Patient
Hi, thanks for taking my call. I've been experiencing some issues and I'm hoping you can provide some advice.
Triage Assistant
Of course, we will need to determine where it hurts before proceeding. Can you tell me where it hurts?
Patient
I don't have any specific pain in my body, but I am experiencing discomfort related to my digestion.
Triage Assistant
How often do you have a bowel movement? When was your last one?
Patient
I haven't had a bowel movement without using a laxative for over a month.
Triage Assistant
Do you need to strain to have a bowel movement?
Patient
Yes, I often need to strain quite a bit, even with the laxatives.
Triage Assistant
Does your rectum hurt when the stool comes out?
Patient
Not really. It's more about the difficulty in actually having the bowel movement itself. But sometimes it can be a bit uncomfortable.
Triage Assistant
Are your stools hard?
Patient
Yes, they are often quite hard and difficult to pass.
Triage Assistant
Have you noticed any blood on the toilet tissue or on the surface of your stool?
Patient
No, I haven't noticed any blood. It's just been very difficult and uncomfortable to have a bowel movement.
Triage Assistant
Is this a new problem for you, or have you experienced constipation before? If yes, how long have you had this problem?
Patient
This is a relatively new problem for me. I've experienced occasional constipation before, but I haven't needed to rely on laxatives like this in the past. It's been about a month now that I've had this issue.
Triage Assistant
Have there been any recent changes in your diet or hydration? How much fluid do you drink daily?
Patient
I haven't made any significant changes to my diet recently, but I do think I might not be drinking enough fluids. I probably get around 4-5 glasses of water a day.
Triage Assistant
Are you currently taking any new medications or any narcotic pain medicines?
Patient
No, I'm not taking any new medications, and I don't use narcotic pain medicines.
Triage Assistant
How much walking or physical activity do you do each day? Has your activity level decreased recently?
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 should be See in Office Within 2 Weeks.
Incomplete first aid advice given.
Some assessment questions asked.