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Original poster

Constipation- someone PLEASE help me

600 replies

HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 20:12

I have been constipated for 7 days. That may not sound like a lot but I usually go 2/3 times a day without issue. I was away on holiday and ate crap food and basically survived on crisps and pizza as I was so hot I had no appetite.

I am currently lying on the bed in tears, I have tried:
orange juice
4 suppositories
3 x enemas
putting my feet up
relaxing
black coffee
a special vitamin tablet which DP says always makes him go
Drinking loads of water
pushing from inside my vagina
actually trying to manually remove the stool (sorry for the way TMI)
sitting in a warm bath
massaging my stomach
dulcolex

ill be ringing my GP first thing in the morning but can ANYONE suggest anything else. I’m in a total panic, I can just feel the rock hard stool, I’m in agony, shaking and it hurts to walk. To top it off I’m on my period which I hoped would get things going but nothing. Someone please help I am desperate and I’m worried my gp will just prescribe everything I’ve already tried. I’m a nurse and working all weekend and at this point I can’t see how I can go into work which would leave my team in the absolute shit (pardon the pun). I don’t know what to do 🫨🫨

OP posts:
Lefthandedkitty · 15/08/2025 13:14

Rhubarb juice and milk chocolate are old fashioned cures, but it sounds as though its too late for that.
I know A&E departments are massively over used but isn't it time you took yourself to your nearest hospital and prepared yourself for a long wait? A hospital enema, or three, should be effective. Buy yourself some germoloids or other soothing cream for your bum as it's going to be red raw.
This is serious, I'm not impressed by your doctor.
I do hope you're soon better. ((hugs))

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 13:15

NewBrightonEel · 15/08/2025 13:10

I ended up like OP when having cancer treatment and it worked for me (I'd forgotten what the physio had said 23 years earlier)

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Worked for you, didn’t work for me. Shows we’re all different. Let hope the OP took your advice and is ok now.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 15/08/2025 13:21

Haven't RTFT - but here's my simple, non-medicinal suggestions.
Semi-dried, sunsoaked tomatoes in oil (Tescos/ 265g tub).
Beetroot.
Also - lots of ordinary tea.
Hope something helps you soon. Very unpleasant.

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x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:21

NewBrightonEel · 15/08/2025 13:10

I ended up like OP when having cancer treatment and it worked for me (I'd forgotten what the physio had said 23 years earlier)

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That might help to push a movement out but it's not going to help soften anything which is what is needed if the Op is impacted

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 13:22

x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:21

That might help to push a movement out but it's not going to help soften anything which is what is needed if the Op is impacted

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Exactly.

x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:25

Can people stop suggesting new food stuffs all that will do is sit on top of the already hardened faeces, fibre is great to keep things regular ,but doesn't help impaction.

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 13:26

x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:25

Can people stop suggesting new food stuffs all that will do is sit on top of the already hardened faeces, fibre is great to keep things regular ,but doesn't help impaction.

Yep, bad advice.

Cookingupmyfirstbornson · 15/08/2025 13:26

Mrsbloggz · 15/08/2025 12:59

A big fat line of coke used to work quite well for me.

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God this brings back memories 😬

chattyness · 15/08/2025 13:28

x2boys · 15/08/2025 10:51

I don't think you understand the seriousness of impaction it needs medical attention not adding new food and drinks stuff.

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Actually yes I do, you don't know me, what I know or what I have experienced, so go away and judge someone else.

Lourdes12 · 15/08/2025 13:28

Lots of prunes, cherries and plumes are sometimes more helpful than medication we have found with chronic constipation

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 15/08/2025 13:30

Brunettesmorefun · 15/08/2025 12:36

Are you a doctor? I really feel that Op should follow her GP’s advice.

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I'm a nurse and midwife. I used to be matron of a nursing home.
I've seen impacted faeces a lot, especially in the elderly and some post natal women.

Brunettesmorefun · 15/08/2025 13:32

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 15/08/2025 13:30

I'm a nurse and midwife. I used to be matron of a nursing home.
I've seen impacted faeces a lot, especially in the elderly and some post natal women.

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So not a doctor then. With respect I still feel that OP should follow her GP’s advice.

x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:33

chattyness · 15/08/2025 13:28

Actually yes I do, you don't know me, what I know or what I have experienced, so go away and judge someone else.

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Well if you did you would know a cup.of coffee isn't going to help impaction.

