Help! I think I may need an enema!

[helpmego]

I am 15 weeks into my first pregnancy and have been suffering horribly with constipation, I have a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg and I drink about 3 litres of water a day. For a few weeks now I have been in agony when I try to go - my Dr finally diagnosed two tears in my back passage on Saturday from the constipation, but despite now being on lactulose and up to ten sachets of fybogel daily i haven't been to the loo since saturday morning. since this morning I've had a stitch type pain on the left side of my abdomen and a friend tells me that this may be from some 'trapped' poo... I'm at the end of my tether and don't feel comfortable talking about my nether-regions at the best of time - does anyone have any similar experiences?

[MummyAbroad]

I had really bad constipation which led to hemmorhoids in my last pregnancy. I tried a million remedies - but the information that shocked me the most was what I found out reading a book called "Fibre Menace" by Konstantin Monastyrsky. It says that while fruit and veggies are good (natural fibre) anything processed, like Branflakes and Ryvita for example are to be avoided at all costs! These types of fibres cause the tears that you describe. Fibre is not broken down by the human body, so rough processed fibre just gets forced through doing damage as it travels. Drinking lots of water will make this fibre swell and because it reduces your sodium levels which normally keep stools soft, they will become large, hard and difficult to pass. I know the standard advice it to drink more water and eat more fibre, but if you are not careful this advice can make things worse!

If you are eating any kind of processed fibre stop now! A much better strategy is to try and eat things that make your stools soft. Black beans and kidney beans are good options. Try and notice what else works for you. Also anything that helps improve your intestinal flora is good. When you food is broken down properly by flora you wont need to use fibre to have a BM. Also bear in mind that processed fibre can wash away natural flora making the problem worse.

These are more long term/preventative solutions rather than a quick fix, I'm sorry I know how uncomfortable and miserable it is to be constipated. Hope it gets better.

You can read more about the ideas in "Fibre Menace" here
www.fibermenace.com/fibermenace/fm_chapter1.html

Oh, I also really recommend using a foot stool while you are on the toilet. It puts you in a better position so you dont have to push so hard.

[jasmine51]

I know its fairly standard advice, but have you tried beans...baked beans work for me. I generally have 24 hours of being in a bit of pain and bloated but then things start to move fairly rapidly and my word, the relief! I also make up cabbage soup which sounds grim but tastes nicer than it sounds - take a packet of chicken noodle soup and make it up to the instructions adding chopped up white cabbage and boiling it all together til the cabbage is cooked.
I really sympathise as constipation is miserable and hope things improve for you soon

[helpmego]

Ah, well, I don't eat Ryvita or bread - I've only been getting my fibre from fruit and veg, if I snack its been on dried fruit - I am soooo fed up of bloody fruit! but will go and have a look at your link. i don't think I'm lacking in fibre - i just think I may be erm, blocked. Thanks for replying, i thought no-one would say anything!

[helpmego]

Thanks Jasmine - I have been trying everything! I have eaten nothing but watery veg soup today and some plums but still nothing...

[WorzselMummage]

Have you tried flax seeds ?

My dh is on a medication which causes constipation and he eats a spoonfullmof these seeds and washes them down with pure orange juice and that gets things moving. You can get them from holland And Barrett.

[blinder]

I think you are having far too many fybogel sachets and possibly risking getting impacted.

Double the lactulose and drink more water. once things are moving more regularly you should continue with the lactulose until your poo has been soft for weeks.

[jasmine51]

Sorry to hear that, how miserable for you. Keep us informed of...err progress. Perhaps we could start bets on your 'delivery date' just to liven things up!
Ooo, have you also tried lemon juice or fizzy sweets? I have been scoffing 'super sours' and I swear they work. Oh and exercise - walking sometimes helps (not frantic gym sessions though)

[helpmego]

Well, I walk quite a lot (I can't drive and I work with children) and I went swimming yesterday and today - I try to drink lemon juice and water in the morning - do you think I should drink more?

[helpmego]

I've tried Flax seeds and the lactulose just gives me excruciating trapped wind - I think I am impacted - thats why I'm wondering if an enema will help?

[MummyAbroad]

Have you tried glycerine suppositories? I cant recommend them from a personal point of view, but they worked when my DS was 3 months old and very constipated from formula that didnt agree with him. Ask in any pharmacy.

[WoodysHat]

Have you tried prune juice? I found it vile, especially whilst still suffering with morning sickness, but it guaranteed movement.

