Posted by Henry Alken on October 23, 2001 at 12:11:03:
Spent the day walking around and lying in bed, hoping the folk who remove the pacemaker wires would come. But they don't work on weekends.
Lying in bed, Sunday night, I remembered that doctors like to hear about a bowel movement before they discharge a patient. I have not had a bowel movement since I've been in the hospital. After spending the entire night in the bathroom, it turned out that I had a fecal impaction.
The nurses suggested an enema - no help, then a suppository - no help.
By this time I was desperate since the impaction was stopping me from urinating. Finally, I remembered reading about digital extraction. I won't go into this any more than to say it worked although it took hours.
Later, during morning rounds, none of the residents seemed particularly disturbed by my story. The nurses told me it happens quite often and they believe it is caused by the meds. Be warned!