How long is too long to have constipation?
Friday, January 1st, 2010 at
7:17 pm
I was at the doctor for really bad pains which just ended up being severe constipation. Well, now it’s been 4 almost 5 days since I’ve passed a bowl movement. I got a prescription that is like Metamucil (sp?) but stronger and it’s not helping. I’ve also been changing my diet to add in more water and more fiber. How much longer should I wait to go back into the doctor?
Filed under: Colon Cleanse
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Although many variables are included in this answer, it would be best to return to the doctor for a GI series of xrays. The length of time varies, but it also would depend on your eating behaviors before useage of metamucil. Constipation becomes concerning after 3 – 4 days, that is why you were provided with metamucil. Now, hopefully you will have a bowel improvement before seven days transpires. Ultimately, xrays would show fecal impaction, or another reason for your obstruction.
Your age, other medical conditions, psychological stressors, street drug usage (marijuana), and familial history of colonic disease are important contributing factors. Another question would be…is there any blood in your stool. Ultimately, you need to return to the doctor.
Good luck
What did your doctor tell you?
Give it time and lots of water.
I think you need to call your doctor right away and explain how you feel.
to much fiber can cause constipation….
Get yourself a big bottle of Prune Juice. Drink it 4 oz. at a time at (initially; half hr intervals). If you go beyond 2 hrs with no result, see a Doc.
A big change in bowel habits can trumpet a lot of diseases. It may be a bit embarassing, but it could save your life to be up front about this.
If you have any vomiting you need to call your doctor asap, but you should call your doctor if you don’t have a bowel movement in the next 48hrs. If you feel like you can’t take fluids, or any food, then you should call and make an appointment soon. You should try an enema, sounds gross, but works well atleast to open the water ways if you know what I mean. If you don’t have a bowel movement with the enema call your doctor asap
Make sure you drink enough fluids- also if you take pain meds- they can definitely contipate you- I would call Md asap= D
GO!!!
I was constipated for 4-5 days once, and began to get ill from the toxins that were building up.
Other things to try:
- a long walk or run to get things moving
- "Bowel Buddy" biscuits (I’m NOT kidding – try the health food scetion or store or maybe look online)
- prunes, prune juice
- lots of black licorice (the real stuff, not the fake twizzler kind)
- oatmeal with lots of raisins
- dried apricots, dates, etc.
Good luck!
i have gone 5 or more days and i lived but i wouldnt want to have to wait any longer. Take a laxative as well as metamusil or just give ur doc a call..
I’ve gone 9 days now without a bowel movement. I was taking percocet (oxycodone & acetominophine) due to pain from tonsillectomy surgery recovery. I switched to Tylenol 3′s 2 days ago, and then down to tyelenols yesterday in the hope that I would have a bowel movements after I stopped taking the pain medication.
The pain is not too bad anymore, but it is still tough to eat hard things (throat is very sore) so citrus juices and hard fruits and vegetables are simply not an option. I have tried laxatives overnight for the last 3 days with no movement. I have ground up flax seed in the hopes of obtaining some fiber but I’m not able to take much of that either since it finds its way into the nooks and crannies of the scar tissue and really irritates my throat. My doctor also recommended I drink a Guinness (yes, the beer) so I tried that, but it didn’t work.
I’m getting quite worried. No serious abdominal pain yet, but definitely starting to feel like I need to pass something.
Any suggestions?