I havcabdominal distention which seems pretty severe to me.  I have nausea and stomach pain.  I have ibs diarrhea type..  I had an abdominal x-ray yesterday and they said they what looked like constipation but I had a severe bout of diarrhea right on schedule last night.  and then the distention got worse.  how concerned should I be and what could it be
Hi. Thanks for your query. The picture is very clear. As the X-ray is showing constipation, the Doctor must be meaning xenoliths. Fecoliths are the hard fecal matter and thereby get stuck in the large bowel. The gases get stuck and give a back-pressure to cause distension of the intestines (abdomen). Another effect is the large intestine produces too much mucus and pour liquid in effect to facilitate passage and in turn will appear as a IBS type of diarrhea, which you feel like. The simple and best treatment in such cases is a soap-water enema of a conventional type. This allows to passage of the xenoliths out and this will cure your problem. If the condition recurs, a diagnostic colonoscopy in required to rule out a tumor or stricture.