To be too embarrassed too see the GP

[sawbucks]

I have a problem.

For the past 6 weeks I have been severely constipated. Prior to this I was regular but historically there have been periods where I've only pooed once a week. When I say severe constipation I mean pebbles once every 3 days and twice an impaction that I did clear but the size was just
I also have internal piles. Every time I do go, it's painful pebbles and then painful piles.

I have tried:

• taking magnesium
• taking hemp seed oil
• eating chia seeds
• eating high fiber fruits such as pears and apples

-drinking coffee

• natural laxatives

Things work for 3-4 days then, even though I continue to eat/take supplements I get backed up again. I am drinking a minimum of 64oz of water and exercising 4 times a week with yoga an additional 2.

I'm too scared to go to the dr. Partly because I'm worried it's something serious and partly because it's too embarrassing. Should I be worried? What else can I change diet wise??

OP 64 ozs water? Most of us work in pints or litres. I guess 64 oz is around 3 pints- so 6 mugs of fluids.
This is a normal amount in a day for most people. Maybe you should increase that?

Please go to the doctor. You have been trying to manage this issue yourself for too long. See a different GP if you have to and you never have to see them again outside of this issue.

I understand the embarrassment, but if you ignore it you could end up in hospital with a blockage anyway and still be embarrassed.

Be brave, OP! There is nothing more empowering than facing a fear and overcoming it. You will feel so much better mentally and physically when you get this sorted.

We're here for you!

Bran although high fibre can irritate your gut, not so bad in wholewheat, oats are a better source of soluble and insoluble fibre. Rapeseed oil also good.
Are you get plenty of fish oil? My gut hates nuts.

Queen
It’s the fact that this is an ongoing problem for op and there maybe an underlying issue, this is why people are encouraging op to see a gp

Some undetected conditions can cause constipation, hyperthyroidism would be an example and by seeing a doctor then op can have any other medical condition ruled out

I think this thread just shows how complicated constipation is!! Everyone swears by a different cure. Hope your GP helps you get it sorted.

Do you drink enough fluid? I’d say see your gp. Trust me, they are NOT fazed by ANYTHING.

If you’ve had a sudden change of habit, it’s vital you chat to the Dr.

doctors have seen it all, no problem there.

longer term, doing a bit of light running/jogging can be very good in a preventative sense.

Apples are binding. Don't eat those. Try lots of oranges instead.

Actually google disagrees with me re apples. But it's my experience that oranges are v v effective.

OP, how much of your diet is fruit and veg? I understand youve said you are trying foods to make you “go”
But on the whole, is your diet high in fibre? If not it will take more than a piece of fruit to keep you regular.

There are a lot of suggestions in this thread, I’d be using an OTC remedy for this, to go, then assess what sort of fibre you’re getting, and see if you can up it anywhere.

TBF is start with about 80% of your diet being fruit and veg, the other 20% being meat if you eat it, then if it works slowly lowering fruit and veg and adding other foods in the hope that you might keep regular, and reassessing as time goes on x

I recently had an awful upset stomach (opposite to your problem) and was quite worried as I am pregnant.

One of the lovely GPs at my surgery was happy to listen to my bowel, discuss the effect the straining was having on my piles, and drew me a diagram of my digestive system to show me which bits were affected. I can see why his appointments are always running behind, whenever I see him he really gets into explaining everything which is quite nice, really.

I’d imagine digestive complaints of either extreme are super common for them to deal with, I can’t imagine training to become a GP while being squeamish about descriptions of poo and sick.

what was the solution for you Luvsmall?

PrimalLass Fri 05-Oct-18 10:42:03
Apples are binding. Don't eat those.Try lots of oranges instead

.
Nooooooooo! More misinformation on this thread.

No apples are NOT binding- def not!

A grated apple where the pectin is allowed to ooze out then drunk, with the apple, helps diarrhea.

Eating an apple normally with its skin, does not release pectin in the same way.

An apple is about 5gms fibre which goes quite a long way towards the 30gms we should eat every day.

OP If you are still reading, maybe post your normal amount of fruit, veg and other fibre you eat in a day.

For example yesterday I had:

• an avocado

-an apple -a portion of green salad -a mixed portion of blueberries and raspberries -a handful of almonds -cabbage -broccoli -carrots -parsnips -bread with mixed seeds

around 6 mugs hot water

good portion of live Greek yoghurt (which is supposed to help gut health.)