NewBrightonEel · 15/08/2025 13:35

x2boys · 15/08/2025 13:21

That might help to push a movement out but it's not going to help soften anything which is what is needed if the Op is impacted

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I was impacted

endofthelinefinally · 15/08/2025 13:36

Brunettesmorefun · 15/08/2025 13:32

So not a doctor then. With respect I still feel that OP should follow her GP’s advice.

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To be fair, doctors almost never deal with acute constipation. Nurses and midwives deal with all types of constipation all the time.

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 13:37

NewBrightonEel · 15/08/2025 13:35

I was impacted

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How painful was it when your remedy worked?

chattyness · 15/08/2025 13:37

This reply has been deleted

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Notfeelinguptoit · 15/08/2025 13:44

HelpMeMelpHe · 15/08/2025 11:14

I’ve just got home from the gp, she wasn’t concerned about impaction in the slightest. She has prescribed me laxido and told me to take 4-8 (I think I’ll take 6?) and some more suppositories. She examined me and said she couldn’t feel a hard stool but I didn’t ask whether she meant there was nothing there (although I can feel it so can’t be empty) or that the stool was now soft. She also said I now have piles which is a pain but not unexpected. She said to start these and if nothing by next week to come back.

I had this a few months ago after a severely shit diet and binge eating lots of crap food - I remember the pain, although it didn’t last as long as yours so I really feel sorry for what your going through.

i tried to switch my diet up to clean eating and after a few more days i had a massive release! Eat a lot of fibre rich foods, and loads of water to flush it out.
Smoothies, fruit. Maybe try prunes?

I know you may not want to overload your stomach though.

Not sure how true this one is but when I was going through it someone told me to eat watermelon and cucumber.

Hope it gets better soon.

olympicsrock · 15/08/2025 13:45

I bet the GP has never looked after someone with a burst colon . The last patient I operated on with this problem actually had an empty rectum. The problem was that the sigmoid colon ( left lower part) was narrowed and the faeces couldn’t get through. So this may be false reassurance.

This is severe acute constipation . Yes the GP has suggested decent treatment but if you don’t open your bowels today PROPERLY and have abdo pain you need a trip to the emergency department OP.

goingtotown · 15/08/2025 13:46

HelpMeMelpHe · 15/08/2025 11:14

I’ve just got home from the gp, she wasn’t concerned about impaction in the slightest. She has prescribed me laxido and told me to take 4-8 (I think I’ll take 6?) and some more suppositories. She examined me and said she couldn’t feel a hard stool but I didn’t ask whether she meant there was nothing there (although I can feel it so can’t be empty) or that the stool was now soft. She also said I now have piles which is a pain but not unexpected. She said to start these and if nothing by next week to come back.

Next week sounds like a bad diagnosis. Hope you don’t end up in A & E.

Invinoveritaz · 15/08/2025 13:47

Lactulose.Keep taking it. Also glycerol(?) suppositories work for me
Also a visit to GP may help as they can physically remove som of it 🫣

NewBrightonEel · 15/08/2025 13:50

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 13:37

How painful was it when your remedy worked?

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Quite painful - it did take a while to move - I was sat there for ages.

endofthelinefinally · 15/08/2025 13:53

I think a plain abdominal xray would be a simple, useful thing to do in these circumstances. Then at least everyone would know what was going on at an earlier stage, before it becomes an emergency.

Iceplanet · 15/08/2025 13:54

HelpMeMelpHe · 15/08/2025 11:14

I’ve just got home from the gp, she wasn’t concerned about impaction in the slightest. She has prescribed me laxido and told me to take 4-8 (I think I’ll take 6?) and some more suppositories. She examined me and said she couldn’t feel a hard stool but I didn’t ask whether she meant there was nothing there (although I can feel it so can’t be empty) or that the stool was now soft. She also said I now have piles which is a pain but not unexpected. She said to start these and if nothing by next week to come back.

That will work, drink 5 or six ( you must drink within 6 hours) it should work by tonight.... drink k extra water with it

Idontpostmuch · 15/08/2025 13:57

You say you've tried drinking lots of water, but try drinking it, then not going to the toilet. Pretend you're keeping your bladder full for an ultrasound scan. Then, when you start to feel very uncomfortable, you might just find that you rush to the toilet for more than one reason. And, be a patient! Nurses are allowed to be ill, so cut out the guilt if you have to have a day off. You're not the first nurse who's been reluctant to be off sick. It must be drummed into you.