Bloating Constipation
Extreme Constipation: The Day My Husband's "Occasional Irregularity" Became Dangerous
Most everyone experiences occasional constipation, especially those of us who are fond of the typical low-fiber American diet. It's a condition that people tend to experience on an individual basis, since
constipation is a term that can mean different things to different people. Although most people who are occasionally constipated get over it in a short time, sometimes being constipated can be dangerous.
A few years ago, my husband Bill became so constipated that he required urgent medical assistance. Doubled over with pain and in absolute agony, Bill went to an emergency room for help. After x-raying my husband's colon and intestines, a doctor told him that it was a good thing he'd stopped by. He was so backed up that he was in real danger of perforating his bowel. A perforated bowel is a medical emergency that requires surgery to repair.
What is constipation? According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), a person may have constipation "if [they] have fewer than two or three bowel movements in a week, or if their [stool] is hard, dry, painful or difficult to pass." Constipation occurs when stool moves too slowly through the large intestine. But bowel habits are a highly personal thing... what's normal for one person may not be normal for someone else. What causes constipation? A number of different factors can lead to constipation. A person may become constipated because he or she isn't eating enough fiber, getting enough exercise, or drinking enough water. Constipation can also occur when a person is under unusual stress or taking certain types of drugs. Some people suffer constipation because they ignore the urge to go to the bathroom. Additionally, there are some medical conditions that lead to constipation, such as pregnancy, diabetes or hypothyroidism. A person might have problems with the nerves or muscles in the rectum, anus, or intestine. Or, as it was in my husband's case, a person may experience constipation related to a condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
The NDDIC defines irritable bowel syndrome as a condition that is "characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea." People who suffer from IBS are thought by some experts to have a colon or a large intestine that is overly sensitive to stress and dietary changes. Although IBS doesn't seem to harm the intestines or lead to more serious diseases like cancer, it can be very distressing. It was because of that distress that my husband took Immodium (Loperamide), an anti-diarrheal medication that he thought would give him relief from the fluid and gas he was passing that he mistook for diarrhea. As it turned out, though, he didn't actually have diarrhea. In fact, he was already very constipated and his overloaded bowels were trying to eliminate some of the pressure. What is Immodium? Immodium is the trade name for a drug commonly used to treat diarrhea. According to its official Web site, some forms of Immodium also treat gas, bloating, and cramps. Diarrhea, gas, bloating, and cramps are all symptoms of IBS. However, while diarrhea is often unpleasant and inconvenient, it's also the body's way of getting rid of something nasty. When my husband took Immodium, he basically shut down his body's ability to expel waste and gas. Consequently, it all backed up in his colon and intestines, caused him a great deal of pain, and put him in danger of perforating his bowel. What the doctor did for Bill By Jenny Tolley MSW/MPH - I'm a trained public health social worker and proud Army wife.|
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