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??

Yes op are you actually eating a good healthy diet high in veg? Fruit, nuts, seeds, wholemeal bread, rice and pasta, not white, beans, lentils. Lots of fluid

As per previous posts: you need stool softener such as lactulose and a stimulant like senna. When you’ve cleared out, can reduce dosing and tinker with diet. GP likely to recommend softener/laxatives and you might have a more fruitful consultation if you see them having already tried OTC.

Get GP appointment

Change in stool for 6 weeks needs to get checked out. When you say piles are you just in pain/itchy or do you have any bleeding?

Chances are it’s a dietary thing/ are you on any painkillers at all? But I think id go to GP, get some tests and then follow their guidance. A lot of people recommend lactulose but it’s fallen out of favour in my trust, it works by drawing water to the bowel so it’s REALLY important that you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day with it otherwise it can actually make you more constipated.

Blimey, loads of suggestions for helping constipation. Actually, so far I think everyone has suggested a ‘top down’ approach but I would actually suggest an, ahem, bottom up approach! I would get to a pharmacy and discuss this with a pharmacist about getting an enema to unblock lower down. Trust me (I’m a nurse), often the enema will do the trick when laxatives don’t.

I agree that you can’t get ‘addicted’ to laxatives but once you’re unblocked you should have more regular movicol (gold standard for managing constipation).

Sorry if this has already been said.
GP will only examine your abdomen, just prodding to see how back logged you are. Probably no tests, but they’ll want you to manage it more with regular movicol and lavtose or similar.

I suggested both ends - sennakot + a suppository.

If the suppository works, you don’t need an enema.

Only one person has mentioned lentils. Daughter in her 30s has suffered from constipation since birth. As an exclusively breast fed baby she once didn’t poo for ten days. She recently had lots of tests including a camera up her bum but nothing sinister was found except severe piles which were then tied off. Sounds awful but if she doesn’t take a laxative every night she gets severely constipated and bleeds.

She has tried various stool softeners which make her feel bloated and don’t help. We think she just has a very sluggish bowel. Lentils make a big difference as do lots of nuts. The laxative she takes is called Slimma tea, from Holland and Barrett. Herbal tea bags. They work for her.

From reading through this thread it seems that constipation causes and cures vary from person to person but all agree that it can be very uncomfortable. My elderly aunt recently called an emergency doctor with severe pain that turned out to be constipation. OP do see a pharmacist first to get some quick relief and follow up with a doctor appointment. Life’s too short to be worrying and suffering when probably there is nothing seriously wrong.

This is why I love MN. You all have been so supportive and normalized this so much for me, thank you. I have an appointment on Tuesday and in the meantime have bought a laxative.

I do exercise (a lot) and I do drink a ton of water. Fiber intake is between 12-25g/day but looking at MFP, there were days where it was more like 3-6g. I am paleo and therefore some foods I can't have such as seeded breads, rice, etc. Today I mixed chia seeds with Greek yogurt giving me 10g of fiber with just that. Apples typically do work for me so I will start eating more of them per day and perhaps intro prunes as well.

The piles aren't causing bleeding unless I have a very large stool.

Forgot to add I am not taking any prescription meds or iron. Only magnesium citrate which is supposed to be helping!

Typical day diet:

-homemade chia seed yogurt (almond milk, honey, chia seeds, raspberries or raisins) OR Greek yogurt with a spoon of chia seeds
-protein shake
-turkey pepperoni/almonds/cashews
-carrots/apples/pears
-dinner usually a lean protein and salad

GEt to the GP please, you could have a blockage and end up vomiting poo as it has to come out somewhere.
A laxative may work but if your bunged up it probably won’t, you’ll need a suspository.. no idea if you can get them in chemists but if you can buy rubber gloves and shove that thing as far up as it goes and wait..
It should clear you out though best warn people to keep toilet clear and take a magazine in with you

Never be embarrassed you can’t see what’s going on inside

Thank you @Benandhollysmum
I don't think I do have a blockage as I had movement (pebbles) and 2 days ago a normal movement. I also had another (regular) one a couple of hours ago.

