[Mari]

'Hope that you are o.k.


M

[OhKay]

By 1:30 there was no call back from the triage nurse, so I called my PCP's office just trying to get an appointment with him, and got put on hold for over 12 minutes before I hung up. When I got through, I was told there were no appointments until Monday. When I said it couldn't wait, I was told to call the triage nurse. When I told the secretary I had already called and left a message at 10, she said she'd transfer me over to her. I hung up after about 10 minutes on hold.

I had called the gastro's office before I got in touch with anyone at my PCP's to let them know how I was feeling and that the Linzess didn't work. The medical assistant asked me what I wanted her to do with the info, and I said I didn't care. My plan was to see my PCP, or go to urgent care if I couldn't.

My real, live gastroenterologist called me at 2. By then the tylenol had worked and my temp was normal for a couple of hours, which was a good sign. No one had relayed any of the info to him until I called yesterday. He had read the notes, but wanted to hear the specifics from me. He said that the situation had gone on far too long, was concerned that I might have "early diverticulitis" and it was his preference that I go to the ER, but my second option was to attempt a colon cleanse at home. I chose option #2 with the understanding that under certain circumstances I would go to the ER. He said I was "so stoic." lol. I'm just really ****ing stubborn.

So last night at 6, I divided 15 scoops of Mirilax into (2) 28oz bottles of Gatorade and chugged them. Nothing happened until shortly before 7am. It was just diarrhea, but at least I've gone to the BR (it had been 8 or 9 days?), and I'm sure I'll be going more with a little help from other methods. If the colon cleanse doesn't clear the impaction(s), I'll be able to feel it when I press on my abdomen because the rest of it will be softer after this.

My temp is normal this morning, and my abdominal pain is better. I don't regret my decision not to go to the ER, but I know going is still a possibility. At least I won't have an issue trying to determine if my pain is from constipation and gas or something else for a while after this. It will be easier to tell if I do really need to go to the ER.

I still have that appointment on Tuesday. We need to come up with a long-term med plan to avoid having this happen in the future.

[bizi]

just getting on line, happy to hear that you talked with a doctor.
Good luck with the rest of this....
The diarrhea could be just going around the impacted part...
but you know this.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[OhKay]

Originally Posted by bizi

just getting on line, happy to hear that you talked with a doctor.
Good luck with the rest of this....
The diarrhea could be just going around the impacted part...
but you know this.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

I did all I could do, and can do no more. And that seems to be the case in at least the area where I'd been having the most pain, unless it's something aside from an impaction I'm feeling.

I don't have a fever, and my pain's better. So, for now, the plan is to wait until then NP examines me at the appointment on Tuesday.

[bizi]

when some one that I knew had severe left ovarian pain and she ended up with a diagnosis of diverticulitis....


She did not have this experience like you are having.
bizi

[Mari]

Kay,

Short of going to the ER, you did all you could do to get some help.

Good that your fever is gone. I hopeful that you will be o.k. until Tuesday
when you get more thorough assistance.


M

[mymorgy]

have you tried the liquid magnesium citrate?
bobby

[OhKay]

No fever, but I'm still FOS… the colon cleanse and suppositories didn't clean out my small bowel at all despite going to the BR about 20X. I'm so full there's no way I can identify an impaction anywhere in those areas if there is one. I think the Linzess is working now because I had a little diarrhea this morning without taking anything else. There's no way it will do the job alone though.

Bobby, I considered taking magnesium citrate before I contacted the gastro so I bought 2 bottles. I'm considering buying some gatorade (I can't take it straight) and taking it tonight. Friday and yesterday's treatment was very aggressive, but I don't feel sore or dehydrated, so think I'm going to do it anyway. I don't want to go to the gastro this constipated…

Mari, If I'm this constipated when I go to the gastro after going through the colon cleanse, they may want to admit me to the hospital…

I have a huge big fear of/aversion to being treated inpatient for constipation. I know how it's treated (because I've done it myself a couple dozen times to patients) and I'd find it ****ing humiliating. If it was in any way physically possible, or I had an extra set of willing hands, I could have taken care of this myself once I first realized I was impacted, and I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now.

Bizi, I'm willing to bet your friend wasn't as constipated as me when she was having her issues. The degree of constipation I was dealing with can be very painful on its own, and it makes it hard to tell if something else is going on. I never considered an ovarian cyst, but I have a history of them. Last ultrasound, I did have one on my left ovary, but it was small and shrinking. If there's one there that's big enough, the NP will be able to feel it on an external exam. She should be able to feel if I have diverticulitis. I'm not going to worry about that unless my pain gets worse or I get a fever again though.

[bizi]

I am so sorry that you are going thru this.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[OhKay]

Thank you Bizi (((HUGS)))

When I bought the mag. citrate, I forgot if the lemon & lime one was the only one I should buy because of the taste, or the one I should not buy, but I chose it. Wrong choice… so, so bad… YUCK!!! I drank 2 bottles and a 28 oz bottle of Gatorade in an hour and got very nauseous, but I kept it down.

It is working this morning, and I can tell it is working on the small intestines.
The mass I was feeling in my lower left quadrant (where most of my pain was coming from) is a lot smaller this morning! YAY!!!

I feel fine, no worse for wear. Thank God for Gatorade. I also drank, and still am drinking, a lot of water.

I will not be cleaned out, but I don't think I'm in danger of being admitted to the hospital for good old fashioned constipation anymore. I'm not out of the woods yet because it's possible I have "early diverticulitis" (I dont have a fever anymore though) or still have an impaction somewhere. If I do need further treatment, it won't be for lack of effort.

I'm eating crap, and a lot of it. Where is the will power I had on that diet?
I gave back a pound and weigh 162 now.