painful long lasting constipation

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Over the past weeks I have been getting constipated due to mainly inactivity, poor diet, increased anxiety and depression and medication that I am currently taking for my mood, which resulted in a change in my bowel movements which has resulted in very painful and worrying backlog of stools in my bowel. It has resulted in pain and tenderness right up at the top of my bowel almost right under my left breast.

It got so bad and worrying that I went to my local A & E on Saturday morning who just confirmed that I was constipated, gave me some stool softeners and a leaflet about constipation. I have tried these measures and have only managed to move one malteser sized lump and I'm still in pain and discomfort and my anxiety is through the roof (which doesn't help, I know). The lack of movement has resulted in overflow diarrhoea, which is quite frankly doing my head in, as everything I eat now is coming through as extremely loose because of the stool softeners and laxatives.

On Monday, I phoned my GP and she called back. All she could say was this is going to take a long time to get moving and she was quite dismissive over the phone.

Yesterday morning I got so fed up with it and the discomfort that I phoned 111 and got an appointment at the urgent treatment centre which I went to yesterday and they advised to stop the stool softener and increase lacido (laxative) and he reassured me that it’s not serious because he could still here my bowel sounds so I was quite relieved.

I have woken up this morning in pain and discomfort right like I was at the beginning. I feel like I have severe feacal impaction and it’s stuck and if it doesn’t move I’ll be in trouble or at least constant pain and discomfort forever.

Please, I’m almost desperate. Does anyone have any practical advice or have suffered anything similar? What was the solution to the problem?

Have you tired glycerin suppositories ? They can really help shift what is stuck . Have worked for me every time .
Sending sympathy as it is really horrible.

Ah I'm sorry- severe constipation is horrible to deal with- I had it after having both my children and it was horrendous. The midwives very kindly gave me an enema after DC1 which definitely got things moving- could you ask your GP about that? I personally didn't find any of the drugs worked on mine.

It sounds like you need to shift what’s at the front first, then address your diet/laxatives.
Suppositories or an enema, ask at the chemist.
Then I personally find prunes the best, over medication. I’d eat about 8 prunes a day to start, then reduce to around 4 a day for maintenance. But you need to find out what works for you.

Agree re the suppositories, I had to resort to them after all my pregnancies. They shift what's stuck at the front. Hope you get things moving soon, it's so flipping uncomfortable.

Hi there all,

Thank you for your responses so far - they have been very helpful and supportive ( I don't normally post on here but I am pretty desperate) ..... Just an update I have spoken to the pharmacist today who gave me some advice regarding the suppositories which I have got but I think I am so impacted that it's difficult to get one in there... sorry if TMI.

Thanks again. Fingers crossed I'll get some movement this afternoon otherwise I'll be going back to A & E this afternoon because I'm in pain now.

A.

Even if the suppository resolves current issue, you need long term treatment. Chronic constipation stretches the bowel, so easily builds back up again. Long term, a year or two of treatment, to keep things moving allows the bowel to return to normal. This is what my GP put me on, she said at least a year of daily use. The daily use amount being what you need to stay regular, between 1 & 2 sachets mostly for me. Before that she had me on a maximum does for 2-3 days, then daily at the lower level. A pharmacist should be able to provide advice on treatment or your GP. I hope you see results soon.
www.weldricks.co.uk/products/movicol-powder-sachets-pack-of-30?gclid=Cj0KCQjws4aKBhDPARIsAIWH0JU6zZjkgbtNSGr0E-5EXUhio6jgpwIggSc_noU6pXTttj5FWg1RmUgaApGoEALw_wcB

Feeling with you OP. When I was on antids etc I suffered this. If it starts building up now I deal with it immediately; gloved finger. I know TMI but it works for me. .. I have to take codeine for severe pain

Still no joy...... The suppository didn't work at all.
Plan is now to try to relax a little and take some lactulose this evening to see if that will help and then go back to A an E tomorrow. The thing is, I don't really want any condescending and tut-tutting advice and saying that I shouldn't have gone in and why did I let myself get into this state! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I really hope that I get it sorted out soon.

thank you very much. That is good advice.

Oh gosh I’ve been where you are. Are you able to manually remove anything yourself? My friend used a calpol syringe filled with warm soapy water and put it up her bum the other day. Emptied the syringe up her bum and she said that massively helped her go, not sure how safe that is though. Constipation is horrific.

Can I ask how the suppository didn't work? Just it's best if the suppository is placed up and around the hard piece of stool to remove the blockage. If you are having overflow you need to tackle the bottom end and also take oral laxatives for higher up! How many sachets and lactulose are you taking?? You can have up to 8 per day of sachets xxx

@Metallcalover I couldn't get the suppository high enough into my rectum I think and maybe I didn't leave it in long enough. I will try again though as they have worked in the past. I think I am just too impacted/blocked for it to work properly. I have let this build up for too long I think really. Thank you for your advice.

I can appreciate how distressing this is for you

You need to resolve your current problem and then manage things going forward

How about using a suppository, then lay on your bed on your left side and try to relax until you get the urge?

It may be you need to do this a couple of times to remove the backlog

If you have no joy I would go back to the GP

Try and not push the suppository in the poo, try and get it between the poo and the bowel wall.
Keep taking stuff from above to push it down. Prunes really do work for me.
Caffeine is a bowel trigger for some, so try a coffee.

Movicol from your dr is for impaction. Not sure if you can get it OTC yet

Coffee on an empty stomach is an old but effective recipe. Hoping you get it sorted ASAP x

.......Finally.... some movement! Not totally clear but I tried stopping the laxatives and just doing plenty of water, fruits, vegetables and PRUNES. I took a dose of Lactulose at about 10pm. I'm beyond elated!
Never again am I going to get myself into this state again. Lesson learned.... :-)
Fingers crossed the rest of the backlog will pass through now.

What a relief for you

Perhaps try and include some prunes in your diet every day as a maintenance level?

How are you feeling this morning?

As I said earlier up the thread, you need to find your maintenance dose of prunes. Mine is four a day, but you might be different.
But for now, until you’re sorted, stick with about 8 a day.
Well done , what a relief for you !

I find sweet potatoes very effective, also five prunes in my porridge. White rice is the worst for slowing things down.
So glad things are moving for you.

@bungabungaboo I'm feeling so much better. I had a lovely walk at 7.30am in the sunshine and mist in celebration of my success. (going to make it also part of my daily habit to do that each day because I let myself become very inactive over the lockdown) It was lovely.... I chatted to some dogs. Hope you are well also.
Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

@PerseverancePays Thank you. I will definitely try sweet potato. Diet is so much better for you than the laxatives.

@GoodnightGrandma

Thank you. I'll definitely be keeping going with the prunes and also porridge. I tried flax seeds in the porridge this morning also. I hear that is supposed to be good.

Exercise definitely helps in the fight against constipation.
And I agree, diet is better than laxatives.

Glad you are feeling better, don't suddenly try lots of things all at the same time though as this may cause different issues and you won't know what works best for you!

(i should take my own advice )

Flax seeds have been a game changer for me. I soak a tablespoon overnight and drink them in the morning. No constipation since.

You can buy movicol otc. It is worth taking a couple of sachets a day until you get regular. It wont do any harm or react with anything else.
Have a look at ERIC and call their help line. They are really for kids, but they will give you good advice.