Can't poo since birth.

[Fugghetaboutit]

4 weeks ago, nearly 5 now. It's awful. Stools are very hard and get impacted. On lactulose and eating lots of dried fruit and water.

Help.

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

Poor you. I was the same after dc1. I'll never forget it. Keep up the lactulose (how long have you been on it?), drink warm water, take warm relaxing baths. Eventually there will be a change. Good luck.

[ALaughAMinute]

I had the same problem after the birth of my and it turned out I'd got hemorrhoids which is quite common after giving birth.

I think you would be well advised to make an appointment with your GP so you can it checked out. In the meantime you might want to go to the chemist and get yourself some hemorrhoids cream - Anusol is very good.

[ALaughAMinute]

*birth of my son

[Fugghetaboutit]

How would I know I have haemorrhoids? I'm not straining at all as I was worried about them.

Today in eating grapes, dried figs and plums ffs.

How long until everything is normal?!

[whatevva]

Two pronged attack of Movicol and glycerine suppositories is far better. You should be sorted and working well within 3 days.

You have to get the dry stuff moving and this is the least uncomfortable/violent/most gentle way.

You can then go on the lactulose and dried fruit when you are sorted.

[Fugghetaboutit]

Isn't movicol for longer term use or can it be used for this?

Also, would you take the suppositories when you need to poo or before the urge?

[scrumpkin]

Oh god I had this too. I thought it was damage from the pressure of birth. I still have pain when I really need to go and the dd who caused it is now 9.

My mw suggested lactulose, eating corn on the cob that you buy with the husks still on, and the most effective imo, prune juice.

Good luck

[VagueIdeas]

Yep, suppositories to get the blockage moving and Movicol to deal with the backlog. It's a stool softener like Lactulose but better. It can be used short or long term. Since you're really bad I'd take quite a high dose - at least three sachets per day - until you feel better.

[whatevva]

You can use movicol to clear the obstruction (3x daily is ok) and at a lower dose for a while after to make sure things are moving, and to sort your diet so that you can keep going ok. I have done the 3x a day for 3 days and then 1 every other day. (There are instructions for fecal impaction, but hopefully things are nowhere near that bad).

Suppositories - use after breakfast, put one as far up as you can and keep it in for about 15 minutes, if you can. You can use two if it is bad. It helps to use it after a meal as the intestines move more when you have been eating. You don't have to wait for breakfast if you buy them today though. It is just the most usual time. They help make the hard stuff easier to pass by lubrication and making the rectum contract.

I really don't recommend the stuff they advertise on television that gives you 'gentle overnight relief' as it was very violent when I used it

[whatevva]

Laxido is the same stuff as Movicol.

[whatevva]

I find you don't suddenly have to go with movicol. Once the hard stuff has been moved, you just start going normally. Then when things are working properly and it is ok, several times a day

[ouryve]

Glycerine suppositories are wonderful things. Sometimes, it ain't going to shift, no matter what you pour into the top, unless you do something about the plug at the bottom.

[ouryve]

Suppositories bring on the urge. After 4 weeks, I wouldn't ly on that sensation happening of its own accord.

[whatevva]

The urge is definitely damped down when you are constipated. It is also harder to get the hard bitty stuff out. So a double whammy

[CoteDAzur]

Are you taking iron supplements? If so, switch to a non-constipating one.

Also, eat lots of cooked green vegetables.

[Fugghetaboutit]

I definitely have the urge, last night was the worst. Huge hard bit at end I had to get out before the rest could come out.

I had gone the day before so why such a hard bit on the end?

Can you get movicol OTC or do I need prescription? Sounds like what I need plus the suppositories.

I used one with ds 3 years ago and that was that, I pooed normally afterwards. This is something else.

[Fugghetaboutit]

Not taking iron - too scared too! But eating lots of greens. I have a good diet generally anyway, lots of veg etc.

Might get bran flakes ..

[whatevva]

OTC - it is about £12 something for 30, so not cheap, but worth it. You can get it on prescription if you are on free prescriptions and the doctor will prescribe (if you want to wait). Suppositories vary from £2 to £5 IME.

[whatevva]

Greens are better than bran flakes. Also, porridge, beans. Peas are very high fibre

[Fugghetaboutit]

Thanks whatevva I used to take my lovely soft poos for granted and won't again, such agony :(

[Germgirl]

Seconding (thirding? Fourthing?) the Movicol advice, I'm on morphine all the time & it's the only thing that helps me stay 'regular'. If I was you I think I'd have 4 sachets today to get things moving and then one or two a day to keep things moving. Make sure you drink enough water, at least 2l a day.
You can buy plain or flavoured movicol, i get the plain and add orange or grapefruit squash.

[Fugghetaboutit]

Sending H out to get some for me. My poor arse.

[grimbletart]

Poor you. I find home made vegetable soup with plenty of herbs in it is a great laxative. Maybe after you get the initial impacted stuff out of the way.

[Fugghetaboutit]

I took two sachets last night before bed and had sweet potato and carrot soup so hoping to get things moving soon