
Hi There Drs. I Have Been Having An Issue That

Started about two weeks ago, I am having problem with bowel movements. I sometimes have a very slim or small pieces of stool. Besides that, I don't have a bowel movement at all. For about 5 or days, I go without having any. Two days ago, I bought MiraLax, a laxative and stool softener, and that did nothing.
My diet is healthy and I exercise.
I am assuming that the cause of this might be not drinking enough water. But since, this issue started, I have been drinking plenty.
I kind of get the feeling of going to the bathroom, but when I sit down, the need or feeling of using disappears. I am very concerned and scared of my life. Every time I go to the doctor, they tell me I have nothing wrong. Everything is fine. This is scary..
What should I do? I am sure I have stool in my my body from weeks ago. How can I get it cleaned up?
Please share your thoughts with me .. Thank you for your time...

Started about two weeks ago, I am having problem with bowel movements. I sometimes have a very slim or small pieces of stool. Besides that, I don't have a bowel movement at all. For about 5 or days, I go without having any. Two days ago, I bought MiraLax, a laxative and stool softener, and that did nothing.
My diet is healthy and I exercise.
I am assuming that the cause of this might be not drinking enough water. But since, this issue started, I have been drinking plenty.
I kind of get the feeling of going to the bathroom, but when I sit down, the need or feeling of using disappears. I am very concerned and scared of my life. Every time I go to the doctor, they tell me I have nothing wrong. Everything is fine. This is scary..
What should I do? I am sure I have stool in my my body from weeks ago. How can I get it cleaned up?
Please share your thoughts with me .. Thank you for your time...
X-ray abdomen and enema
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood your concerns.
My thoughts as per the history that you have provided:
Your problem is for the last 15 days. Hence the commonest cause is development of fecolith in large bowel that are not easy to expel.
Drinking too much water will flush the kidneys and does not reach the fecoliths.
It is good that you have started with MiraLax. It works by drawing and retaining water in large bowel to keep stools soft. But it is started late and hence may not work on rectum or distal large bowel.
In such cases if Miralax does not work then the possibility would be impacted fecolith.
This can be diagnosed by X-ray abdomen and if present the better way is to try Suppositories or ready-to-use enema. This acts on the distal part of bowel and helps loosening and evacuating the stools.
Sometimes soap-water enema may be required.
Once the bowel is cleared of hard stools (fecoliths) then MiraLax works well.
This better be done under the guidance of your Doctor as he/she will perform clinical examination to palpate for abdomen for fecolith and may do per-rectal examination to rule out other local causes that are making passing stools difficult. And prescribe the most appropriate therapy as per your requirement.
Increase fiber contents in food or add fibers.
Anxiety and stress are known to cause constipation, so avoid.
Sitz bath in a tub with warm water before going to bathroom helps in evacuation.
Certain foods give constipation, identify and stop such foods and beverages.
I hope this answers your query, helps you to relieve your problems and helps to avoid constipation in future.
Take care.
Give feedback.
Dr T Chandrakant.
General Surgeon.

X-ray abdomen and enema
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history and understood your concerns.
My thoughts as per the history that you have provided:
Your problem is for the last 15 days. Hence the commonest cause is development of fecolith in large bowel that are not easy to expel.
Drinking too much water will flush the kidneys and does not reach the fecoliths.
It is good that you have started with MiraLax. It works by drawing and retaining water in large bowel to keep stools soft. But it is started late and hence may not work on rectum or distal large bowel.
In such cases if Miralax does not work then the possibility would be impacted fecolith.
This can be diagnosed by X-ray abdomen and if present the better way is to try Suppositories or ready-to-use enema. This acts on the distal part of bowel and helps loosening and evacuating the stools.
Sometimes soap-water enema may be required.
Once the bowel is cleared of hard stools (fecoliths) then MiraLax works well.
This better be done under the guidance of your Doctor as he/she will perform clinical examination to palpate for abdomen for fecolith and may do per-rectal examination to rule out other local causes that are making passing stools difficult. And prescribe the most appropriate therapy as per your requirement.
Increase fiber contents in food or add fibers.
Anxiety and stress are known to cause constipation, so avoid.
Sitz bath in a tub with warm water before going to bathroom helps in evacuation.
Certain foods give constipation, identify and stop such foods and beverages.
I hope this answers your query, helps you to relieve your problems and helps to avoid constipation in future.
Take care.
Give feedback.
Dr T Chandrakant.
General Surgeon.


I was recently googling about constipation, and i read that if one can pass a gas, then is not constipated. I pass gas as normal. Is this true? If my issue is not constipation, what could it be?
I could be wrong but i feel like there something in the rectal tract blocking the bowel from evacuating or excreting.
Do you think there a possibility for me to develop a Rectal cancer at this age? If yes, what should i do? Because, i was reading about the symptoms of Rectal Cancer and i have several of the symptoms.
Thank you for your time and knowledge Dr.

I was recently googling about constipation, and i read that if one can pass a gas, then is not constipated. I pass gas as normal. Is this true? If my issue is not constipation, what could it be?
I could be wrong but i feel like there something in the rectal tract blocking the bowel from evacuating or excreting.
Do you think there a possibility for me to develop a Rectal cancer at this age? If yes, what should i do? Because, i was reading about the symptoms of Rectal Cancer and i have several of the symptoms.
Thank you for your time and knowledge Dr.
already discussed // cancer is rare at your age
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your additional queries.
As we have already discussed above, the commonest cause is fecolith impaction. Fecoliths means formation of very hard stools that are difficult to pass and in case of chronic problems these can actually get attached to the mucosa.
The actual problem in simple words is difficulty or inability to pass stools.
Cancer at your age is very rare and once the bowel is cleared colonoscopy and CT scan will help to rule this out.
Go for the things as discussed in first answer first to get a relief.
Please give feedback.
Dr T Chandrakant.

already discussed // cancer is rare at your age
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your additional queries.
As we have already discussed above, the commonest cause is fecolith impaction. Fecoliths means formation of very hard stools that are difficult to pass and in case of chronic problems these can actually get attached to the mucosa.
The actual problem in simple words is difficulty or inability to pass stools.
Cancer at your age is very rare and once the bowel is cleared colonoscopy and CT scan will help to rule this out.
Go for the things as discussed in first answer first to get a relief.
Please give feedback.
Dr T Chandrakant.



Please get the things done as suggested
Detailed Answer:
Please go ahead and get a proper relief.
Thanks for your appreciation.
Dr T Chandrakant

Please get the things done as suggested
Detailed Answer:
Please go ahead and get a proper relief.
Thanks for your appreciation.
Dr T Chandrakant

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