What Should I Do If I Havent Had a Bowel Movement for a Week?

If you have not had a bowel movement for a week and constipation is severe, symptoms can be improved through replenishing water, adjusting diet, medication, and bowel lavage, with prompt treatment under the guidance of a doctor. Here are the specific measures:

1. Replenishing Water

If there is insufficient water in the intestines, it may lead to dry and hard stool, slow intestinal motility, and difficulty in defecation. It is necessary to drink warm water appropriately, and drinking honey water on an empty stomach in the morning can accelerate intestinal motility and facilitate the excretion of feces.

2. Adjusting Diet

Patients need to adjust their diet by avoiding greasy foods such as fatty meat, fried chicken, and hamburgers, and instead eating foods rich in dietary fiber, such as celery and corn.

3. Medication

Patients can follow the doctor's instructions to take medications such as lactulose oral solution, bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets, and itopride hydrochloride tablets to relieve constipation. These medications can increase stool volume and promote its excretion, while also stimulating intestinal motility and avoiding slow intestinal movement.

4. Bowel Lavage

If the patient's symptoms are severe, bowel lavage can be performed under medical supervision to evacuate the feces in the intestines and achieve the purpose of clearing the intestines. Additionally, if accompanied by intestinal obstruction, surgical treatments such as subtotal colectomy and total colectomy may be considered to improve symptoms.

It is important to keep track of changes in bowel movement frequency and establish proper bowel habits. It is recommended to consult a doctor promptly for personalized advice and treatment options.