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What Causes A Feeling Incomplete Evacuation Of Colon And Excessive Gas?
Question: Hello, I am 60 years old. I had a colonoscopy 14 years ago which had one polyp that was removed. 4 years ago I had another one and it was clear. I am having issues though ..... feeling as if I rarely totally evacuate my colon; sometimes pooping 6 or 7 times a day, but just a marble size. And then other times not going poop for 2 days, which hasn't historically been unusual for me. No blood or diarrhea or pain or bloating. But lots of gas. I've taken metamucil every day for years and years and it has always worked but now things seem to be different. I'm worried about colon cancer. And is there anything I can take/do to be more regular and have less frequency. I tried Miralax (my dr suggestion) but I have the same result of multiple times a day, but with more urgency. Thank you. XXXX YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Female/60 - visited a Doctor - who said everyone is different - tried Miralax (caused poop multiple times a day), Metamucil and Fibercon - polyp removed 14 years ago on colonoscopy - clear colonoscopy 4 years ago - feeling incomplete evacuation of colon - sometimes pooing 6-7 times a day but just a marble size - other times no poop for 2 days - no pain, blood, diarrhea, bloating - but *lots of gas - Metamucil worked for years - *worried about colon cancer - wants to know what to take or do to regularize -
Read the history and understood your concerns.
My thoughts and advise would be as follows:
First of all, get an X-ray of the abdomen to see the amount of colon loading/fecoliths.
If present, you need a cleansing bowel enema, preferably soap and water/saline so that the colon is cleaned off the fecoliths which is one of the important reasons for your present symptoms.
Once the large intestine is cleared, it may normalize the bowel movements without much assistance till the built up of the fecoliths again.
You will have to make a list of the foods, additives, beverages that instigate or enhance your problems and strictly avoid them. This does not look easy as it needs your efforts to list all such efforts.
Also make a list of the foods, additives, beverages that help you to have normal bowel movements. Increase their consumption.
There may be an indirect or direct effect of stress and/or anxiety on the bowel habits and try to reduce or nullify if you have any.
In chronic problems one should try different laxatives at different times for the following reasons:
- There is no development of dependence on a particular one and hence all remain effective. you also come to know which one suits you the best and acts the best for you in particular.
- Test of stool, blood tests for thyroid and so does help in some cases .
Colonoscopy and CT scan alone can help you to rule out caner, go ahead with it to see.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
As detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
To recapitulate: Female/60 - visited a Doctor - who said everyone is different - tried Miralax (caused poop multiple times a day), Metamucil and Fibercon - polyp removed 14 years ago on colonoscopy - clear colonoscopy 4 years ago - feeling incomplete evacuation of colon - sometimes pooing 6-7 times a day but just a marble size - other times no poop for 2 days - no pain, blood, diarrhea, bloating - but *lots of gas - Metamucil worked for years - *worried about colon cancer - wants to know what to take or do to regularize -
Read the history and understood your concerns.
My thoughts and advise would be as follows:
First of all, get an X-ray of the abdomen to see the amount of colon loading/fecoliths.
If present, you need a cleansing bowel enema, preferably soap and water/saline so that the colon is cleaned off the fecoliths which is one of the important reasons for your present symptoms.
Once the large intestine is cleared, it may normalize the bowel movements without much assistance till the built up of the fecoliths again.
You will have to make a list of the foods, additives, beverages that instigate or enhance your problems and strictly avoid them. This does not look easy as it needs your efforts to list all such efforts.
Also make a list of the foods, additives, beverages that help you to have normal bowel movements. Increase their consumption.
There may be an indirect or direct effect of stress and/or anxiety on the bowel habits and try to reduce or nullify if you have any.
In chronic problems one should try different laxatives at different times for the following reasons:
- There is no development of dependence on a particular one and hence all remain effective. you also come to know which one suits you the best and acts the best for you in particular.
- Test of stool, blood tests for thyroid and so does help in some cases .
Colonoscopy and CT scan alone can help you to rule out caner, go ahead with it to see.
I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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