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I Have Not Been Able To Move My Bowels On My Own Without A Laxative. Is This Normal?
Posted on
Wed, 27 Jan 2021
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 27 Jan 2021
Answered on
Tue, 4 Mar 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : I fell 1 wk ago and fractured my rib. My stomach is very swollen and distended and I have not been able to move my bowels on my own without a laxative. Is this normal? Should I go to the hospital for further testing?
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
1) during fall if you have hurt your abdomen with blunt trauma to tummy can cause internal injury to internal organs of tummy and distention. But usually this is associated with severe pain with i think you dont have to unlikely to have a blunt injury to internal organs.
2) Second more likely is possibility of constipation and reduced intestinal motility due to pain killers / medications taken for rib fractures. So for that can try taking laxatives to ensure bowel movements and stop pain killers which may cause reduced intestinal movements and constipation.
So if there is pain, vomiting, too much distention, severe constipation or inability to pass flatus and reduced oral intake then worth visiting hospital at earliest.
Also take soft or liquid predominant diet avoid excess fibre intake in the mean while.
Also some laxative may increase distention (like lactulose or lactitol ) so better to avoid them too.
Hope this answers the query.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Happy to help.
hi
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
1) during fall if you have hurt your abdomen with blunt trauma to tummy can cause internal injury to internal organs of tummy and distention. But usually this is associated with severe pain with i think you dont have to unlikely to have a blunt injury to internal organs.
2) Second more likely is possibility of constipation and reduced intestinal motility due to pain killers / medications taken for rib fractures. So for that can try taking laxatives to ensure bowel movements and stop pain killers which may cause reduced intestinal movements and constipation.
So if there is pain, vomiting, too much distention, severe constipation or inability to pass flatus and reduced oral intake then worth visiting hospital at earliest.
Also take soft or liquid predominant diet avoid excess fibre intake in the mean while.
Also some laxative may increase distention (like lactulose or lactitol ) so better to avoid them too.
Hope this answers the query.
Wish you a speedy recovery.
Happy to help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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