Experience? Ideas?

Ok, this might be all over the place, long,  and even though TMI doesn't exist here....it's gonna come close.

I am chronically constipated from the calcium supplements.  I know it's the calcium because when I have gone off of it due to running out or what have you, bowels go back to regular.  I take colace with each dose to try to combat it's effects.  Most of the time that seems to work.  But lately, the only way I can describe it, is even though I go every day...I have had this "feeling" that not everything is out.  But nothing else happens, so I've just kind of let it go by considering I had been going every day.

Tuesday night/Wed morning at work about 4am out of seemingly no where I got these horrid abdominal pains.  I had woke up fine, ate all day my normal stuff (yogurts, ricotta cheese, a salad, etc) with no problems.  It felt as though my insides were being pulled and there was a burning quality to it.  Luckily we were slow...so I didn't do much.  I was offered to go home, but it was such a similar quality to my bowel obstruction, I wanted to stay at work in case that if it got to that point, I would be in the ER anyway.  I had a BM at work....it was solid but came out without to much of an issue.

On the way home, I bought some suppositories and some miralax, remembering the post about I think Melanie having really bad pain and being told she was severely constipated even though she went every day.  Used the suppository, had another large BM, took the miralax and went to bed still in pain.   Went to bed about 8:30

Woke up at 10a as if NOTHING had happened.  No pain, no nausea, no nothing.  Was hungry, ate something...still no pain no nothing.  Went back to bed for the day, woke up, was FINE.  Ate breakfast, snacks, drank all my water blah blah blah.  Oddly enough, about 3:15 it happened again.  Not NEARLY as bad, but definately there.  Again, a burning pain like my intestines were being pulled

Finished work (this time didn't say anything and we were busy so.....), came home.  Felt like I needed to poop but couldn't so used the suppository....had a BM but not like yesterdays.  The pain is subsiding, but not gone.

Could this just be some extra constipation trying desperately to work itself out?  I'm more concerned because of my history with bowel obstructions - but it happening two nights in a row and subsiding on it's own doesn't make complete sense for that to be the cause.  I was also thinking something along the lines of a twisting bowel or something.....

And yes, I know...call the doc obviously.  Which I will, but just thought I'd get some opinions anyway.......

Hi Pam -

I don't have experience with pain or anything like that, but I wondered if you supplemented with Magnesium?  I read on one of the boards that Magnesium helps counteract constipation associated with taking large doses of calcium.  I started taking 3 a day (recommended dosage on bottle) and rarely have problems.

I know it' not helpful info. for your current problem, but maybe it's something you can look into.

Lisa

Hmmmm.....no, I don't take mag and that makes perfect sense considering one of the constipation remedies we use (and they sell OTC) in the ER is Magnesium Citrate.  Definately worth looking into.  Thanks!

I get these pains when I get too bloated - usually as a result of too much artifical sweetener! I have found that a few prunes a day keeps me regular - and they taste good and are good for you. They come individually wrapped these days so you can pack them in your lunch or whatever.

I often having this feeling of not being "empty" after a BM (wait till you get pregnant - it gets WORSE!).

Hope you feel better!

Liz

Yea...I had been using the individually wrapped prunes for a little while there....just haven't bought any because I was "tired" of them....should probably go back to that, huh?  Haven't had to much artificial sweetener lately....since I had so much of the crap lying around here during the holidays and my "extended" holiday season....I wanted to lay off of those types of food in general.  The most I've had is the 1/4 of the baked apple at your house, and 2 sf choc covered strawberries that night at Nicole's house.

Thanks!

Liz, are those the ones they advertise on TV all the time? They actually look good to me now (I never would have eaten a prune pre-op) but I was wondering how much sugar is in them?? Raisins and craisins have been out of my diet because they have a lot of sugar.

They do have sugar - I don't remember the amount - but it's not added, it's natural I believe.  And even if it's not....I know I do ok with 3 of them.  I know you are a bit sensitive to sugar...so maybe try one and see how you do?  they are VERY tasty!

I love to put ground flax in my oatmeal. That is a good way to stay regular. It sounds to me like you just had some hard stool that had to work its way out. are you drinking enough water? That is the fastest way to " bad times" in the bathroom for me

I also have the problem of not feeling empty sometimes.  But, I think, like Liz, it's moreso after eating too much artificial sweetener.  Yesterday, I was in all kinds of pain.  I had some stress in my day (no really) and of course went to the brownies and peanut butter balls.. both SF, but both artificial.  They are all now safely stored in the back of the freezer and I  have a new attitude on life today!

If the suppository is not cleaning you out, then best bet is of course to call the doc to be sure it is nothing serious.

Boy I could have almost written your post for the way I've been feeling the past 2 weeks - I haven't changed anything in my eating and vitamin regime so I'm not sure what's going on with my body, but I also feel like I still have to go more even after I've 'gone' - I have noticed a bit more constipation than usual so I'm taking a colase every other day to help things along - I know the stress of straining to good isn't good for anybody, especially us.

I've been wondering if I'm not having some type of after-effect from being sick altho it seems to be hanging on - I've been feeling nauseaus at times in the morning before I get food into my pouch (no, I'm NOT pregnant), and when I do eat I feel very full very fast - and bloated.

Maybe some kind of weird little bug going around? I'm hoping that with the softener I'm taking now it gets me back to where I was because I rarely got constipated and had no bathroom issues at all. But this severe cramping is almost like period pain, and that sucks.

I might try those prunes Liz was talking about - I've seen them advertised a bunch but I was always afraid they had too much sugar? I'll check them out next time I'm at the store.

Hope you're feeling better soon...man, there's nothing we won't share out here, is there - LOL!!