Seeking Guidance After X-ray Reveals Significant Colon Backup
On Monday, I found myself in the emergency room after experiencing several days of persistent vomiting. I thought it was related to my resumption of Ozempic (0.25 mg), which I had halted back in May and then restarted on my own after two weeks. I understand now that I shouldn’t have made that decision without discussing it with my doctor. Regardless, I was battling nausea and had not been able to keep any food down, raising concerns about my condition. (For context, I originally began taking Ozempic in April 2023 to manage my type 2 diabetes.) The doctor ordered an X-ray of my abdomen. While my stomach appeared normal, the results revealed that both of my colons are completely obstructed. I was unaware that my situation had deteriorated to this extent. For over a year, I've only managed to have a bowel movement once a week but didn't realize I was harboring such a significant buildup. Following the X-ray, my doctor recommended a regimen of 34 grams of MiraLAX over three days and suggested adding senna to my Ozempic treatment to aid in stool regulation. A bit about my health: I'm a 33-year-old female, taking metformin, atorvastatin, several antidepressants, as well as minoxidil and spironolactone for my androgenic alopecia. Unfortunately, I lead a sedentary lifestyle and have some extra weight to contend with. My height is 4 feet 9 inches, and I weigh 137 pounds. Staying properly hydrated is a challenge for me, as I seldom feel thirsty; on most days, I’m lucky to drink two bottles of water. Next week, I have an appointment scheduled with my primary care physician, where I plan to share this new information with her. I last saw her six months ago. I’m growing increasingly anxious about my situation. If daily use of stool softeners or laxatives fails to resolve this blockage, what might the consequences be? Could surgery be a potential necessity? The wait until my next appointment feels unbearable, and I’m eager for guidance and clarity on the path forward. I've attempted to provide thorough details regarding my situation, so please feel free to ask any follow-up questions. Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
Answers (1)
7/31/2025, 10:40:47 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're facing a concerning digestive issue with significant colon backup. You're understandably anxious given the circumstances, especially with your history of persistent symptoms. It’s essential to prioritize your health and consider both immediate and long-term management strategies.
Main Points:
- Colon Obstruction Management: Your current treatment with MiraLAX and possibly senna is a critical first step.
- Hydration and Diet: Staying hydrated and adjusting your diet will significantly aid in resolving constipation.
- Follow-Up Care: Ongoing communication with your primary care physician is vital.
Explanation:
Colon obstruction can occur due to various reasons, including severe constipation as you've experienced. When the colon becomes obstructed, waste cannot pass through properly, leading to symptoms like nausea and vomiting. The use of MiraLAX is designed to help soften stool and stimulate bowel movements, while senna acts as a natural laxative.
It’s concerning that you've only had a weekly bowel movement. This chronic constipation can lead to worsening symptoms and complications if left untreated. While surgical intervention may be required in severe cases (like perforation or uncontrolled obstruction), it's generally a last resort after other treatments have failed.
Next Steps:
-
Follow the prescribed regimen: Continue taking MiraLAX as directed (34 grams over three days) and start the senna if recommended by your doctor. Monitor your body's response closely.
-
Increase Hydration: Aim for at least 8-10 cups of fluid daily. Set reminders to drink water or try flavored waters, herbal teas, or broths if plain water isn’t appealing. Carry a water bottle with you to encourage more frequent sipping.
-
Adjust Your Diet: Incorporate high-fiber foods into your meals, such as fruits (like apples and berries), vegetables (such as broccoli and carrots), and whole grains (like oats and brown rice). Consider a gradual increase in fiber intake to avoid excessive gas or cramping.
-
Physical Activity: Moving more, even through gentle activities like walking, can stimulate bowel activity. Start with short, daily walks to ease into this habit.
-
Document and Monitor Symptoms: Keep a log of your bowel movements, food intake, and fluid consumption. Report any changes or concerns to your doctor next week.
-
Discuss Concerns at Your Appointment: Bring up your anxiety about potential complications, and be open with your doctor about your symptoms and lifestyle challenges. They might offer additional treatment options or referrals, such as a dietitian.
It's great that you have an appointment scheduled soon to discuss these issues further. Until then, focus on the actions you can take to support your digestive health. You're taking proactive steps, and I encourage you to keep prioritizing your well-being. Let me know if you have more questions!
Related Questions
Could This Be IBS or Something Else?
