Should I see a doctor or nurse?
See your doctor or nurse if:
- Your symptoms are new or not normal for you
- You do not have a bowel movement for a few days
- The problem comes and goes, but lasts for longer than 3 weeks
- You are in a lot of pain
- You have other symptoms that also worry you (for example, bleeding, weakness, weight loss, or fever)
- Other people in your family have had colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
Are there tests I should have?
Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any.
Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of constipation:
- Rectal exam – Your doctor will look at the outside of your anus. He or she will also use a finger to feel inside the opening.
- Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy – For these tests, the doctor puts a thin tube into your anus. Then, he or she advances the tube into your large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon. The tube has a camera attached to it, so the doctor can look inside your intestines. During these tests, the doctor can also take samples of tissue to look at under a microscope (figure 2).
- X-rays or MRI – These create images of the inside of your body.
- Manometry studies – Manometry allows the doctor to measure the pressure inside the rectum at various points. It can help the doctor find out if the muscles that control bowel movements are working right. The test also shows whether the person's rectum can feel normal.
How is constipation treated?
That depends on what is causing your constipation. First, your doctor will want you to try eating more fiber and drinking more water. If that doesn't help, your doctor might suggest:
- Medicines that you swallow or put in your rectum
- Changing the medicines you are taking for other conditions
- A treatment called an "enema" – For this treatment, a doctor or nurse will squirt water into your rectum. He or she might also use a thin tool to help break up bowel movements that are still inside you.
- You might also be able to give yourself enema treatments at home, too. Enemas can be just water, or they can contain medicine to help with constipation.
- Biofeedback – This is a technique that teaches you to relax your muscles so you can let go and push bowel movements out.
Can constipation be prevented?
You can reduce your chances of getting constipation again by:
- Eating a diet that is full of fiber
- Drinking water and other fluids during the day
- Going to the bathroom at regular times every day
