Struggling with constipation and severe stomach distention

Hello @bowersmorgan164 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry to hear of these uncomfortable symptoms that seem to elude treatment. I'm sure you must feel frustrated. Have you considered getting a second opinion? Here is a link to a Mayo Clinic article on when and why to seek a second opinion. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/tips-for-seeking-a-second-opinion/

As you have seen specialists, it might be wise to consider getting a second opinion from a research-oriented health care facility like Mayo Clinic (appointment information for Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida can be found at http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63). If an appointment at Mayo is not possible, you might consider an appointment at a university medical school in your area.

Are these symptoms affecting your appetite? Have you lost weight?

@hopeful33250
Yeah so unfortunately it is so hard to find more local gastroenterologists, I have an appointment for a new place I am trying to get in but it’s not until the middle of this year because they are so full.
I have tried going to so many places that are local but know one seems to look at the full picture, I also took a step and broke a bone in my foot over the summer so that was another big symptom, I’ve been to an endocrinologist, spine specialist, gastroenterologist and gynecologist and can’t find anything on the persistent distention, the only thing I have found is obvious inflammation in the tests I have done, I am doing a bunch of gut work right now and haven’t seemed to notice a thing really.
My weight is actually up and I’m struggling to lose it, I’m a very active person that really focuses on health and I’m about 20 pounds up then I used to be and I’ve tried super hard to lose it. The distention in my stomach is rock hard and I’ve only seen it come down once for one day this entire year, my symptoms aren’t really affecting my appetite, i honestly fall more into the category of emotional eating because I’m so upset over the fact that I’ve tried so many things now and just feel so hopeless with it. Every doctor I have gone to has just told me to go somewhere else

I was having similar upper abdominal pain but mine was more central/left side. All tests were normal until 3 years later a gallbladder function test was a little off. Ended up having it removed but didn’t help the pain. My pancreatic enzymes are almost always elevated but all tests are normal. I know how frustrating it can be but keep looking for answers. I googled every symptom and took lists of questions to doctors and got second opinions.
I believe Chrohns can cause bloating and distention so keep researching that angle and keep a food diary if you aren’t. What you eat today may not affect you for a few days so keep that in mind.
After having c-diff and being told I then had IBS-D with severe diarrhea for three three months, and meds not helping, I saw another GI in September who thinks it’s constipation. Loose stool seeping out around hard stool. I actually had a stool ball the size of a softball in April and I thought I had diarrhea.
Now I do not recommend trying this without discussing with a GI, but mine told me to use an enema for seven days to break up the hard stool, then use one as needed, and use Metamucil in the morning and miralax at night. All of these are safe to do IF you have no other serious issues. I now have 6-7 BMs a day with soft, formed stool but no diarrhea and upper abdominal pain has mostly subsided.
Perhaps you can ask someone at your current GIs office about trying something like I did. Message them through a patient porta?? If you google Metamucil in the morning and Miralax at night you’ll see where the National GI association (forget the actual name) approves this treatment for constipation. But again, talk to a medical professional before trying anything on your own.
Praying you find answers so you can begin to heal!

Hello, @bowersmorgan164 , I’m now 77 years old. I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease almost 9 years ago after undergoing testing for a decades and being hospitalized with complete small bowel obstruction. My inflammation is located in the mid to distal jejunum. I have the same problem with constipation and pain which my GI doctor feels is due to having a torturous large colon which has moderate to severe diverticulosis. I also get painful distention when I don’t have a BM.
MiraLAX doesn’t help much at all. I’m taking Trulance 3 mg daily usually in the early morning or early afternoon followed by MiraLAX after dinner. I can’t get too far from a commode when I take Trulance. It works in 1-2 hours. I absolutely hate having to schedule my life around having a BM and toilet location. I understand how distressed you feel. I don’t know if this helps or not. Good luck.

One test you might try for constipation that has reached the lower bowel: Insert one Ducolax Bisacodyl 10mg suppository (stimulant laxative) in your rectum. Bisacodyl is the recommended laxative ingredient to protect your kidneys (compared to laxatives containing magnesium). If the stomach distension is exacerbated by trapped gas, the suppository may soon help relieve the pressure as well as cause a bowel movement. However if the constipation has hardened into an upper intestine blockage that enemas and laxatives can't break up, you may end up in a hospital ER when you start have nausea, vomiting, pain etc (see emergency ER red flag warnings for intestinal stool blockage). If a morning suppository produces regular bowel movements and you have no ER red flag warnings, then maybe a "watch and wait" approach over the next few weeks will help you decide if your major change in bowel movements is temporary or being caused by a more serious issue.

Those are all really great ideas, thank you all for your advice, I’ll most definitely be looking into a second opinion for sure with what all is going on, but in the mean time these tips sound great! @bobweb @skypledger @jme1994 @hopeful33250