I've been to the emergency room twice for this, and drs keep telling me I'm just constipated. I have changed my diet, taken stool softeners, and have done a colon cleanse. I have kicked caffiene, stopped taking all otc/prescriptions (ambien, which I recently read causes constipation) and drink tons of water. I have added alot of fiber to my diet. Nothing is helping, and now, for the first time throughout the 3 months I've had these symptoms, I have not had a BM in 3 days. I'm afraid something is seriously wrong, but I currently cannot aford an appointment with my doctor, and the ER doctors will only xray my abdomen. No bloodwork, or even a urine test.



Here are the details, which according to my research, are NOT consistant with IBS, or general constipation:



-Swollen and rock-hard abdomen, but ONLY in the top part of the abdomen.

-breathing difficulty, due to the pressure on my diaphram???

-before the last few days (over the past 3 months) have had daily bms, with little or no strain

-involuntary "sucking in" -- as if my stomach muscles are having a spasm. This is constant.

-no nausea or vomiting

-no pain, except down my arm/leg, occasionally in my chest

-extreme pressure in the swollen area, struggling for breath- this has increased over the past week.



If anyone knows what this could possibly be, please let me know. If something can be found on the internet, I can usually find it within minutes. However, I have been researching this for 3 months, and have no answers. If there is still "constipation," it's definately a small symptom of a much bigger problem! I am afraid, and the doctors don't listen very well. Could I become septic? What can I do that I have not already tried?