Mumsnet Talk

First things first, I'll report my post to MN so they can hopefully pop on and verify I'm a long term poster, and most definitely NOT the poo troll!

I have a prolapse from the birth of my DC (a rectocele), I have already seen my GP and been referred to a consultant, who will hopefully get me straight in for surgery (fingers crossed).

The trouble is, I am very constipated and I don't know why - I eat a very healthy diet, almost completely vegetarian, drink pints and pints of water, the only thing I can attribute it to is medication for an unrelated condition (constipation is listed as a possible side effect, along with almost every health problem you could think of!)

So we get to the gruesome bit... When I poo, the poo goes into the herniated bit, and the huge lump goes into my vagina. When not constipated, I just need to push this lump and out it comes. When I am constipated... Well, it doesn't go anywhere... It's stuck. Luckily this time (I just pooed. Waaaay oversharing!) a lot of wiggling, pushing and crying and out it came. Followed by blood. But it took a lot of work and I'm worried that maybe next time it won't!

Can anyone help?
I have mentioned it to my doctor btw, but she basically just said eat more veg, drink more water, see the consultant.

Oh poor you, I hope you manage to get it sorted soon.

Is there any way you could stop taking the medication for a while, to see if that is the cause? Or take an alternative medication?

Otherwise, there are lots of anti-constipation things you can take - I'm sure there will be some wise MNetters who have experience of them.

You poor thing! Do you drink prune juice? Figs help too. When its stuck, could you try having a warm bath to soften it?

Go back to the gp and say that you have followed all her advice and still have the problem. She may be able to change your medication, prescribe movicol or refer you to a continence nurse, all of which could improve things.

Sounds horrid, I hope you get an improvement soon.

I'm afraid I don't have any advice but it sounds awful for you. I just really wanted to say that I LOVE your namechange!

Hi,
this is horrid for you, hope you get it sorted soon.
Go to gp and ask them to prescribe movicol.
Take it 2 - 3 times a day until going freely then drop it to once if that is enough to keep motions soft.
I found a bed time dose meant I went in the morning.
Read the threads on rectocele but remember the ones who had it easy do not post as much.
I had surgery for the same problem and it was not as horrific as I expected.
Blow out as you poo, a tip that works from a Mumsnetter.

Well, umm. That sounds entirely normal to me although obviously it isn't. But, it's been my experience for the last few years. Need a poo, lump in vagina, push lump with thumb = poo comes out.

I've been constipated on and off for months now (pregnancy related) and sometimes get blood when wiping afterwards, I've assumed it's piles and have been using anasol.

My deepest sympathies for you. I too went to doctors as I suspected I had a rectocele as welll as it turns out I have a prolasped bladder. However in researching rectocele (I have the same problem as you as in pooing) I read that sticking your finger into your vagina and pushing down on the rectocele can help push the waste away. I did do it once and yes it did help. It is a short term solution. I would still go back to your doctor and ask for stool softeners.
Also try and find the mumsnet thread dedicated to all types of downstairs prolaspes

A stool softener like lactulose might help maybe if the problem is that it's too solid to shift?

I'd go back and see your GP and say the more veg/more water thing isn't helping. There's lots more they can do than that!

Second the movicol, it's magical stuff. Or lactulose from the chemist if your Gp won't help.

Also try a food diary. I know certain foods will made me constipated. If I drink too much coffee ie more than 4 cups a day I suffer for it the next couple of days!

X post!

Avoid weetabix, it sets like concrete inside.

X-posted with everyone!

Forgive me jumping on my soap box, but blood in your poo/when you wipe is not normal and needs diagnosing properly. It can be (isn't always) a sign of bowel cancer. It probably isn't, but if you do get blood please push your GP to find out what IS causing it.

I've been on the rectocele threads, I have no problem posting that I have a rectocele in my normal name but this umm... Crossed the line

I will make an appointment to go back to the doctor, its worth a try. Til I can get an appointment, is movicol available otc?

I've been doing the blowing out, otherwise I would have posted long ago - its got me through it so far!

I have a less severe version of the same since having the kids. One thing that works, it's gross though, is if I know I'm constipated I insert my finger into my fanjo before starting to bear down and literally block the poo from getting into that space in the first place.

