wish i had a better answer for you, but i would start looking at the medication you are on, to see if a side effect is constipation.

rfriend · 01-04-2004, 11:00 AM

Being constipated so much is obviously not good for you. I know one thing that can result from chronic constipation, diverticular disease. Another sign of this is bloody and mucus on/in the stool. It is a good thing you are going to have a colonnoscopy soon, sounds like you are in a lot of pain. If it is diverticular disease it will show up with the test.

I have this and it is actively infected so it is called diverticulitis. I can relate to you, because this has made me confined to my bed for quite a while, and I too am so tired of feeling this way. About two weeks ago I noticed that my slightly formed stool was covered with white mucus, turns out I have a very large abcess form and my stool was covered with pus.

Its not hopeless and you are not alone! I hope that everything works out and they are able to make a diagnosis so they can treat your symptoms and help you with your pain.

Best of luck!
RFriend.

Jenetti · 01-04-2004, 04:57 PM

Youre not alone sweetie!
There are several of us in severe pain, scared and havent recieved any answers from our doctors. I ended up in the hospital over the holidays with severe pain, and dehydration from not eating or drinking cause of the pain. Ive had several tests, cat scan, xrays, blood work and other than being anemic everything came back normal. I was admitted , given fluids and antibiotics thru iv for a few days then sent home with pain pills and a med for bowel spasms.
Still here hurting, no take that back. Im still HURTING, still waiting for a JAN 20th appt with a GI doc so he can schedule me later for a colonoscopy. So thats another 16 days before my appt PLUS however longer by the time he sets up the colonoscopy. Am i suppose to just HURT this bad for that much longer?? IVe had this since THanksgiving! Goodness cant imagine what YOUVE been going thru for almost a year. Hang in there hon. Hopefully we'll get answers soon.
Jen