Greetings! I’m a 27-year-old male, standing at 172 cm and of European descent, currently using Iqos. My medical troubles began roughly four months ago, around October 5, 2025. Initially, I experienced intense back pain lasting for two days, which I recognized as kidney stone pain. To alleviate this discomfort, I took NSAIDs, predominantly Metamizole-Natrium. Afterward, I visited urgent care, where I was given Diclofenac and Monural, an antibiotic for urinary tract infections. I took one of each at night. **A couple of days later, I started experiencing several troubling symptoms:** - Frequent diarrhea (4-5 times a day, often watery) - Significant gas and belching - Persistent nausea that greeted me each morning, sometimes relieved by eating - A general sense of malaise - A loss of 5 kg (I dropped from 63 kg) because I lacked appetite, especially under stress. These symptoms developed quickly and intensified through October, fluctuating over time. Blood tests showed no abnormalities, with normal CRP levels. Then in November, I underwent a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. - I had three very small erosions, about 1-2 mm, in the terminal ileum, but no signs of inflammation. Histology revealed no pathological issues, all was well. - There was one small erosion in the sigmoid colon, with minor inflammation around it. Histological findings indicated small infiltration in the lamina propria but no chronic signs, leading to a diagnosis suggesting a high likelihood of infection. - The areas were healing, with fibrin present. The rest of my colon appeared healthy. The doctor attributed the ulcers to NSAID-induced damage. I was later diagnosed with LA-A GERD. Due to my anxiety about health, I spent the month consumed by fears of complications such as colon cancer, PC, or Crohn's disease. I finally found some relief and felt symptom-free for the subsequent two weeks. However, in December the troubles resurfaced, though to a lesser degree, with occasional loose stools—2-3 times for a few days— and lingering gas. My anxiety about Crohn's returned, and I mistakenly took Algopyrin Complex, which triggered additional stress. **In December, my primary worries included:** - Loose stools resembling Bristol type 5-6, mainly occurring once each morning - Excessive gas often felt trapped in my rectum - My weight stabilized at 62 kg **I underwent various tests:** - Negative results for Giardia and E. coli - Negative FIT tests - Negative MRI (everything appeared normal) - Negative MRE (all normal) - Calprotectin level measured at 18.7 - I was found to have low levels of B9 and Vitamin D, with B12 at 320 and LDL at 5.9 **Moving into January:** - I only had one bowel movement each morning, sometimes loose, but mostly firm in the past three weeks (Bristol 4), compared to my usual Bristol 2. - After meals, I often felt gas building in my rectum, sometimes getting stuck before eventually releasing. This gas, thankfully, rarely had an odor. - Mornings have been troublesome, as I needed to pass gas 2-4 times, and in bed at night, I felt bloated with gas movements. **What I have observed:** - No signs of blood in my stools - No pain - No nocturnal symptoms affecting my sleep - No extraintestinal symptoms - My weight has stabilized without additional loss after recovering some weight Overall, I feel fine, yet the worry about my condition persists in my mind. Previously, I would have bowel movements twice weekly, with little to no gas. It baffles me that I often wake up feeling this uncomfortable. My primary concern is whether I should be worried about Crohn's disease (which occupies my thoughts constantly) or if my symptoms might stem solely from anxiety. Currently, I'm taking the following medications and supplements: - Itopride (doctor suggested it for motility issues) - L-Glutamine - Curcumin - A B-complex supplement - Ashwagandha - I briefly tried rifaximin for three days, but it did not yield significant changes. - I had also experimented with antacids previously, though they proved ineffective. Thank you for your assistance in advance!
Can Eating More Fiber Alleviate Menstrual Cycle-Related Constipation?
Every month, during the week and a half leading up to my menstrual period, I experience constipation. I'm curious if boosting my fiber consumption might ease this issue. I already ensure that I drink plenty of water throughout the day. I am a woman in my mid-20s.
Seeking Relief from Mild Fecal Impaction: Should I Go to the ER?
At 20 years old, I find myself dealing with a frustrating issue: fecal impaction. It's not something I've faced before, or at least I can’t recall, but I’ve had chronic stomach difficulties throughout my childhood, including constipation from ages four to twelve. Recently, I've been experiencing more digestive challenges after a few years of feeling normal. Currently, I’m under the care of a gastroenterologist, and we’re working on diagnosing the underlying problems. For about five days now, I haven't been able to relieve myself. While I’ve had considerable gas, that’s been the only symptom. Today has been particularly difficult; I’ve spent the last 11 hours in the bathroom grappling with severe discomfort and impaction. Each attempt to relieve the situation is excruciating, to the point where my body is resisting the effort—it’s so painful that I find myself in tears. I imagine this is what birth must feel like. I suspect this intense fear and pain are remnants of my past struggles, as for many years I’ve feared using the bathroom due to the agony it causes. Despite trying various remedies like Miralax mixed with coffee, a bullet suppository, and even a manual approach with gloves, nothing is yielding results. I’m genuinely tempted to head to the emergency room and ask them to put me under so they can help me without the pain. My mother suggests they would likely opt for a liquid suppository treatment like they did during my childhood, which was quite traumatic. I’m torn—it feels like the ER might be my last resort, but I'm concerned they won’t take me seriously since my situation doesn’t seem dire. How foolish would it be to bring up wanting sedation? I desperately want to avoid this pain; it’s becoming increasingly difficult, and I’m fighting back tears from the frustration. Can they truly provide sedation for this type of issue even when it isn’t severe? I worry that my parents might react negatively to my quest for relief and think I’m being dramatic. I’m utterly drained and don’t know where to turn. When there’s no painful push against my body, I can’t even sense the severity of the issue, yet, I am experiencing leakage, leaving me unsure. Would it be unreasonable to pose this question to the doctors in the ER? I apologize if this message is jumbled; I’m also dealing with a migraine, making it hard to focus. For context, my daily medications include phentermine, iron supplements, and vitamin D. I stand at 5’4” and currently weigh 204 pounds as part of my ongoing weight loss journey.
