Suggest Treatment For Persistent Constipation

Posted on Sat, 25 Jul 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 25 Jul 2015 Answered on

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband (67 years) healthy heart, recently checked out OK for blood pressure, heart rate, etc. just came home from playing tennis which he plays about 6 times a week, complaining that he feels horrible.i.e. stomach hurts, queasy, was sort of grey but color returned. Someone checked his heart rate/pressure...both normal for him.. He has suffered from constipation on and off for a couple (maybe 3) weeks, has taken over the counter stuff for that with sporadic results, but could this be related to his symptoms or could he be getting the flu this time of year?

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It seems to be an irritable bowel syndrome

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that these complains may be related to a possible irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

This is a benign syndrome triggered mainly by anxiety, physical and physiological stress, klimate variations etc..

IBS may be represented by constipation alternated with episodes of diarrhea, intestinal spasms and abdominal pain.

The treatment of this disorder is symptomatic, including several anti spasmics, stool softeners and others constipation meds, anxiolytics etc.

For a comprehensive differential diagnosis of his pain, it is necessary a careful physical examination coupled with a resting ECG.

If the pain is recurring again I would recommend an abdominal ultrasound and some lab tests like: AST, ALT, CK-MB etc.

You need to discuss with his attending doctor about the recent complaints and the ongoing diagnostic work up.

Hope to have been helpful!

Feel free to ask me for further questions!

Greetings! Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar