Constipation for past six weeks

[enchantmentandlove]

Hi everyone, I hope this is the right place for this.

I gave birth a couple of months ago, and when dd was about three weeks old I became really constipated (mentioning in case it's linked). I am still able to go every day (once or twice), but it's horrible when I do and I'm nearly in tears as the stool is so hard. There has also been blood recently.

I have on-off taken laxatives, but they only helped so much and I was worried about becoming reliant on them. I have tried everything with my diet and eat very healthily - plenty of water, a high fiber cereal/porridge for breakfast, lots of fruit and veg, lots of dried fruit including prunes, plenty of whole grains and not much unhealthy or processed food. I also try to go for walks with dd most days. I also mix feed and I read if you breastfeed (well I express) that can be an issue.

I literally don't know what to do anymore about this, but I'm not sure if going to the doctor is a bit dramatic and I feel very embarrassed about this. Does anyone please have any advice? Thank you

[QuiteLikely5]

Have you tried taking lactulose? This is a stool softener and it sounds like you absolutely need some.

Did you have a tear during birth?

Also it sounds like you may have haemorrhoids

[greenfolder]

Are you taking a stool softener such as luctuose? You should try taking that regularly

[enchantmentandlove]

I haven't tried a still softener, no, only laxatives. That is a good idea.
Also yes I did have a second degree tear and needed stitches. I've also been a bit concerned about the blood in my stool. Thanks for your replies

[enchantmentandlove]

Stool softener *

[Cherylene]

movicol works well as a stool softener.

Get some glycerine suppositories to help with the hard stools, until it works

[MilkyChops]

Movicol and lactulose morning and night.
1 - 2 sachets and a good glug of lactulose.

Mix the movicol with plenty of water too.

[Footle]

Movicol is a life changer for sluggish bowels that don't respond to dietary changes, extra fluids etc. It's not a laxative. If you need to use it long term, so what ? Anything's better than faecal impaction.

[JinkxMonsoon]

I would recommend Movicol, not Lactulose (and you certainly don't need both together!). Lactulose gives awful wind! I have chronically sluggish bowels, and totally agree with what Footle said.

[enchantmentandlove]

Thank you for your replies everyone! I think I've been a bit reluctant as dd's having my breastmilk, wasn't sure if I should take things. Is blood in the actual stool nothing to worry about then? I wonder if it's just a post pregnancy thing, as I hope I'm not like this forever.

[QuodPeriitPeriit]

I had haemorrhoids for a good 6 months after birth each time, and they were agony! Much much worse than my stitches! Definitely take regular stool softener so - mine went away by themselves eventually.

You may also have a fissure if you've had hard stools - stool softener so should fix that too, but again you'll need to persist and take regularly.

Either of those things are the most likely cause of bleeding, but might be worth checking with your GP.

[QuodPeriitPeriit]

Don't know what those "so"s are doing there!

[enchantmentandlove]

Thanks for your response, I'm sorry to hear you had 6 months of haemorrhoids each time that's awful! I just googled fissure as I didn't know what that was, and I think that could possibly be what I have as there's a small amount of blood in my stool and I have the other signs too.

[Footle]

If you have bad haemorrhoids or a possible fissure , nothing you can get over the counter is going to sort them. You need to see the GP or nurse practitioner.

[enchantmentandlove]

Thank you for your advice everyone.

I decided to see the Dr today who thinks my issue is linked to my tear during childbirth. She's prescribed me a powder to mix with water called Laxido, and said to take it 2-3 times a day. She said if things don't improve to come back and she'll have to perform an exam. I'm really hoping it does work as I would rather avoid this!

I really feel for people who have these issues long-term. I've only had it for 6 weeks and it's been awful. Hopefully the Laxido will do the trick and it's not haemorrhoids or a fissure.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Laxido is the same as Movicol.

What I do is take two sachets together at night, in the hope it'll work by the morning. If you're very bunged up then three is OK.

Even if it is a fissure, Laxido is ideal because you need to keep everything softened to give it a chance to heal. Because it's very easy to tear open a healing fissure the next time you have a hard poo.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Oh, by the way, I add squash to it because it tastes disgusting just with water.

[gingergeranium]

I might be totally off the ball but the only other thing it might be worth asking to just double check / rule out is an underactive thyroid test, mainly as it can be something that is triggered by pregnancy, constipation being a symptom. The other symptoms of tiredness etc might go unnoticed as you're a new mum :)

Chronic constipation was the signal for me to double check the dose of thyroxine I was on incase I needed more.

[enchantmentandlove]

It's good to know if I have a fissure that Laxido will help this. Yeah it's disgusting, even in squash it made me feel sick! I just made myself drink it as quickly as possible. Calling it orange flavour is a lie haha.

I hadn't considered an under active thyroid. I will see how I get on with this, if not that's definitely worth mentioning to the Dr thank you.

[Cherylene]

That is an I interesting point, ginger. I have had constipation problems for over 20 years. I even did get my thyroid tested once (not told the actual numbers)when I was in a pretty low place and I was told it was just the effects of depression. Maybe I ought to go back and get retested.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Oh yeah, it's not a drink to be savoured Just glib as fast as you can! I find strong squash helps. If it's too weak or watery I find it has a slimey texture. But it's tolerable, because it works so well.

[Cherylene]

I quite like the movicol - it has a lovely hint of lemon washing up liquid - but then I must be a bit weird . I am always disappointed when they give me the 'plain' version.......

I put plenty of water in it.

[Cherylene]

Can't stand Fybogel orange though - like Kellogs Rise and Shine (bet you can't buy that now ) mixed with slimy semolina.

[JinkxMonsoon]

Fybogel is absolutely hideous. And completely useless when it comes to my bowels

[Cherylene]

I was told by the 'physio with an interest in constipation' that I saw that Fybogel was no good because if you have slow transition (where it takes longer to go through your colon where the water is taken out) then the Fybogel just dries out and adds to the problem.

The same is true of things like bran. They are like peat-based potting compost that has dried out. It is hard to rehydrate it. Soluble fibre is the way to go (not that that works for me either ).

[JinkxMonsoon]

Totally, Cheryl. Sets like concrete in the gut. Soluble fibre never helped me either!