Bloatyness

[Belial]

Warning: This thread may involve explicit discussion of digestion. You may wish to proceed with caution.













Lately (past few weeks) I've been feeling bloated and sore in the abdominal region. Initially I had suspected constipation and after a week of more frequent than normal, but small movements requiring more effort than normal, I took laxatives and was okay for another week. Then, for another week, bloatedness returned and was better after laxatives. Now, this week, the feeling is back. I had initially suspected that it had been constipation as I said, but I'm thinking that I may have confused the bloatedness with the feeling of needing to go to the toilet hence the frequent movements. This time my movments have been pretty regular both in consistency and frequency, yet the feeling remains. I had never (as far as I can recall) had this feeling before.

Any clues?

[LixyChick]

Now call me paranoid but...

Mr. Lixy had almost the exact symptons that you've discribed (with, maybe a more severe pain once in a while) and wouldn't go to the doc's. This went on for three solid weeks. I kept asking if the pain was on the right? It was. They say you can figure it to be appendicitis if you have fever, nausea and/or vomiting, and the pain is located at the end of your middle finger when your hand is placed on right hip, fingers in towards the pubic area. He didn't have a fever all the while and no nausea or vomiting either. His pain was on the right, but up higher than one would suspect appendicitis to be. We were stumped. The pain was more severe at times, but once it even went away completely. This is when we think his appendix imploded. Yep, I said IMPLODED...into his colon...and his colon became severely infected it EXPLODED! Then, and only then, he got a fever...of 102.5! It was a dire emergency...on New Year's day no less!! The docs couldn't believe he endured this pain for three weeks. They suspected everything except appendicitis because of the lack of symptons. They did a CAT scan and saw something in the appendix/lower bowel area and figured an exploritory was necessary. They told us that the incision for the exploritory would only be about 3 inches and if necessary, they could get the appendix out through it...or at the most, they would open him to 6 inches. He came back from surgery with an incision from his breast bone, down through his navel, and to his pubic area. The "on call surgeon" was so amazed at what they found when they opened him. He just couldn't believe someone would endure such pain for so long as to let all this happen to him.

All the while, hubby kept insisting it was constipation. I've got to say Belial...I am having deja vu BIGTIME while I am reading your post!

Get yourself to a doctor IMMEDIATELY! If it's nothing...than at least you'll know it's nothing. If it's something...maybe you can catch it before it becomes a bigger something!

Please keep us informed hun...and run, don't walk, to a doctor!

[Belial]

I should mention that the pain is on my left side. It's kinda from my kidney area around to the front, my left groin area kinda. I don't have any vomiting, nausea or fever or anything like that. And I am most definitely seeing the campus doc tomorrow.

[kathy1]

awwww sweetie, i'm so soooorrrry you're not feeling good......and i get the feeling that you've got quite a bit of stress in your life....have you been checked for irritable bowel syndrome?

[Belial]

I was thinking that, kathy....Just seems odd that it would suddenly spring up like this.

[Grumble]

No idea what it is but a trip to the doc's is a good idea.

can't have you too sick to go and vote can we LOL :D

Take care mate

[sodaklostsoul]

:( Sorry to hear your not feeling well Belial.

[WildIrish]

three solid weeks

:confused:

You did NOT just say that! :D


Keep us updated Belial. We're thinking of ya.

[Steph]

It sounds like IBS but now Lixy's got me thinking, too. I've had friends who have suffered with similar symptoms and it unfortunately sometimes takes a while for the docs to make a diagnosis.

Please, keep us posted!


/me huggles ((((Belial)))))

[LixyChick]

I should mention that the pain is on my left side. It's kinda from my kidney area around to the front, my left groin area kinda. I don't have any vomiting, nausea or fever or anything like that. And I am most definitely seeing the campus doc tomorrow.
Holy Fuckin Shit Hun!

Umm...*more demure demeaner*...I mean, Oh sweety! I have been so worried bout you all day! Coulda told me it was left side pain...but don't let it fool you. As I told you, hubby had pain in an unusual spot (not consistent with appendicitis).<------****damn...I like typing that word!...Oops...digressed again!****

OK...ok...I feel a bit better now in just thinking you could have a kidney infection (though, the bowels aren't usually affected, and it would hurt a bit to pee). Start drinking lots and lots of cranberry juice and STILL see a doc!

Gawd, I'm so worried bout you hun. Men will be men...and saying that just means to me that you'll hope all is well and clear up on it's own till it's too late and you are eye to eye with an "on call surgeon"!

*drops to knees to beg you to see a doc...and if I'm still down here when you get back and all is well...well, we know what to do then!*

*giggles and kisses*

[LixyChick]

:confused:

You did NOT just say that! :D
?????????

WHAT? What did I say wrong? "Solid"? Just making a point that for three entire weeks he was in misery. OK...ok... I could'a said "entire"...but did you check the time I posted this? Geezzzzzzz WI...PM me when you have a deal with my posts that early in the AM!

LOL!

