Sorry this is really grim but I'm panicking - extreme constipation

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I've just come out of hosp after v bad acute pancreatitis which am still recovering from. I was in hosp 2 weeks and I didn't poo since the day before I went in by ambulance.

Anyway, I can't get the poo out. Will movicol help with the stuff that's stuck like concrete right near the bottom? I'm scares to keep taking it unless it works on the huge concrete stuff in the way. The last thing I need is an increased urge to push when I literally cannot get it out?

I'm so sorry it's grim and I'm desperate. The hospital just sent me home w senna and movicol and no advice and I'm terrified.

Sympathies on the pancreatitis. I had it about 18 years ago, and I can remember the pain as if it was yesterday. Horrific.

Am on massive doses of Oxynorm, and will be for foreseeable future, so after (assuming there is an after!) i get this current crisis sorted I'll need to work out how to keep a handle on it.

This current awfulness it's due to the opiates mainly though, pancreatitis leaves whole body dehydrated and it was so swollen it squashed my intestines so whole digestive system shut down for a week or so.

Why did they not tell me this could happen?

Waiting for my dad to return.

Should I do the enema whilst on the loo and then wait there? And (sorry) not done this before, should I push the tube up the side / middle? How high does it have to be - its all v solid so not sure how in there I can get it? Sorry :(

Hairy so glad you've been through similar (tho not glad u been thru it obviously).

Sorry for text lang is hard to type

I really think you need to get proper medical advice, you REALLY don't want extra stress on your system after pancreatitis :(

I really hope you manage - can you insert a finger into your vagina and try to push from there? I have a bit of a prolapse going on and it sometimes gets stuck in a pocket (sorry, gross tmi) and i can push it out from the other side, as it were - slightly less painful than having to hook it out of your backside.

ARe you dehydrated?

Seriously though, i think you need to ring them and tell them you are struggling, which is probably the last thing you want to do but honestly, better be safe than sorry.

The enema packaging will have instructions on it, I'd hope...

Hell's bells, PLEASE ring the out of hours GP and get advice.

I think that if you are that badly constipated then the enema should be inserted by somebody who is trained and qualified to do so. I think you maybe need a physical examination by a doctor first to establish how extensive the problem is.

It will be difficult for you to insert the nozzle safely if the wall of your rectum is stretched by hard stool. People can self administer routine enemas for themselves but I think this situation could be a bit tricky to manage.

Am going to try to later, can't yet as too many people in the house and using the bathroom.

I'll have to call gp or hosp tomorrow. Problem is I have no idea how I would get to anywhere. I had a stretcher transport back as am not well at all

Vaginal wall is a very good idea, but only if it feels small enough to pass through your rectum. If it feels huge (when you insert your finger in your vagina) then you really need something to dissolve the fecal matter first.

If you need help, going back to hospital via ambulance is NOT a waste of their time. If you can hold on, your GP surgery could send a district nurse out in the morning?

District nurses can administer emergency enemas but you'd have to be referred by a go, perhaps out of hours doc could see/refer you?

GP should be able to arrange district nurses to come and give you an enema.

If you are on lots of oxynorm, even once the concrete at the bottom has been dislodged, you will need to take Movicol every day without fail - probably at least 2 sachets daily. If you miss a day, it will just have the chance to turn back into concrete

Oh you poor, poor darling. I just had this a few weeks ago and it was absolute misery.

I ended up in the ER and they administered an enema there. The relief was beyond words.

Mine was due to my morning sickness meds, BTW. Ugh I am cringing for you, it's so terrible.

Did it ermmm, fit? I mean to get it out ok?

I'm going to try it in about 15 mins. I hope it works. I hope it doesn't make it worse. Bloody hell I'm scared.

