I'm going to implode (TMI)

Either my bowels/stomach is going to burst or my head's gonna blow. Either way, its not gonna be pretty.

I need to vent and I think the only people who will even remotely understand are my WE's.

This constipation crapola (no pun intended) has been going on for weeks and I feel like I'm getting the run around. Maybe I'm taking things too seriously? I don't know. Call me out, if I am.

My PCP is a family practice, who is very short staffed right now, so you see whomever is on walk-ins that day unless you make an appointment. It takes months to get an appointment. So I go in and complain of severe stomach/back/pelvic pain. I get the works done and the Xray shows I have around 8 pounds of poo backed up. I've posted about this before. The solution? Home remedies. Where he screwed up? Mentioning that it may be a possible scar tissue problem with my bowels due to all my stomach surgeries (2 ectopics, RNY, and tubal ligation...all Lap).

The home remedies worked a smidge, but not nearly as much as he said it would. It also only worked for whatever day I did it. To simply put it, unless I used an enema, I wasn't pooping. I can't give myself an enema while I'm at work, so that means I get to poop on Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays. Whoopie.

Well, minus a small irrelevant plot on Tuesday, I haven't gone since Sunday's quick fix. The back pain is back. I also got a friendly visit from Aunt Flo on Monday, so you can imagine the excess gas and bloating that came from that.

My plan of action was to go see the same PCP who I saw before, but he was only on call this morning from 8:30 to 12:30. I couldn't take it anymore, so I left early yesterday and waited for an hour only to be handed a sheet of paper that said to try Colace and some stupid tea! The guy knew absolutely nothing about my case, nothing about Gastric Bypass, and he didn't even examine me. I asked him if it was okay for WE's to take Colace and he said he didn't know, to call my surgeons office. The only thing he did was write me a referral to a Gastroenterologist. I also made him write one for my RNY surgeon, that I practically had to kick him in the balls to do.  He knew I tried everything under the sun that I could buy to get things going and its not working.

I also made the mistake of asking him, in general, if I needed a referral to get tested for Huntington's Disease. I explained that it wasn't something I wanted right that moment, it was just something that I intended to do in the future and I forgot to ask my PCP when I was there last week. He said he didn't know, he didn't know anything about Huntington's Disease and that I should make an appointment with my PCP.  Where did they find this guy? In a Cracker Jack box?

I'm missing time from work. I can hardly eat or drink anything and you know how important it is for us to get our nutrients/supplements. I have no energy and I have a full plate of responsibilities right now. It couldn't happen at a worse time. I'm stressed to the core regarding finances and the deaths goin on in my family and my body is giving up on me. Now the mental part is breaking and I just grabbed that sheet of paper and walked out in tears. I don't cry in public and I couldn't even hold this back. I'm losing it.

I checked my referrals on my Insurance's website and I saw one for the Gastro place and Dr. Moore, thankfully. Checked my messages at home and the Gastro place called and made me an appointment on August 6th with a NP. Not sure why I'm not seeing a doctor, but I'm trying to not be judgemental. I mean, I thought this was more serious than to wait ANOTHER almost two weeks.

Okay, I didn't even get to finish this before Missy from Dr. Moore's office called me back. Thank Goodness. I don't know why but she is putting me at ease because I finally feel like someone listened, she knows me, and I believe when she tells me something.

Her solution is another home remedy, but its the worst one available and one that my PCP put on the "above" list, but he didn't want me to do it if I didn't have to because its gonna be the harshest on my Stomach area. But if Missy said to do it, then I'm gonna do it. She said I'm going to hate her. She said that its going to make me sick. I'm so excited, not. Hey, I won't hate her. I'll probably be thanking her in a few days because I just want this over. She doesn't think its necessary to see the Gastro Surgeon yet. I'm to do this, keep doing my Benefiber, etc. and to go see the Nurse Practioner at the Gastroenterologist place on the 6th and see what they say.

This is not exactly how I wanted to spend my weekend. I've got people coming to buy clothes Saturday morning and VBall Signups till 2pm. We were also invited to a big BBQ, but I'll probably pass and go for it.

I've never had this problem in my life, I hope its not going to be an ongoing thing. Maybe once I get flushed, I'll be okay? I'm going to continue the benefiber and eating things that are high in fiber anyway.

If you're still reading, you're an angel. I'm so glad OH is here for me to be able to do this.
Thanks for letting me spew my venom!
A

Wow Amber, it sounds like you have been dealing with a lot.  I can understand your frustration at not being listened to.  Hopefully Missy is right on track & this "treatment" will really help get things moving.  I really hope you feel better!!

Hey Amber?  This is Angel speaking...lol.  Yes, I read the whole thing & if that's all it takes to get my wings, then woo hooooo!!!