Frequently with constipation patients eat high fibre foods and drinks to solve the problem, think it's resolved and then go back to previous constipation CAUSING diet, which honestly from reading your op is what I suspect you're doing. You need to KEEP having food/drink in your diet that helps you STAY regular. It's not just the amount of fibre it's the type too. Water soluble is best. Oats, Citrus fruits, apples, wheat bran, whole grains, fresh fruit juice - basically the stuff I have to limit having (I tend to be the opposite way!). I've also read/been told chia seeds clump stool together and can dry it out.

As for embarrassment, there's really no need, this is such a common issue that most GP's I suspect see at least 1 patient a day with, probably several more likely!

Hope things resolve for you soon, and that appointment goes well.

Doesn't look like you eat very much either - is being constipated dampening your appetite?

You need oil in your diet. And carbohydrates. And stop the Magnesium. Have you checked the warnings on Magnesium: If you suffer from chronic or long-term constipation, you should not take magnesium citrate - it's not safe for daily, long-term, or frequent treatment of constipation. It can be dangerous.

Glad your going to the Drs if you like herbal tea yogi do a detox one which has a clearing out effect xx

Lentils & chickpeas are high in protein, but also fibre & nutrients- why not ditch the shake & eat real food

I had to go last week for similar issue. It was not exactly fun but seriously lasted 5 mins and then it was over and I'm loving my life with no pain or worry about going to the loo now. So worth it for 5 mins of embarrassment.

Take lactulose and they gave me HC suppositries which have meant I'm back to normal now. This feeling totally outweighs the Appointment and you'll think so too afterwords

The problem is, once your bowel gets sluggish, it can stay that way. You need to be using Fibogel on a daily basis for the foreseeable future. It's sachets of fibre that you mix with water. Also, up your water intake. At least a litre a day. Once it's cleared, keep up with the fibogel!

Being paleo can be v v constipating been there, bought the T-shirt

Carbs do make you go.

I doubt the chia seeds or the magnesium citrate are helping you. As in prev post, magnesium isn't always a laxative. Plus the chia seeds may just be getting stuck.

What you need is masses of veg, switch some of your fruits around - prunes on your Greek yoghurt, linseeds not chia seeds.

At the moment there is just no bulk in your diet for your bowels to work with, your gut bacteria are unhappy and so you make extremely small quantites of v hard poo.

Hi OP Medical people have seen much worse, there's always that one patient who sticks tootsie rolls up his butt and lets it melt down his legs before the exam, or maybe the guy who sticks a glass lightbulb up his bum for jollies. Your blockage won't even register on the scale of embarrassing things.

I would however, ask them about your diet. I would have assume chia seeds would contribute to constipation, not prevent it.

I sometimes get very constipated (4 days + without a poo) if I've been taking a lot of codeine.

Things that always work for me include home-made lentil soup, porridge with chopped apricots, oranges or even orange juice if it's the fresh stuff with bits in, a banana or two and a drink of milk or water last thing at night, and a couple of pints of real ale.

I was really surprised about the bananas, as they don't seem as though they should have much fibre in them at all. I now routinely buy bananas if my arthritis flares up and eat them as a preventative.

The real ale is the most enjoyable though.

Someone's probably mentioned it but Movicol? Worked wonders for my friend's massively constipated DC.

In the mean time while waiting for your appointment OP maybe think about physical things you can do that might help.

Sleeping on your left side is good, as is lying on your back and dropping your knees to the left and your arms to the right. anything that stretches out your abdomen. Or lie on the floor face down and raise yourself up on your elbows. Or the yoga lion pose.

I often get constipated and it is worse when I’m rushing around, particularly in the morning. If I have time to lie in bed for 20 minutes and give my guts a chance to wake up, it’s very helpful. I’m sure there’s a mental thing too as reading this thread is making me want to go (but then I’m in bed lying on my left side, so...)

Probiotics have worked very well for people I know and are good to take long term to keep gut flora in check. Check out amazon or Wild Nutrition. Good luck.