HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Can I Do When I Feel Impaction In The Colon Even After A Bowel Movement Post Laxative Intake?

Posted on Tue, 20 Jun 2023

Question: I went to er and xray was done which said severe constipation.i took the prescribed meds,sorbitol,laxative,mineral oil and had bowel movement in aprox 3 hours.i continued to eat but ate alot of hard candy that I chewed.i am impacted now high uo in my colon not in the rectal area.i think I ate too soon after the laxative meds were given and even though the constipation was helped I was still probly constipated and ate all alt of beans lettuce and chewed alot of hard suger candy thinking I wasn't constipated anymore.i have not had a bowel movement since I ate last Saturday the day I went to the er after the laxatives were given.i had a bm after the lasxatives but feel I am severly impacted now high up in my colon.my bowel movemnets are not moveing.i went to the er again yesday and xray showed constipstion again and I was given the same laxatives such as lactolse etc but no bowel movement at all.i had 2 enmas last night miralax today and dosalte and more lacaose today.i must be severly impacted.i went to see doctor today and he said this was just constipation and its okay not to go for 3 days.i am severly impacted high up in my colon from all the hard XXXXXXX I ate plus the hardened food.what can I do to loosen thefecal impaction high up in my clon.i caanot feel any stool in my rectal area.i am impacted high in y colon.how do I remove it.i am scared I might need surgery if stools never come out,i have never had this happen

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Colonoscopy required

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Such extreme constipation in this age is not common, especially after multiple treatment options as in your case. It is not surgical emergency yet since constipation may persist even for 10 days in some cases before it causes surgical issue. However, it would be good to do a colonoscopy to rule out some other causes of colon obstruction such as polyp or tumor.

Magnesium water, miralax, high fiber diet, glycerine suppository may be used as conservative treatment.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Wish you good health.

Regards,
Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein
General Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

I have had constipation since may 12.I have always passed stools but they were pencil shapped and thin.3 days go I have a complete blockasge of bowels.i was treated in er and meds didn't worke neither did enema.i have no stools at all exect one guarter size one time.i ate soft lentils today 3 times.if I eat letils and cant pass stools this will cause more impaction right?i will see dr tommorw.the pain isunder my right rib cage now.the bowls are stuck higher up.if I eat fiber foods such as lentils wiyth no bm wont I get more impacted?

I had colonostomy 1 year ago and 3 egd this year.the last egd did a eshepgeal dialion and I had a lot of pain.i took hysycamine which started the abdomanil pain and the blocakege in my bowels.even though istopped the med I cant digest food good.it gets tuck in my colon iand doednt move to my recal area

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow-up consultation

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Yes, if there is no bowel motion and you eat regularly then this condition may only worsen and ultimately lead to colon perforation.

Your case is interesting and there is obviously some neurogenic issue in colon muscular layer which is responsible for contractions.

Treatment may be very challenging. I believe that you have tried all methods with enemas, Miralax, psyllium, fluid and high fiber intake.

If there won't be success with these measures then you need to consider more invasive methods such as sacral nerve stimulation or even surgery where one part of the colon is removed and re-anastomosed.

Hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein
General Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (1 hour later)

please let me know if go lightly will work good beter than lcatalose etc

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It depends on person to person

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Go lightly on the laxative, it is more potent than lactulose and may be a better option but also it depends on person to person how his/her bowel will react. You should try one by one and then see which works better.

Hope I have answered your query.

Wish you good health.

Regards,
Dr. Ivan R. Rommstein
General Surgeon

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee