Advice for helping my unwell son with constipation before GP appointment

[NeedAPoonami]

My son has come back home this weekend from Uni as he is unwell.

He has had abdominal pain, and hasn’t been for a poo in 2 days. He went to A&E where they did blood tests and examined him and found nothing. They did say he should get an ultrasound and he’s got a GP appointment on Monday.

He has come home and still has abdominal pain, and it is moving about from abdomen to pelvis. Monday is a long way off and quite frankly I think he could massively benefit from a big bowel movement.

He bought some laxatives from the chemist and took them. Said he hadn’t eaten, and then had some toast and fruit. He’s had a warm bath.

Any suggestions to help a bowel movement.

TBH, he has always had a sensitive stomach. During his A’levels he ate a frozen pizza and was violently ill. My DH is like this.

I’m really worried about him, but feel reassured A&E said they could find nothing! He has no temperature, and not been sick.

Since starting Uni he has eaten crap, ordered in regularly, drunk loads and started smoking whereas before that he had a very healthy diet at home.

Any suggestions? Of course I am keeping an eye on him and any vomiting or temperature I’m going to A&E.

These work within 30 mins but from the other end of the digestive tract. Most supermarkets sell them.

https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/glycerin-suppository/100694513

I've recently started a low cal diet and become constipated. I have 5 prunes every morning plus coffee. Dulcoease and plenty of water. Fibrogel usually gives me wind and bloats me. Also exercise. He needs to be able to pass wind as this is a good sign. 2 days isn't that long.

Actually, I just asked him and yes he is passing wind.

Two days not really unusual.

what sort of pain?

to be honest if I’m getting bowel pain I eat less not more.

Had this with all three boys on and off when they were little.
Two things worked like a charm:

1. Ella’s kitchen prune pouches (start with 1)
2. Satsumas!

And obviously lots of water and moving about. Good luck OP.

And as others have said, it’s critically important that if he’s upping his fibre, his water intake needs to increase commensurately.

Movicol doesn't really work. Get some Biscacodyl, if he takes it tonight he'll empty his bowel in the morning.

I'm not a doctor but just watch out that it isn't appendicitis because you said that the pain had moved from his abdomen down towards his pelvis.

More movicol, a disimpaction regime is about 8-10 sachets a day. Dulcolax works well but the stomach cramp were horrendous. With movicol you need to drink.

Then I would seek further medical advice. Constipation, not farting and significant pain needs to be investigated. What tests did they do in A and E?

I second this!! Dulcolax from the chemist can work a treat. Plenty of fluids. Just be mindful if he still hasn’t went but starts feeling sick/ vomiting, worsening pain to contact out of hours doctor as could be a blockage

How much fluid did he have the cosmocol in? Movicol is an osmotic laxative that works by drawing water into the bowel. Once mixed with fluid, the movicol solution should be drunk in addition to normal fluids, not in place of his normal drinks.

I recommend he drinks 500ml of water and sees what happens.

Two days is well within the bounds of normal. Did you really go to A&E for that?

Water, water and more water.

Glycerin suppository

Unpleasant but works wonders

Was a CT scan done at hosp @NeedAPoonami ? The constipation could be a symptom of something.

Honestly, 2 days is not medically significant. It’s the pain that is more concerning. I was very like your son at that age and it was diet (and drinking) related. Sorted by diet, reduced alcohol, problem went away.

Califig syrup!!

A McDonald’s, I couldn’t poo for a fortnight after having twins, I tried everything, movicol, lactulose, fig juice etc etc but what got it shifted was a Big Mac and chocolate milkshake

For me, I try a pint of water, gulped deliberately, whilst standing up - sometimes prompts peristaltic movements.

my second line is 2 tbsp of olive oil, in warm water…it takes about 24 hours to coat the wall of my bowel and then ease transit…..sometimes I need a second dose…

@NeedAPoonamiget him to massage his tummy (lower abdomen) with his right hand, going anticlockwise for a while - it helps to stimulate the bowel. Also trying to squat over the toilet (if he's flexible enough!) by basically standing on the porcelain rather than the loo seat...squatting encourages the bowel to empty (tmi, apologies but I hope it helps!))

Is two days really that long?

bag of dried apricots or a load of sugar free sweets you can get by the till at Aldi 🤣

Prune juice rinses me out like nothing else. 2 days isn’t very long.

Has he been tested for IBD or coeliac?

I post this on every constipation thread because it really does help. Anything to lift his feet up- bricks, large tins or a squatty potty.

Going forward it might be an idea to keep a food diary… Boring for someone of his age, but could help. I used to eat stuff that I thought was healthy, but I actually have an intolerance to it and was causing constipation, bloating, and fatigue. Salmon, bananas, baked beans, onion, garlic… They all caused an adverse reaction in me.

Hope he gets sorted x