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Has anyone experienced the inability to urinate when constipated?
I have had constipation issues since childhood, along with severe RLS . In the past year, I have had 3 instances when I am so constipated, I can’t urinate. The last time this happened, I went almost 5 days before I was able to relieve the constipation and finally urinate. Anyone have any insight- so far 2 doctors have made comments that actually imply this isn’t possible.
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Thanks, @jlharsh for giving me a chance to update folks on changes in my situation since my last comment herein on May 22, 2024. Six months before that I had most of my colon removed along with a malignant growth high in my abdomen.
As a result, my small intestine is now connected just a few inches from my rectum, and an inguinal hernia provides an open pathway for the lower end of my small intestine to occupy a share of the space that used to exist in the area of my prostate and my rectum.
Loss of the colon left me without the organ that had done a good job of handling food waste and moving it -- along with high fiber waste -- into and through the rectum to the outside. The result has been rectal constipation that expands, putting pressure on urinary organs in the same area.
The usual remedies for colon constipation are of little if any help. As you can see, my situation is far from common in contrast to Lana's, although similar in that my urine flow decreases as time passes after a bowel movement.
My treatment is threefold: Drink water and other fluids often during the day; get a half-hour of exercise every day; and finish off every other day with Senna Tea, a mild but reliable laxative that clears my bowel 10-12 hours after drinking the tea before going to bed. If any of this is helpful to Lana and others in our group here, I'll be glad to have been helpful. Martin
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7 ReactionsFirst of all, sympathies to all those who experience this problem- not only is it painful, but frustrating when doctors just try to put me on Linzess. I was in the original drug trial for that drug- a double blind. I spent 18 months in the original trial and was asked back 2 more times. The side effects were as bad as the constipation. Unfortunately, nothing has changed for me, but I swear by authentic Australian black licorice for relief. I drank a bottle of magnesium citrate saline solution 2 weeks ago- nothing for a week. So finally I decided to eat my last 4 pieces of licorice- success the next day. People ask me the brand, but the best one I have found is in a small candy store in Cape Cod. I’ve tried the Darrell Lea brand, but it didn’t work for me. I get nervous when I can’t urinate, and as I stated in my first post, I went 5 days without urinating- I even went to ER on my doctor’s orders- but after sitting with no one ever taking so much as my BP or temp, I left.
@lanabrooke , I hope your situation improves.
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2 ReactionsI have had this problem. My doctor said it was constipation, but I have IBSD. I am rarely constipated. Urination is definitely more difficult when I am constipated.
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5 ReactionsHave you tried magnesium to alleviate the constipation? If the answer is "yes," and it worked, do you take it every day?
If magnesium works, the effective dose is to be maintained.
(Supplementing with iron can also cause constipation, if not taken with magnesium.)
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3 Reactions@marco789 Miralax is reasonable for someone with moderate constipation, but for severe, I've found that it does very little for me.
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3 ReactionsI have had severe constipation for over 3 years. The main reason for the constipation was from taking methadone. Methadone causes constipation and can also cause severe sweating,which can lead to severe dehydration. The combination of this lead me to only havr a bowel movement once every 10 days. Even longer at times. My doctors keep tellimg me to take laxatives which has caused even more problems. But to the issue at hand, I have recently been unable to utinate,even though it geels like i will explode. It is extremely painful. Sometimes the only way i can urinate is to sit on the toilet. I am not sute why this is just starting to happen,but I susprct it is because my colon is so full of waste,it is putting pressure on my bladder,perhaps even pinching it in a way that is preventing urine from beinh expelled. I have several theories on my issues,but my doctors dont seem to want to listen to them. They just tell me to take laxatives. The current one is Peg-Lite. Whuch is used to clean your plumbing out before a colonoscopy.... This issue is/has ruined my life in every way. Anyone who has even mild costipation regularly, I strongly urge you to see your doctor about it. If I told you what it has done to me and what I have lost, you wouldnt hesitate one minute longer
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4 Reactions@cam1314 I rarely get constipated anymore, thank God, but when it goes on for more than two days, I have trouble urinating. So I have to do an enema because it is in the emergency stage. I do thnk it puts pressure on your bladder and it's dangerous. I exercise every day. I find that swimming keeps me very regular because of all the twists and turns, which seem to massage the digestive tract. Same with yoga. Very stimulating to the digestive tract. I try to eat a salad every day. Cheerios have a lot of fiber. Kiwis. Watermelon. Popcorn! Plenty of protein. Oily fish like salmon and cook with olive oil. Take a probiotic. Get out in the sunshine and nature EVERY DAY. Garden as it is very relaxing and it gives you organic vegetables.. Sleep well. Be happy. Good luck.
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2 Reactions@cam1314 sure because your bladder and bowl are up against each other causing that inability to urinate
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2 ReactionsDrink liquid magnesium citrate
The whole bottle
If needed drink 2
It breaks up the harden stool.
Laxatives only get the bottom half they do not get the part or colon above the transfer colon
If you have bouts of diarrhea that is the overflow
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1 ReactionI had/have this and it is upsetting that doctors have no clue! Just now Google in AI mode brought up a condition called rectocele where the rectum stretches out and pinches the urethra. There's a ring that can be inserted in the vagina to hold the rectovaginal wall in place to help with this if other measures don't work. I got help from a pelvic floor therapist and a PA who lectured me on everything connected--psyllium fiber, probiotics, the squatty potty 😂 . At this point I'm getting by without the ring, but it's good to know it's an option. One of the sources quoted was from the Mayo Clinic. Sorry to hear of your terrible treatment from physicians. Shame!
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