2 wine glasses full in the evening and by morning it had done the trick

[muffins]

Second the prune juice advice!

[JBrd]

I remember someone recommending eating a kiwi with skin and all...

[thornykate]

Burgen bread in place of normal bread, apparantly the linseeds act as a natural colon cleanser.

After 5 days OP you do probably need something stronger, call your MW see what you can take. Hope you get some relief soon.

[fridakahlo]

And third on the prune juice, drank it all the way through the second pregnancy and suffered much less. If you have tears that's not going to be fun but other things I tried was (tmi) squatting on a potty and applying pressure on my vaginal wall. Both of these seemed to help when I had not pooed for over three days. Hope it gets better soon.

[tomhardyismydh]

you are conpacted you poor thing, stop fybogel and lactulose as its not getting through and causing more damage.

you need to be eating prunes 3 to 4 times daily and prune juice in between. do this one day on and one day off. give it 4 days and you should start going, keep it up for one week then get a generic laxitive from the pharmasist, usually in chocolate squares.

if you begin to have very loose stools do not stop this routine, as this will e back flow of liquide with compacted stools inbetween.

fybogel should only be prescribed to prevent not treat constipation as it is bulk forming to encourage muscle movement. incidently lots of water is recomended.

belive me when you finaly go it will be worrying due to amount etc can take 2 weeks to empty compacted bowel. if not by then surgical intervention should be considered

[Cheeruploveitmightneverhappen]

Oh dear! Poor you.

I can personally recommend the glycerin suppositories MummyAbroad mentioned.
They really do work to get things shifted.

[onadietcokebreak]

Agree with the gyclerin too!

[helpmego]

I drink about a litre of prune juice a day! I'm going to go to the Drs. this morning to wait for an appt. and am going to ask about suppositories - I'm so scared as with all the constipation i have two tears 'down there' and its so sore - thank-you all so so much... (soldiering on emoticon)

[blinder]

I've been there. Horrific I know. 2 tips for you.

The anusolPLUS suppositories will lubricate and slightly anaesthetise your bum. I found this a godsend. Use it morning, night and after a poo for a week but no longer as it contains steroid. Also (TMI) if you are really hurting, poo standing up (I'm sorry) as this will stop you from stretching too far. Once the first hurdle is passed IYSWIM you can sit back down.

[RockinSockBunnies]

Also another vote for the glycerin suppositories - they were a godsend when I was pregnant. The best thing is that you get fairly instant results - put one in, get on all fours with your bum in the air for as long as possible, then finally go to the loo!

Think you may be able to buy them over the counter, but can't be sure.

Good luck!

[spatchcock]

Sorry to hear that nothing's working for you. I was also going to suggest prune juice.

Beetroot works for me ... grated onto a salad.

[vallinnapod]

Hi - I've been suffering terribly too. IVF pregnancy so I have the added joy of Cyclogest pessaries bunging me up. I started on Lactulose and Fybrogel and agree with what has been said before re: Fybrogel, I think it made things worse.

TBH not much worked for me. Sometime the Lactulose moves things, sometimes it doesn't. I personally think my baby is sitting on something (I know, I know, it isn't!) and every now and again it shifts so things move

[emily82]

Ask your doctor for Movicol. I'm taking all silly amounts of tablets for my heart this pregnancy which bung me up and I'm also on a silly amount of iron tablets (I don't do pregnancy that cleverly it seems) which also bung me up. I saw the cardiologist the other day, and he prescribed me Movicol which makes things happen (and quickly). It's a sachet - a bit like fybogel but lemon and lime. It's grim, granted but it's made my life a lot easier. Your GP should be able to prescribe it you're that bad. Lactulose just softens it all, it won't actually make you go. Speak to your GP and good luck with it - very few people know jsut how miserable it can be when you really, really, REALLY can't go :(

[helpmego]

Right - update!
The Dr this morning was so nice, I was a bit upset as he was male and I was feeling very fragile, he examined my tummy and siad he didn't think I was impacted but he gave me some glycerin suppositories and a local anesthetic and although there were some tears and an aborted attempt due to me being incompetent i finally managed it and went within 20 minutes - The relief was incredible, I feel like I can now move again and I will be eating my first proper solid meal in weeks! Thank-you all so much, I am keeping track of all the other suggestions as by no means do I think this is over but at least now I can relax a bit and try to enjoy my pregnancy, I'm going away next week and will be taking my new friends with me!