I am Dr Shamoon. Thank you for the details. At 29 years, 3 days of hard, incomplete motions with a gripping pain just above the belly button that does not spread anywhere fits functional constipation with colonic gas and spasm rather than anything dangerous - the pain staying localised and non-radiating is reassuring. One important point specific to you: the pregabalin you take for your cervical (C-spine) disc bulge itself slows bowel motility and is a very common hidden reason constipation turns stubborn. Duphalac (lactulose) 10 ml once a day is a low dose; lactulose works by drawing water into the stool, so with low fluid intake it can actually increase bloating and gripping pain, which may be exactly what you feel now. With no other medicines or diagnosed illness and only a dust allergy, the focus should be on optimising the lactulose dose, water and fibre, and confirming the cause if it does not settle in a few days.
Next Steps
1) Duphalac can safely be increased from 10 ml to 15-20 ml at bedtime for a few days, and up to 30 ml a day if needed; take it with a full glass of warm water. Reduce back once motions are soft and daily. 2) Drink 2.5-3 litres of water daily - lactulose will not work without this. 3) Add fibre: soaked raisins or 2 soaked figs/prunes at night, papaya, guava, oats, whole wheat, cooked leafy vegetables; add 1-2 tsp isabgol (psyllium) in a glass of water at night. 4) A 20-30 minute walk daily and a fixed unhurried toilet time after breakfast - do not suppress the urge or strain. 5) For the gripping pain, warm compress over the abdomen helps; you may take a plain antispasmodic tablet if the pain is troublesome. 6) Discuss your pregabalin with the doctor treating your neck - it commonly slows the bowel and the dose or timing may need review; do not stop it on your own. 7) If not improved in 3-5 days, or the pain increases, get a clinical examination with abdominal ultrasound and basic blood tests including
thyroid (
TSH) and haemoglobin. You are welcome to consult me here on Practo for a detailed review, or in person at Synergy Multispeciality Hospital, Miraj.
Health Tips
Word of caution: seek urgent medical review if the pain becomes severe or constant, the abdomen becomes distended and hard, you vomit or cannot pass stool or gas at all, develop fever, bleeding from the back passage, black stools or unexplained weight loss. Do not use stimulant laxatives or enemas repeatedly on your own, and avoid straining as it can cause piles or a fissure.