Constipation and pain in center of stomach/below my chest
I’ve been feeling constipated since fall 2020, and I’m going almost everyday, but I almost always feel like I’m not getting everything out. Sometimes I’ve felt like I needed to go, but it was too hard to push or it would hurt too much to get out on my own.
Maybe last summer, I started having a feeling of fullness right below my chest. This feeling would come and go, and I’ve wondered if it was related to doing an exercise type activity where I was putting pressure on my back. Maybe last fall, I started having pain either in my chest or right below my chest (like near my sternum), that has come and gone. Sometimes it felt like the pain would radiate to my back, or I would feel the pain in my arm.
Since then I think I’ve stopped having pain in my chest, but there’s times when I feel like I have a pain maybe below my sternum, or maybe above my stomach but not in my chest. When I get this pain/feeling, it scares me and makes me think something is wrong. It seems like the pain doesn’t really last, but I don’t know if it truly doesn’t last or if I’m trying to get myself to ignore it and stay distracted in my mind so I won’t feel it.
Maybe 2-3 days ago I was washing something outside, and the next day I woke up with my back feeling sore, but it kinda felt deeper than just my back. This evening I was sitting and eating, and all of a sudden I felt the pain or uncomfortable feeling maybe near my sternum. It didn’t last long, but it scared me for a while after that because I don’t know If something’s wrong.
Sometimes when I have this feeling/pain, it feels like it’s more than just stress and it’s physical. Sometimes it gives me the urge to have a bowel movement, and like after having the feeling I feel like I need to go.
Does anyone know what this could be? When I have the feeling, I’ve thought about maybe going somewhere but I’ve been feeling this way off and on for months/possibly close to a year. I have a doctors appointment later this month too, but in the past I haven’t brought this up.
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@emilystewart30 it sounds like acid reflux (GERD). I get those pains and a few sips of water seem to help. However, I am not a doctor or nurse, and perhaps you should see your doctor.
@rashida thank you for responding. If it’s alright asking, do you have similar symptoms with the pains, like the urge to use the bathroom or like it causes fear? I do need to see a doctor though
@emilystewart30 yes, I have had GERD for many years and take medication for it, but when I get that chest pain I discovered a few sips of water ease them. I also suffer from GAD - general anxiety disorder - which can also manifest itself as chest pain, palpitations, stomach cramps, very loose bowel movements, etc. and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which can cause similar symptoms.
You still should see a doctor to rule out any other illness.
Glad you are consulting your doctor. Just be sure to write down what you've been experiencing and timeline so you don't miss anything during appt. Good luck.
I have reflux,gastropresis and chronic constipation and have similar symptoms, please see a GI doctor so you can have an endoscopy/colonoscopy and get a clearer picture of what’s going on and meds to help you manage your symptoms