Constipation/impacted stool after cancer surgery PLEASE HELP

[Redannie118]

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100 percent Not a poo troll - i have several posts on going at the moment.
On Wed I had a lumpectomy for grade2 Invasive ductal carcinoma. I had a GA. Been completely constipated since. Been drinking loads of water/juice, eating fruit and today took a stool softener. I went to the loo this morn and it was like trying to pass a concrete block. Ive never known pain like it. I was shaking and throwing up with the pain. It was worse than childbirth. This went on for an hour. In the end the only thing that worked was TMI- running a washcloth under a hot tap an putting it up my bum and pulling some stuff out.
Finished and went for a liedown - feels like a hand granade has gone off up there and its so swollen and painfull i cant tell if theres stuff still up there?
Went again after i got up- same story. Im shaky and in agony. Is there anything i can so about this? Anything i can take to help??? Any advice would be fantastic


Hi

[SM33]

Contact your GP/111. Ask for a suppository which will soften the impacted stool and allow you to pass it. Pharmacy might be able to help

[SM33]

Forgot to say you have my every sympathy- this is so painful. I hope your treatment is successful.

[Putapeonyinyourpocket]

Hi didn't want to read and run, so sorry for what you've been through.

I had similar issues after an emergency c-section, I totally agree with it being worse than child birth!
My husband went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist recommended fibro gel. I couldn't do anything other than sit on the toilet due to the intense pain.
I found, kneeling in a hot bath helped, then I literally sat on the loo with the iPad until I finally went and I cannot express the relief.
Try drinking plenty of water too.

[panicstationsready]

My husband suffered with exactly this after having cancer and chemo. He left it too long (about 5 days) before speaking to the district nurse that came out and she had to give him an enema- PLEASE contact someone - a Macmillan nurse may be a good start, but for gods sake don't leave it.

[IAmcuriousyellow]

You poor love. Glycerin suppositories are very good, you pop them in the old back door, they soften the poo and get it sliding along nicely. Have you got any rescue remedy in the house, you sound in shock almost xx

[Elouera]

Sorry to hear this. Nothing worse than severe constipation. Are you on codeine for pain? this can bind some people up terribly.

You need a squatty potty or something similar to lift your feet up into a more squatting position whilst sitting on a 'regular' toilet seat. It will straighten the bowel out, whereas the normal sitting position makes your bowel go into an S bend shape, making it MUCH more difficult to poo. Look up squatty potty to get an idea, but even large books, tins or anything that lifts both feet up can help.

A glycerine suppository or small enema will help soften what is sitting on the anus. If you are still on codeine or other pain killers, high fibre and water will help. Raspberries, chia seeds, psyllium husks and moving around really helps. best of luck xxx

[Redannie118]

No fraid not- took some stool softener earlier. I have passed a couple of big poos- not sure if theres any more left? I will def get some suppositries in the morn when the chemist opens. Do you think it would be ok to take some brufen for the pain? Im just about to go in the bath. Thank you so much for everyone whos replied-- it means the world x

[CheshireCats]

Ibuprofen can cause constipation.

[Lockdownlooks]

If available call the ward or unit where you had the surgery otherwise 111/GP will be open at weekend including tomorrow.

[Funnyface1]

I was in this situation a few weeks after my first c section, pretty much passed a brick. Gp gave me movicol, it got things loving and the relief was unbelievable.

You can get movicol over the counter, glycerine suppositories over the counter and a cream for your sore bum. It will be ok to take painkillers if you're taking movicol to keep things soft. Ibuprofen is good, it will help take the swelling down.

Another good one to get things moving is milk of magnesia. Very effective. Good luck.

[Mollymalone123]

I had same problem too after similar surgery- drank prune juice- used glycerin suppository and too senna tablets 2/3 times a day- one thing which helped with the pain in passing a stool is to put some Vaseline around the Anus and Some if the inside if you can/ really helped- you might want some pike cream too as things can get a bit sore/itchy after all this!

Hope you recover from it all quickly

[Mollymalone123]

Pile cream not pike cream 😂

[Mollymalone123]

Forgot to add when you go put your feet up on something so that you are almost squatting on the toilet as that helps too - and take your time.looked after a girl with chronic constipation and she had a step we made her that she put her feet up on