Help - constipation and painful piles

[catlady1]

I appreciate this might be a bit TMI for this time in a morning :) I'm going to try and see my GP today to get this sorted and just wondered if anyone had any advice re what to ask for, what treatments worked etc.

Basically I had my DD two and a half weeks ago and since then have been terribly constipated. I've increased my fibre intake, I've been drinking 4-5l of water a day (plus tea/coffee/milk on top of that), I've stopped taking my iron tablets and cocodamol but nothing's helping. I've managed to force out a couple of massive, rock hard poos but now I have terribly painful, bleeding piles and couldn't possibly do another one. I've had to resort to glycerine suppositories and "digging" the poo out with a (gloved) finger but the pain afterwards is absolutely excruciating, it's kept me up all night. I'm breastfeeding and it's absolute agony to sit for any length of time.

[catlady1]

Oops, posted too soon. Although that's about it really. What can be done about it? Can I have numbing cream considering I'm bfing? I had a look in Boots and they all said not to because the lidocaine passes into milk, but I was injected with enough of it in the hospital when they were thinking about giving me an episiotomy and then stitching me up, and I think it's the same stuff in an epidural? So surely it can't be harmful. Is there anything longer term that actually works? I'm getting pretty desperate, I've been in tears over it so many times. I just want to enjoy being a new mum without the constant pain!

[freerangelady]

I had bad constipation too but the glycerin suppositories did the trick - have you tried using more than 1? When did you stop taking the meds? I'm sure the meds caused mine but it took a few days of stopping before it got better you can also take lactulose which didn't work for me but you can't do any harm so might be worth a shot.

Good luck at the doctor - I hope they can help. My constipation was worse than contractions!!

[catlady1]

I haven't tried using more than one but i've been using them every day for about a week (although the first two or three I dont think I left in long enough so they didnt really do much). From what I've heard I think the doc will probably give me lactulose so I'll give it a go.

I know what you mean about it being worse than contractions, its awful!

[ChasingStaplers]

Poor you! I had exactly the same problem and am BFing too.
Be aware that if you increase your fibre intake you must drink loads more water too.
My doctor said it was most important to get the poo soft so the piles had a chance to heal and prescribed me lactulose which I took before bed and first thing in the morning at the highest dose for a few days. I was then able to reduce the dose.
I also started to eat a bowl of all bran every morning and had prunes as a snack throughout the day (with an emergency supply in the cupboard)

Now for the TMI!
I have a packet of those latex gloves in the cupboard and used those to apply Vaseline in and around the area - loads and loads of it.
I also used my DC's step stool to put my feet on as apparently that position helps. It helped me.
I also kept applying pile cream when I needed it. I found that holding my hand against my perineum helped get the hard bit out and after a bit of grinning and bearing it I was able to go.

Another really important factor was having the time to go and be relaxed about it. I kept putting it off because I was busy with 3 DC and it hurt etc but as soon as I made the time it was far easier.

Sorry for the epic post but DS2 is only 11 weeks so its still very fresh in my mind!
Good news is it does get better - even my piles are gone now!

[freerangelady]

Would also agree it does get better - mine is 8 wks now and I'm back to normal.

I had to use 2 suppositories and lie down with my legs curled up in foetal position for about 30 mins till I could feel it working.

[catlady1]

I've been doing the perineum-holding and pushing against the skin as it comes out to try and help it along a bit but I think the poo was that hard and big in the beginning that I've bruised, and now it hurts even to do that.

I spoke to my GP and she said she didn't need to see me, and she's written me a prescription for a stool softener (probably lactulose?) and some cream to pick up later, and I'm to call back if things don't improve. But I've just realised it's Friday so it better help or I might go insane over the weekend! Doesn't help that I've been consulting Dr Google, who says that my piles might get infected and lead to blood poisoning and death.