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What Causes Severe Constipation After A Gastric Bypass?

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Posted on Wed, 17 Feb 2016
Question: Hi I had gastric bypass about 5 years ago....for the past year is have had several issues...low blood pressure, low sugar at time, and anemia last year that we fixed with an iron infusion. However I have had trouble with my stomach since prio to surgury. So I have been extremely constipated for months and I have increase my fiber ...but took two laxatives last night. As I was going to the bathroom, all of the sudden my lower abdominal, possibly the bowels was a large ball, it felt as if they twisted. So my question is this an emergency, I keyed down and in let lose however feels like a bad XXXXXXX horse that could easily do it again, now I am afraid to go to the bathroom. After I laced down when I first got up I was dizzy and sick at my stomach. I am drinking water to hydrate and have been able to get again. What should I do
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Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Go to ER and stop taking anything orally till told by the Doctor.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.

To recapitulate: Female/45 - Gastric Bypass 5 years ago - issues of the last year about sugar, BP, anemia - Constipation for months - increase in fibers - took 2 *laxatives last night - sudden feeling of a large ball lower abdominal - felt as if twisted - feels like bad XXXXXXX horse - afraid to go to bathroom - and so on ...

Wants to know whether this is an emergency and what should be done...

From the history this looks to be emergency unless proved otherwise. This thinking is so as this is called Acute Abdomen and must be evaluated clinically, investigated to find or rule-out the cause.

The possible cause can be due to irritation of one of the laxatives particularly if it belongs to the category that causes irritation of the bowel to instigate motion.

In acute abdomen, we try to avoid to give the anti-spasmodic as it may dampen the clinical signs and tests.

Hence I would advise you to rush to ER so that a clinical evaluation, investigations like X-ray of the abdomen in standing position, ultrasound and tests of blood, urine and stool can be conducted.

I think stop taking anything including water orally till advised by the Doctor, it is a standard practice in acute abdomen.

I hope this answer helps you to get an early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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What Causes Severe Constipation After A Gastric Bypass?

Brief Answer: Go to ER and stop taking anything orally till told by the Doctor. Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query and an elucidate history. To recapitulate: Female/45 - Gastric Bypass 5 years ago - issues of the last year about sugar, BP, anemia - Constipation for months - increase in fibers - took 2 *laxatives last night - sudden feeling of a large ball lower abdominal - felt as if twisted - feels like bad XXXXXXX horse - afraid to go to bathroom - and so on ... Wants to know whether this is an emergency and what should be done... From the history this looks to be emergency unless proved otherwise. This thinking is so as this is called Acute Abdomen and must be evaluated clinically, investigated to find or rule-out the cause. The possible cause can be due to irritation of one of the laxatives particularly if it belongs to the category that causes irritation of the bowel to instigate motion. In acute abdomen, we try to avoid to give the anti-spasmodic as it may dampen the clinical signs and tests. Hence I would advise you to rush to ER so that a clinical evaluation, investigations like X-ray of the abdomen in standing position, ultrasound and tests of blood, urine and stool can be conducted. I think stop taking anything including water orally till advised by the Doctor, it is a standard practice in acute abdomen. I hope this answer helps you to get an early diagnosis and proper treatment. Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.