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Original poster

Should we go to a and e?

539 replies

ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 07:49

Dp has been feeling rubbish for a week now, with pain caused by constipation. He hasnt had a bowel movement for a week now. The pain is constant, with waves of agonising pain.

Hes struggling to be able to medicate it, as hes not allowed to have anti inflammatory medication for seperate issues, and is wary about codeine based medicine as that causes constipation. Paracetomol isnt touching the sides of the pain.

The plan was to get a doctor appointment on monday, but the pain was really severe last night, im not sure we should wait till monday. He mentioned yesterday that the blockage is starting to affect his ability to pee properly which i think is worrying?

Hes alsp worrying now that the constipation is a side effect of something more serious, as theres nothing we can think thats triggered it. Hes worried about gallstones, or bowel cancer.

Is it worth going to a and e, are they likely going to he able to do anything, even if its just investigate and rule out some of the more scary possibilities thats worrying dp? Or would we likely be waiting ages and then sent away with a box of laxido?

OP posts:
freshcarnation · 12/03/2022 11:45

Poor man. Glad he's gone in

dgirluk · 12/03/2022 11:55

Poor guy. I had constipation after an operation - the hospital should never have sent me home but they did. Morphine etc. meant I didn’t go for over a week despite eating normally etc. Ended up calling the out of hours GP at about 1am one night who used a suppository and although the pain of passing it in the end was significant, the suppository worked within minutes and the relief was immense !

At least in my case we knew the reason. Good luck, I hope all is ok.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 12:09

Just when he told me to go home, i arrived home and he messaged to say they were sending him home...!

They've given him pain relief, and laxitives, and he has to go back tomorrow for more bloods so i guess they are taking it seriously but letting him have his own home comforts. Also probably they have nowhere free to admit him to even if they wanted to...

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GeneLovesJezebel · 12/03/2022 12:21

Good news !

Theunamedcat · 12/03/2022 12:33

Has he been given suppositories? I've found them to be the best solution to get things moving

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 12:37

Im not sure what hes been given, im still waiting for him to come out. Think there must be a wait on getting the meds.

What would they be looking for from taking bloods two days in a row? I suppose i should stop trying to guess what everything means, but dont know what they would get out of tomorrows bloods that they wouldnt see in today's?

OP posts:
kasho5 · 12/03/2022 12:37

I had the same problem after Christmas and ended up taking laxatives for a couple of days as I was in so much discomfort. They did work but I ended up with UTI so be careful!

Mischance · 12/03/2022 12:37

You can buy an enema over the counter. I bought several online. My OH had Parkinsons and it slowed his gut as well as everything else. This was a recurrent problem.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 12:42

I think i would be wary about getting suppositories or enemas now that he is under care of the hospital? Its still ongoing as he has to come back tomorrow so not sure it would be a good idea to try medicines different to the ones adviced and given to him by the hospital staff?

I suppose the worry is that the constipation is a symptom of something else and not the cause iykwim.

OP posts:
Mischance · 12/03/2022 12:49

Yes - at this moment it sounds as though he is getting the care he needs, and I hope very much that it all gest sorted soon.

But don't forget that suppositories are not a big deal - many people use them regularly. I do because I am on a low dose opiate for chronic pain and that causes constipation. If things get blocked up and bung one in and all is well.

InaccurateDream · 12/03/2022 13:00

Hope he improves soon and the blood tests don’t show anything too concerning. Constipation on its own can get very serious.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 13:05

So we are home now and he has another box of laxido, so taken 3 sachets now and will take another 3 later on in the afternoon.

Theyve also given him a 100ml bottle of morphine?? We are both very surprised at that is it can cause constipation, but also with how happy they were to give him so much to take home? Dose hes been told to take is 2.5ml so the bottle is loads? Thought morphine would be more controlled than that?

OP posts:
EthelTheAardvark · 12/03/2022 13:07

When my mother had a blockage, the first thing the hospital tried was a very, very strong laxative to see if it would shift by itself - fortunately it did. It sounds as if the hospital is trying the same thing with your husband and reckon that he'll feel more comfortable in his own bed and using his own bathroom. I hope he's better soon.

Thelnebriati · 12/03/2022 13:11

100mls! I think that was supposed to be 10mls.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 13:14

Yes its a 100ml bottle which seems crazy! Doze on the prescription label is 2.5ml no more than 4 times a day, so given that he has to go back tomorrow, it seems an insane amount to have in the house! Its 10mg/5ml, no idea if thats a strong or weak dose...?

OP posts:
Riverlee · 12/03/2022 13:19

If it’s Oramorph, I think 100ml is the smallest pack size. The dose he has been prescribed would therefore last ten days.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 13:26

Ah ok, not sure ifnits oromorph, bottle just says something like oral morphine solution so maybe same thing but different brand?

OP posts:
Mischance · 12/03/2022 13:26

Morphine! Gosh I am surprised he has been given that - it is precisely because of that that I need suppositories! It is well known for causing constipation.

Spidey66 · 12/03/2022 13:31

Ooh sounds really painful.

I've had very severe constipation a couple of times, sitting on the loo for an hour before I was able to go. The first time I was waiting on having my gallbladder out and because my bmi is 40 I had to do slimfast for 2 weeks. I ended up begging the hospital to be allowed a small amount of dried apricots (my go to for constipation) and some salad veg cos laxatives weren't helping. The 2nd time was following a shoulder fracture and was caused by the painkillers. My husband had to help me go Blush

At least with me I knew the reason for it!

I hope the investigations go well and you get a diagnosis. Once they know the cause they can treat that effectively.

Spidey66 · 12/03/2022 13:34

Ps the reason I was told by the hospital to do slimfast was to shrink my liver and make the gallbladder surgery easier. The constipation wasn't caused by the gallstones, that gave me severe pain but didn't cause constipation.

Spidey66 · 12/03/2022 13:36

Oh I'm surprised by the morphine too, I'd be wary of it, opiate based painkillers were what caused my constipation after the fracture.

goldensilver · 12/03/2022 13:46

They will have weighed up the risk/benefit of giving him morphine. Perhaps not being in pain will allow him to relax the muscles?
Hope he feels better soon.

tulips27 · 12/03/2022 13:46

Same thing happened to me after a fracture @Spidey66 , it does seem a bit surprising. Hmm

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 13:50

Yes he is wary about the morphine and isnt planning on taking any unless he really really needs the pain relief.

The strange thing with it is that years and years ago, dp had (completely different) abdo pain that the never found the cause of, but because he had multiple hospital visits needing iv morphine, that they started refusing to give it, i assume as they thought he was just after the morphine?

As i say, it was years and years ago, but surely would still be on his notes so strange that they waved him off with a bottle of it?

OP posts:
mcdog · 12/03/2022 13:50

Blimey OP, your poor husband. I hope the laxido works quickly for him.

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