Patient
Hi, thank you for taking my call. I've been going through some health issues recently and I was hoping to get some advice from you. I'm not really sure if I should be worried or need to see a doctor, but I'm starting to get a bit concerned. Could you help me figure out what's going on?
Triage Assistant
Sure, I can help with that. Can you please tell me where it hurts?
Patient
Actually, I’m not experiencing any pain, but I've noticed some other troubling symptoms that I think might be related.
Triage Assistant
Got it. Could you describe the symptoms you're experiencing?
Patient
Yes, of course. I've noticed that I've unintentionally lost about 12 pounds over the past few weeks, and at the same time, I've been experiencing constipation.
Triage Assistant
Let's start with a few questions about your constipation: How often do you have a bowel movement (BM), and when was your last one?
Patient
I typically have a bowel movement every couple of days, but lately, it's been stretching out to around once every four or five days. My last bowel movement was about five days ago.
Triage Assistant
Thank you. Do you have to strain to have a bowel movement?
Patient
Yes, I've had to strain quite a bit lately to have a bowel movement. It's been much harder than usual.
Triage Assistant
Does your rectum hurt when the stool comes out?
Patient
It doesn't really hurt, but it feels very uncomfortable and sometimes a bit sore after I finally manage to go.
Triage Assistant
Are your stools hard?
Patient
Yes, my stools have been quite hard and difficult to pass.
Triage Assistant
Have you noticed any blood on the toilet tissue or on the surface of the bowel movement?
Patient
No, I haven't noticed any blood on the toilet tissue or in my stool.
Triage Assistant
Is this constipation a new problem for you, or have you experienced it before? If so, for how long?
Patient
This is a relatively new problem for me. I've experienced occasional constipation in the past, but nothing this severe or prolonged. It started around the same time as the weight loss.
Triage Assistant
Have there been any recent changes in your diet or fluid intake? How much fluids are you drinking daily, and how much have you had to drink today?
Patient
I haven't made any significant changes to my diet recently, but I realize I might not be drinking as much water as I should. I probably drink about 4-5 glasses of water a day, and today I've only had about 2 so far.
Triage Assistant
I recommend increasing your fluid intake to 6-8 glasses of water a day, and aim for high-fiber foods to help soften your stools and improve bowel movements. Try to be more consistent with having a BM at the same time each day, preferably after a meal. Given your weight loss and persistent constipation, I strongly advise seeing a healthcare professional within the next 3 days to rule out any serious conditions. Thank you for calling, goodbye.
See More Appropriate Protocol
Go to ED/UCC Now (or to Office With PCP Approval)
Go to Office Now
See in Office Today
See in Office Within 3 Days
See in Office Within 2 Weeks
Home Care
Triage result was accurate.
First aid advice was given.
Some assessment questions asked.