Constipation

[Guest guest]

Hi Debz,

I remember that lengthy hospitalization. It was real touch and go. Yeah,

don't go there again.

When you said, " I don't think that the docs know what its like if they

haven't experienced this "

I agree with you completely. I didn't have a clue how bad it was. My worst

case ever was post surgery. I was in a fog and paying attention to my bowels

was not my primary concern, and apparently nobody else's? My poor Mom had

come to stay with me, and did all we could until I begged to go to the

hospital. You literally think you are dying. My abdominal film showed an

impaction so high, it was ridiculous. Nothing short of a manual evacuation

would relieve it. It was horrific, and I hope I never forget, because I

don't want to go there again, either.

I am grateful to Miralax for helping me achieve bowel regularity. But it can

be as brittle as Diabetes. This whole event made me remember a seminar I went

to by a GI specialist. His whole talk was on the quality and characteristics

of stool. I couldn't believe the man had devoted so much of his life to

studying this organic matter, but now that I have taken my own interest in

the study (of my own, of course) I am glad I stayed through his talk. On a

serious note, however, it is important to take a look in the commode after

you go and make a mental note of what 's going on. My dietitian & diabetes

educator have me on a " sliding scale " enzyme therapy based on the amount of

Exxon Valdese floating in the water. My digestion is so inconsistent.

What did Freud say about being obsessed with stool? Anal retentive? I always

thought that was such a weird term.

Blessings for better thoughts,

Karyn , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Symposium August 28 & 29, 2003