[Emma LaMarsh]

I have self managed my IBS for many years. I got a rare eye cancer had heavy radiation to face left retina bled, right eye developing cataract. Radiation shrunk my throat, turned my teeth to putty had them all removed. Had throat dial actions then throat ENT surgery. I can't chew no teeth. Can't afford the implant anchors for dentures to work. Dentures don't function had them made twice and relined can't chew! So have been living on mostly ensure, really soft stuff, bits of bread swallowed with water, juice, baby food, oatmeal cookies dipped in tea, blendered things...I normally only poop every 2 or 3 days. Once in a while I have an IBS blow out. I have a really lousy unsympathetic family doctor GP. I did manage to tell him I am chocking even on my ensure drinks. Gurgle, tilt neck to get it down, can't even manage soft stuff anymore. So he irdered a barium test it sure did not seem like they were watching me swallow seemed more focused on my stomach. Anyway my guts have stalled since then. I figured I would pass the pale barium but didn't. I figured with only liquids and soft it would take days to fill my gut again. It's day 8 now still not much. I expelled a single small solid ball and a bunch of mucus. Belly is tender feels swollen but gastric sounds are still present. Day 3 I did one ducolax pill, day 4 I tried ex lax, day 7 I did small fleet enema not much movement. When should I get really worried? My doc never calls me with results I doubt the barium techs were watching my swallows. Stupid doc thinks he knows everything will not refer me back to ENT even though I had prior throat surgery, he won't refer to oncology or anyone else. Should I just go to Emerg and tell them my doc isn't caring? How long without bowel movements is dangerous? Normally I poop every other day prior to barium test. I want my routine and movements back to normal. Afraid to even go out. Never doing a barium test again! I want dilation so again at a minimum. But 8 days visiting potty trying to move but nothing ...getting worried.

 

[Dave Smith]

wow not going for 8 days is serious

 

[annie7]

so very sorry for all you've been through.

i think if it were me--with all that barium inside and not going for eight days--i'd go to the ER and tell them, like you said, that your doctor isn't helping. they can do something--a big, professional type enema maybe-- to get all that barium and backed up stool out.

take good care. i do hope you can get some relief.

 

[Emma LaMarsh]

finally had a very painful super crampy movement. semi solid followed but lots of wet. was awful painful. never before had a reaction to barium like this.

going to do my normal routine and see if i get my normal movements back or if it builds up again. very glad i found this forum to read.

 

[annie7]

oh good--so glad you finally had a BM. and hope it doesn't build up again.

yes--glad you found us. there's a lot of good information here on managing constipation.

 

[Noca]

I think you can even get a referral from a walk-in clinic for a gastroenterologist if you explain your situation, instead of rotting in the ER. Even then, you should go to an urgent care center before stepping foot in an ER, cause you won't have to wait nearly as long and you'll accomplish the same thing. If you want to see a specialist, its best to get the ball rolling because the wait lists can be rather long. It is best to not wait to put yourself on a wait list because you'll just end up doubling your wait time.

Is there a particular reason you keep seeing your crappy GP instead of finding another one?