Abdominal Pain, Discomfort, and Constipation

[BrandyL81]

Here's the back story (sorry it's a bit disgusting):

Last week, my abdomen was extremely swollen and felt like I had done tons of crunches. A couple days before that, I began to get random sharp pains in my lower right abdomen. Once I was swollen, the sharp pains had gone up to just below my left rib cage. I spoke with my sister on it (who's an LPN) and she stated that I was probably just constipated. She game me Milk of Mag, prune juice, and Miralax. The Milk of Mag and Prune juice where combined into what she calls a bomb (warmed up - 3 cc's of the Milk of Mag and 8ozs of the prune juice). I took that and all I was able to pass was water. The next day was Thanksgiving so I only took Miralax. On Friday morning I woke up at 3am with extreme pain in my lower right abdomen. We thought it was my appendix so off to the ER we went. The doctor took xrays and just said I was extremely constipated. I was prescribed a stimulant laxative and miralax. The stimulant laxative produced very little results over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I continued with the Miralax and one "bomb" a day - all resulting in diarrhea that was pretty much water. I was also beginning to pass my Metform XR (for PCOS) and Wellburtin pills. I also tried an enema and glycerin laxatives. I'm normally a very regular person (every morning) and over the past week have passed maybe half of what I normally would in a morning (not including the severe diarrhea). On Monday this week I went to my doctor who ordered a CT scan. Everything came back normal from my lower lungs down except for a 3cm cyst on an ovary which is not the cause of the pain. Dr. also prescribed me Linzess which I have been taking every night since Monday evening (so two days thus far). The Linzess is causing extreme gurgling and is intensifying the pain in my lower right abdomen. With the Linzess I have severe diarrhea for about 2 hours (except last nights went into this morning). Whenever I eat, I feel even more bloated - like something is going to pop out of my stomach. I've also started to get pains on my sides and left part of my abdomen.

At this point, I'm not sure how to move forward. The Dr. wants me to continue the sample Linzess (so two more nights) but I am so exhausted, bloated, and am still getting the pains. The pains are not constant but enough to make me stop what I'm doing and "labor" breathe for a moment. The thing is, my CT scan came back good - so I'm not sure what is going on!

And another question - since I am having the extreme diarrhea with the medication - does that mean that I am cleared out? Could it just be going around something else? I have no idea how to tell.

Anyone experienced the same?

[BrandyL81]

Did you have an actual movement on the Linzess or was it all diarrhea without any solids?

[leydengs]

Your story sounds similar to mine.  In the last 3-4 months I've been to the ER 3 times, 2 of those they said I was extremely constipated and gave me "the bomb" as well.  I was put on Linzess which worked for 1 week and then completely stopped and I was back to constipation and caused me to feel more bloated.  All scans are normal as well, my gallbladder was normal.  I live on egg whites right now.  I tried eating a fatty food twice in almost 2 months and ended up in the ER with the worst pains ever.  My doctor is checking me for small intestine bacterial overgrowth, fructose and lactose intolerance so I'll have those results soon.

Good luck I hope you find something soon, it's EXTREMELY frustrating!!!