JHCOAB! *giggle*

[LixyChick]

OMG...I am such a pain in my own ass...so I can imagine what you guys must be thinking...but I have to tell you this...

Five years before his "right hemi-colectomy" (medical term for what hubby had done to him) he had a brief bout with rectal bleeding. We had to go to a Gastroentorologist <sp?> and hubby had a colonoscopy. We were thinking, at the time of his hemi-colectomy, that this might have been a warning sign (previous bleeding problem)...but who can predict the future?

Anyway...while being evaluated by the gastro guy (lol!), he told us something that shocked us and made me go hmmmmmmm! There are only three types of bowel movements. A "banana" type...once, or at the most, twice a day (normal as all get out), diarrhea (self explainitory), or constipation (any stool that isn't of the aforementioned movements).

Can you believe I HAD to mention that? Yep! Me neither!

The reason I did mention it? Belial has found a difference in his habits and the body can't tell us but to SHOW us!

Nuff said!

[Belial]

Hmm...have never bled that I can recall...

Judging by what you say, Lixy, about movements it sounds like I might be constipated. I saw the nurse this morning and she recommended a 24 hr clinic to go to if the pain gets bad, and I have a doctor's appointment with the campus doc for tomorrow afternoon.

:hug: all who have posted

[Loulabelle]

Belial,

I have such digestive problems that you wouldn't believe - nothing that's really bad, but just in nagging uncomfortable digestive system problems, and I eventually figured that it's Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Since my Grandma had colon cancer and now has a colostomy bag, I've taken my own condition seriously, as I don't want it to escalate out of control and end up in her position when I'm 80, so I've tried to identify the things which set my IBS off.

For me (and a lot of other people, I might add) the answer has been to cut out white bread (I still occasionally eat brown, but limit it) I no longer eat pasta (which is one of my favourite foods) and I stay away from cheese and chocolate (equally difficult for me, but worth it to have a smooth running digestive system). I try to eat a high fibre diet, but take that fibre in the form of Ryvita (rye crispbread thingies) and vegetables, and I avoid wheaty cereals as that seems to be the main cause of the problem. I think your best bet is to experiment with your diet a little and work out whether it is any particular foods that affect you - keeping a food diary might help you do that.

A friend of mine is going for colonic irrigation next week, and she's promised me a full report, as I'm seriously considering having it done, having finally started to get over all my toilet hang ups that have plagued me my entire life. It's supposed to be really good for the symptoms I'm suffering from (which you are describing) so I'll let you know if I'm brave enough to do it, and how it goes if I do.

Personally, I'd think this is the most likely cause of your pain, and will warn you that panicking about it is likely to make the symptoms worse since IBS is often brought on or aggravated by stress.

[Belial]

Lou,

I had thought perhaps it was IBS based on what I have read online. Are you saying that IBS can cause colon cancer? Is brown bread still not good, even though (at least I thought) it's high in fibre?

Colonic irrigation sounds really scary. I did know someone who tried it and she said it was great.

One thing that makes me unsure of it being IBS is that I thought it unusual that a chronic condition would just suddenly pop up after no real changes in my diet that I can think of to precipitate it.

tyvm for your post Lou

:hug:

[WildIrish]

You might not have changed your diet lately, but what about something else? Food related or not. Different coffee/tea, dairy product? Some little thing that you may have switched brands for? If not food, how about emotional or stressful situation? Lou said IBS can be aggravated by stress. Is it possible that you've had a very mild condition that has recently been touched off to a noticable level by some event? I don't even know if IBS has different levels (mild, moderate, extreme) but I'm clutching at straws, Belial. Like Lixy said...the body can't talk, but it will show you when it's happy or not.

[Belial]

Well, I got back from the doc's recently. He pretty much discounted anything threatening, on the basis of my symptoms and suggested I watch my diet carefully and try to distract myself with things that make me happy :)

:hug: to all that posted

[sodaklostsoul]

Oh so glad to hear it's not bad. *Hugs* Belial

[LixyChick]

So glad it wasn't serious hun! And may I say, I am quite proud of you for taking our advice and getting to a doc without hesitation! It's always better to be safe than sorry, but more men then not just seem to think that THEY can handle things and the problem will pass on it's own in time. Preventitive medicine is very important to overall health and can be a lifesaver in some cases. Early diagnosis not only helps us physically, but mentally as well. If things are taken care of at first symptons we can treat a minor version of something that might get worse with time, and rest assured that we did what was best for our body's health.

(((((Belial)))))

[Belial]

I was actually considering going to a doc earlier, I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't one of these ordinary occasional annoyances that you're just supposed to live with. Ever since the "chest pain thing" and the "breathing thing" during which, as you know, I was wracked with anxiety about suddenly dropping dead due to an undiagnosed or misdiagnosed condition, I've been very ready to go to the doctor, especially seeing as it's a 5 minute walk from most places on campus. In fact at one point I had a vision of dying because everyone would think I was a hypochondriac. So I'm certainly not afraid of going to the doctor as I obsess about constantly knowing what is happening with my body.

:hug: again :)