Did My Appendectomy Resolve My Digestive Issues?
I’m a 27-year-old non-binary person who had their appendix surgically removed due to appendicitis early last October. Since that procedure, I’m experiencing something I never thought possible: regular bowel movements. Remarkably, this newfound routine hasn’t faded away, contrary to what my doctors predicted. Historically, I have struggled with constipation throughout my life. As a child, I often felt compelled to mislead healthcare professionals about my bowel habits, claiming I had daily movements out of fear that something was amiss. In reality, I would only have a bowel movement every three to five days. I also live with autism, ADHD, dysthymia, and PTSD. Given my history of burnout, it would be logical to attribute my digestive struggles to stress. However, these issues persisted even during holidays and rarely intensified during particularly stressful times. Most of the medications I tried, including SSRIs and various birth control options, had no impact, except for Ritalin, which occasionally provided some relief when not taken consistently. Prior to the appendectomy, I underwent two surgeries: one for a fractured arm and the other a double procedure to remove my uterus and breasts. Unfortunately, neither operation had any effect on my bowel function. Since my surgery, my dietary, hydration, exercise, and substance use habits have remained unchanged. A bit of additional context: My thyroid hormone levels are normal, although I occasionally have low Vitamin D, for which I take supplements. I receive B12 injections to address low levels since dietary sources aren’t effective for me. Additionally, I deal with a persistent mystery of chronic fatigue that shows no signs of improvement post-surgery. This leads to my question: Could my appendix have been the source of my gastrointestinal issues? Alternatively, did the surgery trigger some other change that resolved my long-standing problem? I’m curious if anyone else has encountered similar experiences. What are the chances that I’ll revert back to my past issues with constipation? Any insights on this would be greatly appreciated, mostly out of interest.
Seeking Guidance for Persistent Abdominal Pain and Bowel Issues
I am a 54-year-old male reaching out to seek advice regarding ongoing complications related to bowel movement and abdominal discomfort. I have been experiencing a tendency for stools to become backed up in the ascending and transverse sections of my colon, coupled with persistent, diffuse pain in the central right side of my abdomen, particularly at the junction of the terminal ileum and cecum. The discomfort around the ileocecal valve manifests itself with noticeable grunting noises, especially after eating and during movement or when sitting upright. The pain intensifies with physical activity and tends to alleviate when I lie down. I frequently experience a nagging pressure in my lower abdomen, especially while standing or sitting. Following meals, I notice pain in the midgut area and at the terminal ileum-cecal juncture, surfacing about 30 to 60 minutes post-ingestion, alongside a late-day increase in tenderness in the ascending colon, which is exacerbated by movement or bending sideways. In a previous visit to the emergency department, a CT scan with contrast was performed, and the attending physician indicated that I was experiencing stool buildup without any obstruction. They noted an unusual angle concerning my terminal ileum's alignment with the cecum, suggesting it appeared taut. Unfortunately, this evaluation did not lead to any conclusive treatment or diagnosis, which leads me to wonder if there might be a congenital or mechanical issue at play in the ileocecal region. My medical tests have indicated elevated calprotectin levels of 804 and 360, alongside a C-reactive protein reading of 26. A CT angiogram on September 25 revealed the presence of stool in the terminal ileum, contributing to my concerns. I am inquiring whether there are additional tests I should consider beyond a supine CT. Thus far, I have undergone a CT scan with contrast, a CT enterography (which did not reveal Crohn’s disease), a pill camera test (the results were inconclusive), abdominal X-rays, and a Sitzmarker test (which passed through successfully). I have also had three colonoscopies; two of them were unable to navigate to the terminal ileum, while the last one managed to reach enough depth to perform a biopsy that revealed some minor erosions, supposedly related to stool buildup. I have not yet undergone any dynamic imaging or barium studies. My primary concern is that my symptoms are consistently recurring without any periods of relief or improvement. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions regarding further testing I should pursue prior to my upcoming gastrointestinal appointment. Thank you for your assistance!