Anyway, I'm gonna go out on a limb & GUESS that you are dealing with military doctors.  I HATE THEM!!!!  In the 35 years I had to deal with those jerks, I only had ONE that was worth anything.  Do you know that it took them 6 months to figure out I was pregnant???  Duuuuh!

So, with my medic hat screwed on tightly, here's my concern.  I am worried that you will become septic & that is very dangerous.  Tammy can concure with me on this.  I'm about ready to invite you to come visit me just so you'll be well far away from a military facility & can then go to the ER at my civilian hospital.  In the meantime, can you tell me either here or privately what this "miracle" cure is supposed to be about?  Something stinks in Denmark & I don't think it's your poo.

Hey, Ann!

Thanks for reading and writing, to answer your question briefly because I'm finishing up at work, it's Magnesium Citrate. My PCP put it on the list, but really didn't want to "push" to hard from "above" and focus on the "below" hoping that would jar something loose from "above". But now that the RNY has cleared it for use, I'm gonna do it. It's so cheap and readily available, I wish I would've done it from the start.

I'm not actually dealing with Military hospitals, I've done that in the past and it was a HORRIBLE experience. They sent me away, told me I was miscarrying, while I was having an ectopic pregnancy, damn near killed me.

Anyway, its my PCP practice's inability to work properly. They are on patient overload from doctor's recently quitting, their integrity/respect is getting flushed with my upandcoming POO!

P.S.
I was worried about septic too, but thankfully have had no fevers in the last two days. If I would've, I would just say pee on it and go straight to the ER. Wish me luck, I'll report back on Sunday...if I can leave the bathroom!

Love you guys!
A

Hey Amber so sorry that youre dealing with all of this.  I live in Va Beach, but my PCP is in Chesapeake, if you'd like his name I can give it to you.  Appointments are easy to get...i've been able to get in on the same day.  He and I have been through a lot together and he listens very carefully, I in fact followed him when he changed offices.  Just a thought! I hope things get figured out soon!

Of course I was still reading!!  I am sorry that you are having to go thru so much.  I have not been there, but I can imagine.  Continuing on the high fiber foods and the benefiber are great.  What about a Correctol stool softner at night so maybe it will help in the am?  Oatmeal and applesause (no sugar added, of course) seem to help lots of folks out in that area. 

I would definatly be chosing a new PCP.  I had a similar situation back in February and changed PCP's.  My new one has great hours...8 am to 6 pm, m-f and has a "urgent care" that is run by the doctors in the practice, open 7 days a week (even holidays) from 7 am -8 pm.  The doctors are great, knowledgeable and I get an appointment for a problem the same day.  When I first started going there they contacted my surgeon to learn more about the care I would need as a post op patient.  I did not ask him to do this...he chose to do it.  I love this office.  I wish you were closer (I am in Richmond) so that you could go there cause they would get you all squared away in no time. 

Amber, I am sorry you are going through this and I hope the "you're gonna hate me" treatment works. 

Tammy

Damn girl, Do you need anything from me? Can I help in any way? I know I can't but I feel terrible for you. And damn, I went 6 months without a visit from Auntie Flo. Then right before my PS I got her visit. Now nothing again. I know it doesn't quite compare to what your missing.......sorry. You know I love you. Take care.

Oh my goodness I feel so bad for you!

I do not have an answer for right here and now except you need a new set of doctors but when this blows through ( I can't think of any other way of putting  it) try taking like 6 stool softners a night until you get some kind of  regularity going..... I have starterd taking Colace Stool softners before bed since my first plastic surgery in September where I got so bunged up it took me 8 hours and 6 suppositories to finally get unbunged - it as worse than having a baby!! Now I have no problem going but prior to this it was always a huge effort and so painful, I do take magnesium supplements and can feel the difference when I do not take them. Benefiber never did anything for me.

I also got my period the day before my last plastic surgery (last Wednesday - inner thighs) and I do not know how to look my Plastic Surgeon in the face when he told me he put a tampax in during surgery but then took it out after surgery for me as I was bleeding a lot and it was a 5 hour surgery......and he was in the area ;-) The nurses insisted I could not go into surgery with one in - why I don't kniw but it is one of their rules....

I hope you get rid of some of this soon...

Jackie

Jackie....I would have DIED!!!!!  I think when my time comes if that happens to me then I will have to reschedule.  I don't think I could do post op appointments. 

Well, I was not going to reschedule becauae I have wanted this done for so long and he was stiching all around there- he has given me a mons lift - there is nothing he has not looked at and he is a doctor - so I am rolling with it....  I think at the end of plastic surgery you have no shame left lol!!

Jackie