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Original poster

Constipation

62 replies

Bumbleb79 · 11/12/2020 05:49

Hi All

I'm in desperate need of some help / advice.
I Have been constipated since Monday. Was able to pass stools on Monday / Tuesday but that feeling of something still present. But since Wednesday it's been extremely difficult and feel as if I'm
Completely blocked and when I use the toilet tiny amount of diarrhoea escape (Sorry TMI). I have had Movicol twice since Wednesday. Spoke to my Gp yesterday and he prescribed Glycerol suppository. I used one last night and still no luck. Am extremely uncomfortable Sad. I can feel that one stone like piece stuck in my rectum. I have tried everything possible but not able to get it out. Any advice will be valuable.
Thank you!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bumbleb79 · 12/12/2020 08:34

Day 4 and no luck yet ! I slept last night after 2 nights of no sleep. But woke up with a spitting headache. Sad

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 12/12/2020 10:44

Cosmocol is macrogol which is good.
The best time to do the suppositories is after breakfast.
Good luck.

Phyzzy · 12/12/2020 18:16

I prefer lactulose to movicol.
Prune juice is good on a regular basis but won't shift a blockage. Once clear try a glass of prune juice every morning.

JingleJohnsJulie · 12/12/2020 18:54

Day 4 and no luck yet ! I slept last night after 2 nights of no sleep. But woke up with a spitting headache. That's rubbish, really feel for you. If you've got a headache, are you properly hydrated?

endofthelinefinally · 12/12/2020 19:40

You poor thing. I feel so sorry for you. I am sure if you keep on with the suppositories and movicol you will get there. If nothing happens by monday you might need a special type of enema, but lets hope the glycerine works.

Original poster
Bumbleb79 · 12/12/2020 19:59

I have been drinking lots of water. I have the urge to go but it's so so painful and there is very less poo (Sorry TMI) which comes out. I don't think it will come out unless I push. But not sure whether I can push and damage further.

My headache is better now with paracetamol. This has been an agonising week.

Thank you all for your kind words and advice. It really means a lot.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 12/12/2020 20:53

The suppositories are just glycerine. They won't do any damage, you can't over use them. Eventually they will soften and break up the rock.

Tempusfudgeit · 12/12/2020 21:01

Milk of magnesia, the mint flavour. A good slug of that and a pint of water will clear you out. Stay close to a loo! Always read the label.

jalopy · 12/12/2020 21:02

Try a warm bath and massaging your abdomen. This might help relax your muscles. Sympathies.

JingleJohnsJulie · 12/12/2020 21:05

I have been drinking lots of water. I have the urge to go but it's so so painful and there is very less poo (Sorry TMI) which comes out. I don't think it will come out unless I push. But not sure whether I can push and damage further

This might sound super grim but have you tried going in a warm bath. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that.

Another alternative might be to put sone really warm water into the toilet bowl so that it creates steam and helps you to relax.

I'm sure you've tried elevating your feet so that you are in more of a squatting position too.

And as others have said, you can't overuse glycerin suppositories.

Hope you have a better night Thanks

Freetodowhatiwant · 12/12/2020 21:10

Also grim but a midwife once encouraged me to (assuming you’re a woman!) stick a finger up the other direction and gently push the solid mass in the rectum. Although once it got so bad for me, after I had had an operation, that I had to go to hospital for an enema. It was truly awful. Had been about ten days. Fun. You’re right in trying to break it down with the glycerin first as the experience I had in a&e getting the enema which DIDN’T break it down was beyond hideous. I really feel for you, it feels awful. But hopefully breaking it down is doing some good.

Original poster
Bumbleb79 · 12/12/2020 22:18

Thank you all.
Can't imagine what you went through. It must have been a traumatic experience.

I tried putting in my finger but it caused trauma. Tried too many things and it has caused 2 tears and now the rectum
Hole is tightening as a defence mechanism. I can feel that the passage entrance is so small now. Sad

My stomach is grumbling with gas. I'm able to pass gas and small portions of stool. So I'm hoping that it will work soon.

My 8 year old is very worried and scared for me.

