Constipation

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Constipated?

You would consider yourself constipated if you have most of the symptoms listed below.

 

  • Have a bowel movement of less than 3 times a week.

  • Have hard stools.

  • Have difficulty passing stools.

  • Have pain while passing stools.

  • Unable to pass stool after pushing for more than 10 minutes.

  • Have a sense of incomplete evacuation after stooling.



Lady with constipation

Let's take a look at what is going on.

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Constipation

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How bad is it?

Did the constipation start suddenly and you also have abdominal pain?

 

Yes?

 

 

Did it start suddenly and you also cannot pass gas or any stool?

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • Looking at something serious.
  • Do not take any laxative until you see a doctor.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is there blood coming out when you try to empty your bowel

Or in the stool?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • Need to rule out other causes which could be serious.
  • Even if you think it is hemorrhoids, you still need to see your doctor.

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Note that:

  1. Stool that is black may mean that the blood is coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine).
  2. Bright red blood or maroon-colored stools may mean that the blood is coming from the lower part of the GI tract (large bowel, rectum, or anus).

Blood will usually look black like tar after it has passed through the intestines because it has been exposed to the body's digestive juices.

FYI Nearest Clinic

 

With this constipation, are you experiencing nausea and/or vomiting?

Feeling bloated?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.

Here is why:

  • This may suggest serious obstruction.

Require examination and tests by the doctor such as:

  • Flat and upright abdominal x-rays
  • Water-soluble contrast enema to evaluate for colonic obstruction.
  • Barium x-ray of the small intestine
  • Possibly a CT scan
  • Sigmoidoscopy or
  • Colonoscopy.

Nearest Clinic

 

Are you having sharp stomach pains with this constipation?

Or a tense stomach?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • This may suggest mechanical obstruction.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is this constipation alternating with watery diarrhea?

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • You may be looking at fecal impaction here. This is serious.
  • May also be looking at Irritable bowel syndrome

Call now if the diarrhea contains:

  • Watery mucus
  • particles of feces
  • and you have stomach cramps.

Nearest Clinic

 

What about thin, pencil-like stools in addition to feeling constipated?

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • Possible bowel obstruction
  • Fecal impaction

Nearest Clinic

 

Have you lost weight that you didn't want to lose lately

in addition to this constipation?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.

Here is why:

  • Need complete evaluation.

Nearest Clinic

 


Let's find out what may be causing the constipation.

Eliminating the cause is a good way of getting rid of it and getting the bowels back to regular.

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Constipation

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What caused it?

Do you delay going to the bathroom when you have the urge to go?

 

Yes?
You will have to stop this. This is a major cause of constipation.

This is one reason travellers always have constipation. Aside from having to sit in one place for a long time leading to lack of physical activity.

 

What about your diet? Is it low in fiber?

 

Yes?
Try increasing the fiber in your diet.

 

Do you drink enough water?

 

 

Are you currently taking any of the groups of medications listed below?

Medications that are:

  • Antihistamines
  • Antispasmodics
  • Antiparkinsonian drugs
  • Ca channel blockers
  • Opioid pain relievers
  • Antipsychotics
  • Iron, aluminum, Calcium, Bismuth?

 

Yes?
These can cause constipation.

If you just started taking the medications, discuss this with your doctor.

If you are taking iron suplements, switch to the ones that will cause less constipation. The pharmacist may discuss this with you later.

 


There are other causes of constipation that we did not mention.

Top among them is stress.

Let's continue and see what a pharmacist recommend over the counter to help with the constipation.

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Constipation

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How long?

How many days has it been since your last bowel movement?



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