Iron tablets giving me horrendous constipation post-CS - what's best to take?

[lurcherlover]

Help please. I had dd by CS 6 days ago and have been put on iron tablets post-surgery, for two weeks. Bug dear god the constipation! My guts are really cramping with it - the pain is worse than the wound. I'm taking lactulose but it's not really doing much. Is there anything better I can buy or get on prescription? I'm breastfeeding. I'm obviously doing the prune juice, dried apricots, drinking lots of water, tinned peaches etc as well...

Ooh yes, movicol! Forgotten about that stuff, like dynamite! I think it has an advisory note on the box if you're breastfeeding whilst taking it e.g. 'to be taken only if advised by your doctor or midwife'

Thanks for your help everyone. I have started fybogel today and stopped the ibruprofen. Also eaten some kiwi! I am going to phone the gp tomorrow to see if there is an alternative to the iron tablets. My guts today have been really cramping and griping all day . If it wasn't for this I would be feeling fine as I'm not having any pain from the wound and no mobility issues. But my guts are making me hobble like an old woman! Fed up.

Agree with cake

Please speak to Gp before switching your prescribed iron tablets.

Sorry x posted.

Hope things get moving tomorrow!

Lactulose. It was a godsend for softening things and allowing me to poo! You don't need a prescription, can pick up at Boots.

Also it could be trapped wind that you are suffering from. That made me cry with pain after my section. I found deflatese tablets helped enormously.

Psyllium powder worked for me (also called ispaghula husk) when I was on iron tablets while pregnantit's the ingredient in fybogel but I just got a big bag of it on ebay which works out much cheaper. You can also get tubs of it in health food shops. Try a teaspoon mixed with juice a couple of times a day and make sure to drink plenty throughout the day as well. Also make sure you're taking the iron tablets with plenty of food I took on an empty stomach once and was so ill--didn't make that mistake again! Hope this or something else on this thread helps... I feel your pain!

Update...I was almost at the point of going to A&E at 3am last night as the cramps were so bad...then this morning the fybogel kicked in and I finally went to the loo (will spare you the details but I wish I'd weighed myself before and after!!) and now I feel much better...so am hoping the fybogel plus drinking loads of water regime will keep me going until I've finished these tablets. Thanks so much for your advice everyone

Congrats

After my success with movicol, I am having some luck with the kiwi fruit (chronic constipation sufferer ;( )