Please help pain is unbearable

[Unbearable12]

I'm posting here for traffic, sorry not sorry

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and I've been constipated for weeks. Dr will only prescribe lactulose and it's not helping.

The night before last a large hemmoroid appeared and it's absolutely agonising. I couldn't move all of yesterday and I was up all night, I've never known a pain like it.

Phoned for a GP appointment this morning and GP called me over an hour ago, listened to everything and said he would call me right back. He hasn't called back.

I honestly don't know what to do I can't eat or sleep or walk and I'm terrified this won't be resolved before I give birth. Please help!

Have you got any baby wipes? Stash a few in the freezer.... Then apply..
Ime.

Thank you @Snowydaysfaraway I'll give it a try

Give yourself an enema - a fleet enema (you can order off amazon - it's just saline and safe in pregnancy). I ended up in A+E in both my pregnancies due to constipation, and they gave me exactly that (the nurse let me take a picture so I would know the brand if it happened again). It would have been much easier to do at home. Sending hugs xxx

Would the practice midwife be able to help at?

Try adult glycerin suppositories but do check with the pharmacist as protocol may have changed since I had to use them.
They alone won't directly help with the painful haemorrhoid, but will help you to empty your bowel therefore relieving pressure on the pile.
Best wishes, I feel for you as it happened to me over 40 years ago and I still shudder when thinking about the agony.

Have you tried natural remedies... pint of prune juice and snack on some dried prunes? Keep drinking lots of mineral water too, and a big teapot of a gentle herbal tea.

Also wonder if a female GP will be more useful.. hope they give you the help you need!

Wrapped ice cubes can help. I remember freezing water in the fingers of disposable gloves. Once frozen, I'd cut off the individual fingers and have 5 individually wrapped cubes of a useful shape. Possibly use a wet paper towel as an additional barrier.

Saline enemas were a godsend that I only discovered in my 3rd pregnancy.

Can you gently push it back in? That should reduce the pressure and pain.

Glycerine suppositories are usually very effective at clearing blockages. They're not usually recommended in pregnancy as they can cause cramping which can induce labour, but as you're already full term, this is not something I'd worry about. You sound like you need some urgent relief. Dose up on paracetamol, or even low dose cocodamol (not at the same time though), get some haemorrhoid cream and maybe have a nice warm bath to try and relax everything too.
Sounds absolutely miserable and I hope you get some relief soon.

Thanks all, GP finally called back and just said he'd prescribed anusol which I've already got!

Will order that now @18daychallenge thank you. Some excellent advice here so thank you all, the ice fingers sound excellent. Without being TMI, I have pushed it back in a few times but it keeps popping back out.

I'm going to go to the supermarket and try to buy anything and everything that might help. I hadn't thought of prune juice, thank you @m00ngirl as that might be easier to get down than several dried prunes.

Sorry to hear some of you have been through this, I wouldn't wish it on anyone!

Yes I was also going to say dried prunes and dried apricots. If you eat a good amount it really gets things moving. Obviously drink plenty of water as well as that will soften the stool. I find fennel tea helps too.
This sounds like hell OP, hope you find relieve fast

Tinned prunes in juice are very palatable, if that helps. Nice eaten with thick Greek yoghurt.

Try a sitz bath with some baking soda, it helps to reduce the pain. Hope it gets better.

If you're prone to constipation, do please be prepared before you go into labour. Up your fibre intake, drink lots and have lactulose ready. My post birth constipation was worse than labour. Dd was born on December 20 and I finally pooed on Christmas Day. I remember sitting in the loo hearing the Queen's Message drifting from the living room. As an ardent Republican it's the first time I've ever felt grateful to her majesty!

Just go to your local pharmacy and get a fleet enema:

https://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/product/cleen-ready-to-use-enema-133ml/

And start drinking prune juice and up your fibre intake. And AFAIK Metamucil and generic versions thereof are safe in pregnancy.

Don't take co-codamol! Codeine is an opiate, and will cause constipation. Try a Micralax enema-available from chemists or Amazon, and it's a lot smaller volume than the Fleet enemas.

I remember a woman in cubicle next to me having her haemorrhoids banded or treated some similar way pre delivery, as they were so bad she could barely walk. Is it worth asking your midwife about this? As post birth could be worse, pain wise, unless it reduces?

Germaloids cream/ointment might be better than anusol as it contains lidocaine.

Hi @Unbearable12

You poor thing, I totally sympathise.

I'm sure you already know that lactulose doesn't provide overnight relief. It can take days to work, and really needs perseverance. It would also help to increase your fluid (water) consumption.

I've had rectal surgery and was prescribed Instillagel for afterwards. It's a local anaesthetic and disinfectant. For me, it worked very well. The area numbed up within a minute and each dose lasted a good few hours. Might be worth asking your doctor for this instead?

Best of luck and I hope you feel better soon

Have you tried milk of magnesia? 30mls will get everything moving in 3 hours, nothing else has ever worked for me!

You can get puréed prunes in the baby food aisle in those pouches. Ella’s Kitchen do them as do Aldi (much cheaper). I stir them into Greek yoghurt. I find them easier to eat than prunes

Glycerine suppository sorted me out in a few hours. I was in agony beforehand and tried everything else.

What did the Dr say when he prescribed anusol and you said you have it and using it and it’s not working? Did he not then suggest an alternative? You probably need to get back to them and say it makes no difference

Had same here. Cant remember what it was but definitely had some kind of numbing gel, from hospital, not anusol, that did the trick. Was not over the counter stuff. I actually requested a c section ...as my pain was so severe

Hot orange juice is a good laxative. Don’t know why heating it up makes a difference but it does.

Thank you for the warning, I can't imagine how it could be any worse though so that's slightly scary!