Not Greek yoghurt too sweet, natural,live yoghurt
Yes to green leafy or root veg and lots of water

Actually, Queen, apples are very binding for me and I wish I’d known that earlier. Everyone’s system reacts differently - too much fibre-rich food and seeds upset my balance. I’ve learned which fruits I can eat - oranges are good, as are pears in moderation.

Not Greek yoghurt too sweet, natural,live yoghurt

I don't know what you mean.
Greek yoghurt is natural live yoghurt. It does not contain sugar. Not the Fage brand.

uk.fage/yoghurts/fage-total#fage-total

@yumyumpoppycat

“I think this thread just shows how complicated constipation is!! Everyone swears by a different cure. Hope your GP helps you get it sorted.”

Doesn’t it just!

And for good measure I’ll jjst throw this into the ring... complex carbs make me horribly constipated!

Too much fibre can be very bad for digestion depending on the oddness of your digestive system! Mine has gone very odd, after years of eating huge amounts of vegetables and complex carbs, I’m now limited to white pasta, rice and bread, and being careful with how much couregette or leafy greens I have! I feel so embarrassed sneaking this kind of food into my gullet in public. I need a little sign saying ‘on advisement from my doctor!’

Basically OP, you need some proper advice as it could take a lifetime to try out all of the various ‘infalliable’ solutions by yourself...

Go to your GP to rule out anything serious. But if you are prone to constipation you need an ongoing management plan that includes, at least in the medium term, a softener laxative like Movicol/laxido - possibly at a high dose initially to clear out the blockage (disimpaction), possibly in combination with a stimulant laxative (senakot or pico), then dropping down to a lower maintenance dose to keep the new poo soft. This in combination with a few lifestyle considerations - at least 6-8 glasses of water based fluid, going to the toilet for a poo about 20-30 minutes after each meal, which is when your peristalsis is more active, so poo more likely to move and getting a footstool to raise your knees above your hips when you sit on the toilet - this unbends the kink in your bowel and makes it easier to poo.

You haven't posted information and what you actually eat in the course of an ordinary day, however 64oz of water = 3.2 pints (UK) = 1.8L. I would try drinking a bit more tbh as it sounds as though the fibre in your diet is clogging things up. But do see a doctor.

Once you’re been constipated for a while, many of the laxatives you can take only take the edges off the impacted stool, so it can take a long while to completely clear up, and doesn’t actually clear up when u think it has so re-occurs frequently.

Have you been taking iron tablets at all by chance? They are a very common cause of constipation. My teen daughter was once diagnosed with endometriosis, went to have an operation for it only for surgeon to find it wasn’t endometriosis, just chronic constipation bought on by taking iron tablets. Because she was still able to pass stools she didn’t realise how bad it was and drs mis diagnosed her extreme pain.

You could always ask your dr about taking the medication that they give people who are about to have a colonoscopy - you’ll be sparkly clear within 48 hrs! It’s just an over the counter product - essentially park yourself at home for a weekend. That’s what she ended up doing and was fine afterwards although did need to be careful with her diet for a while.

sawbucks.
Ditto. It was so uncomfortable I thought I was having a prolapse.. so i went to the GP who had a look said no. You're just very very very constipated.
Laxatives are no good. It doesn't reducate your bowel to function. She gave me Fybogel and colofac. Totally helping just get back to normal rather than getting eveything out in one go and clogging up again.
Go see GP. Do nit be embarrassed. Just say I'm severely constipated and in pain and havent been since Tuesday. They'll appreciate you just getting to the point of your visit.
Also- i have a really good fibre diet. It was just off kilter with some illnesses I'd had. So sometimes just lots of fibre won't do it

Please don't be embarrassed. Your GP can help, without judging or fobbing you off. If you don't get treated, you could cause worse problems internally.
-Drink warm water.
-Eat large Oranges.
-Try mint tea.

Doctors have literally seen it all and weirder stuff than being constipated. Please go OP, he/she will be able to help I'm sure and you sound so uncomfortable atm. Just remember, doctors poo too!! Here're some xx hope you get things sorted xx

Nooooooooo! More misinformation on this thread. No apples are NOT binding- def not!

Which I did correct in the very next post - seconds later. 🙄