Is this constipation?

[Whyismycatanasshat]

Sorry it’s me again. I tried to ring the Dr yesterday but didn’t get a call back.
I’ve never had bowel bother before so I’m lost.

Does this sound like constipation?

I have a constant pressure like feeling in my back passage, like there’s something sitting or gently pushing there; once a day I seem to be able to poop - slimmer that usual, less bulky and if I go to the toilet after that and relax or strain I can pass a pea sized amount of poop.

I’ve increased my water intake in the last few days and been eating weetabix... all that seems to do is make me break wind and burp.

Thank you.

Could well be constipation, but could be other things too.. a prolapse for example. How long has it been going on for? A change in bowel habit merits a trip to see your GP, give them a phone.

@Woliverine it started on Tuesday after a phone call to my Dr about what she thought was ibs and constipation.
I don’t know whether to take a couple of doses of movicol and see what happens as I can’t speak to the Dr again until Tuesday.

Could be an inflamed pile in your back passage too. A few days of five a day tangerines or oranges does the trick for me! After you’ve eaten those and are empty if the problem is still there it can’t be that your bunged up.

That’s the thing; I don’t think I feel bunged up.
I’ve never really been constipated before I don’t think so I’m not sure what I should or would be feeling.

I’ve got a lot of noise and wind movement in my gut. And I am managing to poop an ok amount once a day.

When I've been severely constipated the feeling is so awful, I feel completely full, every time I stand up gravity makes me want to poo but when I sit on the loo I just can't go because it's so impacted. Sorry if TMI! I know everyone is different so this might not be the same for others.
What I use when I get like this is dulcolax, it works wonders. But maybe try other more natural things like fruit juice first in case it's not constipation. Weetabix might be a bit too stodgy in terms of fibre at the moment.
Also do you take any kind of probiotics? I have IBS and these were recommended to me by a doctor and have really helped keep things more settled.
But as others have said seeing your GP is a must. Good luck.

I get this. I have had IBS for 20 year and never had this issue but the last year or so symptoms have been very similar to yours. Oats always seem to help me.

I have movicol and dulcoease in the house right now, I could take one of those, I just worry that if I’m not constipated I’ll make things worse.

I feel a bit rough but think that’s the stress of this more than anything. My stomach isn’t hard, not bloated, just making gurgling noises.

I am drinking more water and it’s making me pee a lot, I had hoped that would help.

I just don’t know, I will ring so make an appointment to speak the same Dr on Tuesday; they aren’t having patients into surgery so it’s all over the phone but I worry she’ll just say more laxatives.

You might find a squatty potty or similar helps. Its a low stool which lifts your feet up when on the toilet and helps straighten the bowel out, making it MUCH easier to open your bowels.

Have you changed your diet lately? Not drinking enough water? Doing less exercise? All these can contribute to constipation, but if the stools are now thin, this could be a sign of a serious issue. Any bleeding?

Weetabix are ok, but isn't all that high in fibre. You'd be better off with chia seeds, raspberries, flax seeds, psyllium husks, avocado etc nd plenty of water and exercise.

@elouera I’m using a small stool to get my knees higher than my hips if that makes sense.

No major changes - life has been very much the same for 7 weeks now- same diet, same 2km walk with DD.

No bleeding either; I’d stay the stools have gone from my usual standards of a decent double decker thickness to now, a roll of polos thickness, maybe a tad thinner. Softer too, more clean up required than usual.

Really all I have access to is water and movicol or dulcoease. Shops other than Spar are an hour round trip and I’m loathe to taken DD. Pharmacy at Drs is shut today too, that’s a 35 minute round trip.

Being honest, I’m frightened.
I know I’m being irrational in that respect but I am.

Hi OP,
I'm sorry you are frightened. Is there an out of hours service locally? Even if you can't visit they might be able to give advice over the phone.

The fear i think, that this is something else other than IBS and constipation; and that I feel out of control of the situation.
I’ve had a wee cry now DD is napping.

Plus side. I’ve been to the toilet and passed stool twice today. No where near usual standards but it’s something.

Out of hours Triage say I’m not completely blocked if I’m passing something so basically take dulcoease or movicol if I want to and/or wait until I can speak to my own GP, and Tuesday is fine to wait until.

I have no idea if taking dulcoease or movicol will help; if it’s safe to do so or what.

This does sound like ibs, it can cause the feeling of pressure and still needing to go. Thin stools can be caused by the bowel going into spasm and if your stool is softer it can make the stool thinner. I have ibs, had it for almost 30 years and have had all of your symptoms over the years. I understand why you are worried as I suffer from horrendous health anxiety.

