Nineteen Days Without Relief: A Woman’s Wake-Up Call About Ignoring Her Body

It began as a mild discomfort. Something she brushed off as a side effect of a stressful week and an irregular diet. But nineteen days later, what started as a silent inconvenience had grown into a painful, consuming reality for 36-year-old Lara Thompson, a graphic designer from Portland, Oregon.

“I thought it would pass,” Lara says. “It always did before.”

But this time, it didn’t.

The Silent Creep of Constipation

For many, constipation might seem like a mundane, even trivial issue. A minor inconvenience that’s easily fixed with a fiber bar or some prune juice. But for Lara, this bout became something else entirely—physical discomfort turned into emotional exhaustion, affecting her work, her sleep, and her mental clarity.

The first few days passed with no significant concern. A little bloating, a slight decrease in appetite. “I was working late hours and grabbing whatever food I could—mostly carbs and processed snacks. I didn’t even realize I hadn’t had a proper bowel movement until day four.”

By day seven, her abdomen was distended, and she began experiencing sharp cramps. But she hesitated to seek medical attention. “It felt embarrassing. I kept telling myself it wasn’t serious enough.”

The Hidden Burden

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the U.S., affecting an estimated 16 out of every 100 adults. But chronic constipation—defined as infrequent or difficult bowel movements lasting several weeks or longer—is far more than just a digestive nuisance. It can lead to complications such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fecal impaction, and a significantly reduced quality of life.

By the tenth day, Lara had stopped eating full meals. “Everything made me feel full or nauseated. I would eat half a banana and feel like I’d just finished Thanksgiving dinner.” She started relying on laxatives, which provided little to no relief.

She felt sluggish and irritable, increasingly withdrawn from social interaction. “I wasn’t just constipated—I was anxious, ashamed, and tired all the time. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t even want to admit how bad it had gotten.”

When Pain Becomes a Wake-Up Call

It wasn’t until day sixteen, when Lara began experiencing waves of nausea and dizzy spells, that she finally walked into an urgent care center. The attending physician took one look at her distended abdomen and ordered an abdominal X-ray.

The diagnosis: severe fecal impaction.

“I was shocked. I didn’t even know that was a thing.” Lara was treated with a combination of enemas, osmotic laxatives, and a carefully monitored hydration regimen. It took three more days—nineteen in total—before she was finally able to pass stool with some relief.

“It felt like I’d survived something invisible but overwhelming,” she says.

The Bigger Picture: Why Constipation Is More Than a Bathroom Problem

Lara’s experience isn’t unique. Many women, in particular, suffer in silence due to societal stigmas around bowel health. Hormonal changes, stress, dehydration, sedentary lifestyles, and poor diet all contribute, but the reluctance to talk about it delays intervention.

“Constipation isn’t glamorous. It’s not something people post about,” Lara notes. “But maybe we should talk about it more—because not talking about it nearly cost me my health.”

According to gastroenterologist Dr. Meredith Chang, this reluctance is common. “We see patients who wait far too long before seeking help, often out of embarrassment. But ignoring chronic constipation can lead to serious health consequences.”

What Lara Learned—and What She Wants Others to Know

Since her recovery, Lara has made several lifestyle changes. She now drinks at least eight glasses of water daily, starts her mornings with a fiber-rich smoothie, and prioritizes physical activity—even a 30-minute walk during lunch breaks. But more importantly, she listens to her body.

“I had to unlearn the habit of ignoring discomfort. Pain is a message, not a weakness.”

She also wants to dismantle the shame surrounding digestive health. “If your body is telling you something, don’t silence it. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your friends. Normalize it. We need to stop pretending that our health stops at the neck.”

Final Thoughts

Lara’s story is a powerful reminder that even the most basic bodily functions can’t be taken for granted. Constipation may not be life-threatening in most cases, but when left unaddressed, it can spiral into something that dominates your physical and emotional well-being.

It’s time to change the narrative—one bowel movement at a time.