I've been through hell and I haven't got anything left which I know is stupid. My pancreas got infected and for three nights I had someone / anaethetist i think from ICU at my bedside and they kept threatening to take me into ICU (which am shit scared of, they didn't mean it as a threat I know), and it was terrifying, I lost count at 12 lines as my veins kept collapsing and all the blood tests and retesting straight away & them waiting on the phone for the results, and basically it was actual literal hell. I have another condition which am v ill from normally and it affects the way painkillers are absorbed and how effective they are, and for the first three days they couldn't find anything that worked and they tried everything, doses that would kill other people, and I was just there screaming in pain or passed out from the pain and god, I can't describe it.

Sorry tmi

I'm so sorry you've had such a terrible ordeal in hospital. I can't believe they discharged you in such a state either.

Really hope the enema works.

As for how to keep your bowels moving in the future, since you'll still be on the painkillers, Movicol will really work. I'm not sure what dosage you've been advised, but I frequently take two sachets at night because one doesn't always work the next day. Don't be afraid to up the dose if you need it. The worse that can happen is you'll have a very loose stools (which will be a relief compared with the constipation!). The good thing about Movicol is it doesn't give you stomach cramps.

Your bowel wall is very stretchy, so there will be room. The difficulty is that your anus has a limit on its stretch, especially if it hurts, because it's a sphincter muscle. So if your poo gets backed up and gets large and hard, it makes it tricky to get out.

When you insert the enema, you need to do it slowly and carefully. If there is resistance, don't force it. Try again, gently. But when you do insert it, you need to lay on your left hand side for a while to let it absorb. If you do it upright, you'll just have an urge to expel it and it won't do anything.

It's all sounds dreadful and like you should never have been discharged. I hope it works. My 3 year son has 1 sachet of movicol a day for constipation (with no real cause) which sometimes isn't enough too. Therefore, if on pain killers I would imagine that a dose of more than 1 would be needed. It is really good stuff though for when you get past this immediate problem.

Please. Please. Please. Call the out of hours GP and get some advice if you are scared about doing this (I would be!)

I really think you should phone a dr or go to a&e , after being so ill.

I did it!!!!!!!!!!

That was truly hideous and I'm sure not all of it went but I think the main blockage has finally come out. I kind of helped it by poking it into bits as the first disgustingly wide bit made its exit and then alot followed plus quite a bit of brown water. it was still concrete like but broke up easier which I guess was the enema?

Thank god.

Was freaking out about having to go back to hospital (you might have noticed that ahem).

Surely nothing can be as bad as that bit?

I am unsure how much movicol to continue with as on the Internet are various confusing things like using too much causes even worse impaction or then using too little makes exactly the same thing happen in a few days, all v v confusing.

The label on the movicol from the hosp says take three sachets a day - but that was for v bad constipation and I know that's wrong from the leaflet inside and from pharmacist.

Should I assume there's more up there and carry on dose for impacted thingy or assume its finished and now need a regular dose to deal w the opiates?

(I know, can't believe I'm asking random people on the internet, but practical experience appears greater than vague theoretical guidelines... And I will ask gp too probably tomorrow)

You poor thing op, I hope it works for You! Good luck!

Xpost!

Too much Movicol DOES NOT cause an impaction. Quite the opposite. It's a stool softener, nothing more.

I would keep up with the three sachets. It won't do any harm. Then later, if you feel your stools are too loose, reduce the dose.

No need tonight anyway coconutty I say delirious with relief!!!

Tomorrow is another day and yes I should talk to a doctor.

Can I just say a massive thank you for your kind words and advice and no one calling me a poo troll!!!

I wouldn't have called pharmacist had it not been for the first posts on here, or had the courage to give it a go. I would still be hiding with head in sand terrified and getting self into a right state.

Thank fuck for that.

Well done! I'd try 2 movicol a day and if you haven't gone after a couple of days, up it to 3.

I had awful and terrifying constipation after major gynae surgery. Not being allowed to strain or really push that much due to danger of ripping the stitches was a wonderful addition to the mix . The Fleet got me cleared out, and then it was movicol sachets. Whilst you are on the pain meds, you're probably going to need to keep taking them every day.

Good idea to get input from your GP as well.

You poor thing. XXX