I really should have namechanged for that but fuck it.....

Do you take Movicol? It's fab stuff but you must take it for a long period of time so the bowel can return to it's normal shape.

Prune juice - every day!

It sounds normal to me too, since DD1 nearly 3 years ago. I take Fybogel every day to avoid constipation. And germoloids for the piles since DS1 3 months ago. Consultant appointment next week...

Eat prunes.

try eating about 10 dried apricots each day

what do you eat each day presently?

How long ago did you have the DC and are you still bf?

Have you tried molasses in milk? Pears are good. Don't take too many constipation medication as they tend to absorb all the water and can cause more problems. All Bran is brilliant. Avoid bread and pasta or keep it to a minimum. Whole meal bread is okay.

What was that for, laduree?

OP, it sounds horrible. Please do visit your GP and insist you get help. No personal experience of this myself I just don't believe someone should have to put up with what you're having to deal with.

And yes, as Bluey says you should always see the doc about blood in your poo. Clearly in your situation OP it's pretty obvious where the bleeding is coming from, but even so. I lost my mother to colon cancer which could have been treated - so I feel very strongly about this.

Jenai, I'm sorry to hear about your Mum.

Jenai I am so sorry

Op lots of folk here with similar probs

Do see your gp, like they say, they've seen it all before

Have a hug from me

I too have this problems

I have had it for too long (my son is adult)

I have finally gone to the doctor and been referred on - I would love to poo normally and don't understand why it has taken me so long!

I have recently been given cerazette which has caused a constipation problem, and am now trying something else. Usually, I eat porridge for breakfast and maybe a banana and raisins. I am now supplementing that with dried apricots. I am now trying to eat them just in the morning, to get a regular thing going . I am currently suffering too many dried apricots and that has caused the other problem (which you don't want to know about )

I too have this problem. I find eating weetabix helps (it goes through me like anything!) and also push on my perineum rather than the bulge in my fanjo works best to help it along. I bleed a lot after each poo and been told its both a fissure and a pile bleeding at the same time.

I need surgery but they won't refer me until I've finished my family.

Movicol is available OTC. Thats the brand name, you can get generic magrogol sachets. Drink lots with it. Start with one a day and increase till you are comfortable. You might then be able to cut back a little.

I have no problem posting about rectocele in my normal name.

I have tectocele, cystocele, enterocele, and two bleeding anal fissures that open every time my bowels do.

I also push to poo.

And there are times when that wont work - and digital extraction is the only answer.

I'm waiting to see the gyn. The colorectal guy says he can fix the back, but he doesn't do bladders, so waiting to see the gyn guy who does fix bladders.

My "defecating proctogram" was dated March 2010 - and i'm still waiting.

So yeah. basically normal for me. Cos its been more than ten years and still no fix!

tectocele? I have a 4 year old helping me type - that's enough to cause majour havoc!

*rectocele

Just came on to pat you on the back op, ive been there

You can buy lactulose, movicol and laxido over the counter at a pharmacy; I've done so when in dire need (and not able to get a quick appt)

Thanks everyone, will follow all thw advice here, and leep a food diary for a few days. Time to change back to my normal namr, I'll try to remember to come back and update

I had this problem up untill I was fixed with an operation a year ago. Other than what you're already doing I can recommend linseeds, either daily or every other day. Put about a table spoon in a glass of water and wait for them to soften a bit. (a few hours) then down the lot. I lived on them, took them on holidays, nights away, everywhere .
I now resort to the less powerful version, flaxseeds, if I feel the need but that's only occasionally .
It's nice to be able to do a poo at the first attempt and without crying. I waited too long for my op. my rectocele was 10 years old !!!!!!
Good luck.

OP , what you are doing even has a name - it's called splinting , or manual evacuation. I had my rectocele repaired and I'm very proud to say I now poo straight. But I still need Movicol at least once a day , as well as loads of veg and water, and expect I always will : prunes and oranges would be a more fun way to the same effect but I need to keep my sugar intake low.

Faecal impaction is what they call it when it makes you cry. Don't ever let it happen again. And don't ever think you are alone with a particular problem !

People often mention suppositories - have you tried those.

The problem is that once the poo dries out it is very difficult to soften it again.