See what your doctor says, he will be able to decide whether you need further investigation or not. Have you had a stomach bug/food poisoning in the last few months? My ibs started after a bad stomach bug. I started off with bad constipation and stomach pain but over the years it has changed and now I tend to have the alternating type. Do you mind me asking how old you are?

@kaylasmum53 I’m 35, never had any bowel issues - not even a touch whilst pregnant with DD or after my c-section 16 months ago, which was a relief if one pardons the pun!

It’s definitely softer and thinner than usual; double decker bar verses a fudge bar is how i described it to out of hours. Though They were unconcerned.

I’ve not had a stomach bug or anything for a long while; the only IBS type experiences I’ve ever had before are if I have pepper in a meal I’ll have diarrhoea within the hour, so easily avoided and I haven’t had a case for about 2 years.

I hate the thought of wasting the GPs time during this crisis; we’re in Scotland so behind England in everything.

This fear and anxiety about my health only started after DD came along too.

OP- I'm really not sure what else you are asking for???

Several of us have given practical advice, suggestions and thoughts on what is going on and everyone has suggested speaking to your GP! You have thinner stools, which if you have looked this up, could be a serious health concern! It might be something simple, but you obviously need to at least discuss with you GP for further investigation, rather than dismissing ALL our suggestions.

If you have had in your own words 'fear and anxiety' about health since having your child, have you discussed this with your GP? They can organise CBT or other counselling to help you put things in perspective.

You aren't wasting you GP's time! If you are concerned enough to ask randoms on here, and obviously have changes in your health, then seek advice from your GP please. Wishing you all the best x

Maybe take the movicol. I had horrendous constipation last year where I didn't go for about a week and movicol worked, I had to take 5 or 6 sachets a day for 2 days.
If that doesn't work then definitely contact NHS / your GP.

@Elouera I’m genuinely sorry you feel I’m dismissing everyone’s suggestions; that’s not my intention at all!

I think I said upthread I’ll making an appointment to speak to my GP on Tuesday. I am very much alone at the moment due to coronavirus and have been appreciative of the support given here.

What am I asking for - Anyone with similar experiences I suppose, which people have given; again I’m appreciative of this, maybe I’ve asked too many questions or phrased things badly but other people’s experiences can bring reassurance.

As I’ve said, I’m alone with my DD, no one really to discuss anything with. My DP isn’t here and Would struggle with this kind of conversation over the phone; similarly my sister has enough going on with her family that I can’t talk it through with her.

Again. Sorry if you or anyone feels I’ve been dismissive

OP- Sorry that I missed that you are indeed speaking to your GP during the week. Obviously mention your concerns, including your health anxiety since having your DD.

Some of us may indeed have medical experience/knowledge of something similar, but obviously don't want to worry you. Its not always something sinister, but narrowed stools obviously means a stricture of some sort. Hopefully it is something simple, and might just be the stress and changes caused by lockdown which are affecting all of us. I am glad you are speaking to someone about it though x

@elouera thanks for responding; part of the reason I’m hanging back until Tuesday to make an appointment is that’s the day the GP I feel I can voice all concerns to is working.

My intention is to discuss both the mental health/anxiety and the bowel issues - narrowing stool and pressure feeling. I am unsurprisingly not medical, I am a teacher, I know that narrowing possibly means obstruction which feeds the fear, as does good Old google. The poster who said they experience similar with their IBS helped.

I must talk to the GP about the mental heath side; I caught myself getting upset for no clear reason whilst bathing DD earlier, which says I’ve not got a grip on things.

Could it be a rectocele prolapse? Is the pressure the same all day or worse evenings? When you feel the pressure, if you have a feel inside the vagina, (while upright not lying) and see if their is a bulge to the back. I had a rectocele and had pelvic pressure, ribbon shaped stools, incomplete emptying. Had you a forceps delivery?

@seaweed42 thanks for your reply;I had a c-section so I’m thinking/hoping not.
The pressure is the same all day. It feels like literally just the last bit of my back passage before the exit. I can’t feel anything particularly bulging;’stool is narrowed rather than flat or ribbon I’d say. No other real discomfort other than this pressure.

I’m hoping to speak to the Dr again on Tuesday so may have a better idea of what’s going on then.

Best of luck today, and hoping you get some answers

Op what happened in the end please?

@Nogodsnomasters sorry it’s taken a while to reply. I don’t haunt these parts so much now.

I had a rectal muscle spasm; likely due to pelvic muscle problems and described by the women’s physio I saw as very, very similar to levator ani syndrome; it can last for weeks.

It did get resolved though I went down the private physio route rather than nhs waiting times during Covid and was categorically not constipation!

Also got the mental health stuff sorted for anyone who wonders!