Hoping for A better night. Thank you all again for encouraging words. Means a lot x

OP posts:
IrisAtwood · 13/12/2020 09:18

It sounds like you are impacted. Keep taking the movicol, but if it continues you may need a manual evacuation which is done in hospital. Constipation this severe can be really serious so don’t be put off by your GP. If you are in pain and are just not going at all I would go to A & E. My mother was admitted on three separate occasions for exactly what you are going through. There are also deaths caused directly by constipation, although usually they are very elderly or learning disabled people who haven’t defecated for several months. Sally Lewis, Richard Handley and Emily Titterington are the most recent that I have read about.

IrisAtwood · 13/12/2020 09:25

Just looked at the NICE guidelines and manual evacuation is no longer advised, They use enemas instead.

Sewsosew · 13/12/2020 09:32

Cosmocol seems the same as movicol?
When DD was impacted then we took 1 the first day, 2 the second, 3 the third, until it got going and then reduced it down to 2. After the few days of diarrhoea, she still needed to clear out for a while.
Honestly if nothing is still not coming out then it isn’t working. I would start increasing things now. You should be starting to get overflow at least by now, you need to get things working.

endofthelinefinally · 13/12/2020 09:33

@endofthelinefinally

You poor thing. I feel so sorry for you. I am sure if you keep on with the suppositories and movicol you will get there. If nothing happens by monday you might need a special type of enema, but lets hope the glycerine works.
Just saying this again, OP. If you are passing little bits that is progress. Keep on keeping on.
LizzieSiddal · 13/12/2020 09:33

My Dd just had a similar experience after a Csection. Her dr gave her an enema which dd was able to use herself. It worked after 8 days of constipation, suppositories and lactulose. It worked within a few hours. Please ask your dr for an enema.x

LizzieSiddal · 13/12/2020 09:35

Can I just emphasis that you don’t have to go to A&E for an enema as some posters are suggesting. The Dr can prescribe them, they are very easy to use- and quite small, nothing like the ones used in hospitals. The dr gave her 3 so if the first didn’t work she could use more. They are much more gentle than they used to be so don’t worry OP.

ICJump · 13/12/2020 09:37

Can I suggest internal hemaroid cream. 2-3 times a day with an applicator. This won't get you moving but if you improve the pain of tears you'll be able to relax more. I have medication induced constipation and the pain is the worst

IrisAtwood · 13/12/2020 10:14

@LizzieSiddal

Can I just emphasis that you don’t have to go to A&E for an enema as some posters are suggesting. The Dr can prescribe them, they are very easy to use- and quite small, nothing like the ones used in hospitals. The dr gave her 3 so if the first didn’t work she could use more. They are much more gentle than they used to be so don’t worry OP.
I didn’t say that she needed to go to A & E for an enema. What I was trying to say is that fecal impaction is serious and that if you are in pain, haven’t gone for days despite movicol etc then you may need to go to A & E. Especially if you can’t get hold of your Dr. :)
Original poster
Bumbleb79 · 13/12/2020 15:58

Thank you all again.
After the suppository last night , a little bit more came out. But the pain was the worst. And again today as well. So I'm
Hoping that this is working. I will continue with my movicol and suppositories.
I will speak to my gp again tomorrow and ask his advice regarding the enema.

Thank you all so much for the support. xx

OP posts:
ChampagneCommunist · 13/12/2020 16:04

Can you feel the rock through the wall of your vagina?

If so, can you manoeuvre it out that way? I know it sounds grim, but desperate times etc

endofthelinefinally · 13/12/2020 16:08

Are you putting 2 suppositories in at a time OP? 1 really isn't enough.

sadie9 · 13/12/2020 20:27

When on the loo place your feet on a small.box like a wipes box. So that your knees are higher than your bum. Straighten your back then lean forward from your waist rather than hunch over.
Clenching and unclenching your bum can work without straining. Then to help bum muscles relax, you can exhale as if blowing into a straw.

endofthelinefinally · 14/12/2020 11:03

How are you today Bumbleb79?
I hope things are progressing and you are feeling better.