Constipation – When to seek Medical Advice
If you have been constipated for longer than 3 weeks, you should consult a physician. They can order lab tests and xrays to search for the cause of your constipation.
Here are some questions your doctor may ask you:
- What is a normal bowel habit for you?
- Do you have difficulty passing stool, and, if so, how long has that bothered you?
- When did you last have a bowel movement?
- Do you have the ability to pass gas?
- Are there abdominal or anal pains present?
- If there is pain present, how would you describe the pain?
- Do you feel hotter or colder than usual for you?
- Have you taken any medication for your constipation and has it helped? What were the names of those medicines?
- Are you in the habit of taking laxatives or enemas? How often?
- Does it seem as though you have to use a laxative to go to the bathroom?
- Has your appetite changed? Do you eat more or less than usual?
- Have you lost or gained weight?
- Do you feel better after having a bowel movement?
- Any nausea or vomiting?
- Are you pregnant?
- Do you smoke? How old when you started and how much do you smoke?
- Do you drink alcohol or caffeine? How much a day?
- Do you take any medications for any other problems?
- Do you have any joint pain? Where?
- Are you frequently tired?
- Any family history of constipation or cancer of the intestines?
Your doctor will examine you and determine which tests to run. This will also be based on your history gathered by the answers to the above questions.
Some of the tests ordered are blood work such as a thyroid panel and a complete blood count, stool sample testing and xrays such as a regular abdominal xray and a barium enema. A colonoscopy may be scheduled, which would be an internal examination of your intestines with biopsies taken if necessary.
All results should be available to you within a few days.
