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

Bill was dehydrated when he showed up at the emergency room, so he was hooked up to an intravenous line (IV) containing saline and electrolytes. Next, a nasogastric (NG) tube was passed through his nose to his digestive system, to help expel the intestinal gas that was causing his large intestine to painfully expand. Bill's physician hooked the NG tube up to a suction device, which caused positive pressure that helped get his intestines moving again.

The physician sent Bill home with a large container of GoLytely (Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution), a medication that he had to mix with water and drink. Polyethylene glycol works by increasing the amount of water in the intestinal tract, which helps stimulate bowel movements. The medication also contains potassium, sodium, and other minerals, which help restore the body's electrolytes that are passed during bowel movements.

Recovery

It took about a week before Bill was fully well again. During that week of recovery, he spent a lot of time on the toilet. His colon and rectum were very swollen and irritated from the process of eliminating all of the backed up stool. It was very uncomfortable for him, but at least he didn't require surgery or another invasive procedure to get well.

Fortunately, Bill has not had this problem again, mainly because he's adopted a daily routine of taking a product that contains psyllium, a type of plant that contains dietary fiber. Psyllium helps prevent constipation and mild diarrhea by creating bulkier bowel movements that are softer and easier to pass. By drinking daily glass of Metamucil or eating a cookie that contains psyllium, Bill is able to keep his IBS prone intestinal tract healthy and happy.

The moral of the story is...

Be careful using an over the counter drug to stop diarrhea, particularly if you have trouble with IBS. While diarrhea can be unpleasant and inconvenient, it really is your body's way of cleansing your system. And sometimes, you may think you have diarrhea when, in fact, you are constipated. Try not to use a drug like Immodium unless it's absolutely necessary. And if you have IBS or some other intestinal problem, you may want to talk to your doctor about the best ways to relieve unpleasant symptoms without putting yourself in danger.

Sources:

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm

The official Web site for Immodium, http://www.imodium.com/

http://www.drugs.com/

My husband