Has anyone used glycerine suppositories?

[Sugarplumfury]

I am so constipated. I've tried more fibre, more water, lactulose and go a little bit but no more. I've no gut problems other than slow transit time. If you've used glycerine suppositories did they work and do they burn? I don't like the sound of a burning bum!!!

Hypermobile (likely to be EDS) and on long term codeine and since menopause the alternating nothing then an explosion has been a nightmare. I cut out gluten and suddenly there is so much poo. I had to take in my waist elastic!

Suppositories are not for long term use. I’ve found them very helpful but was relying on them for daily poop. I ate tons of prunes - well about 8 twice a day, bought milk of magnesium and drunk some lactulose -= eventually it started moving AND plenty of water - at least 2 litres so soften those pellets!! 😁

Don’t underestimate how much water you need. Dietician told me to not eat fibrous foods - so minimal salad, veg , no brown rice, fruit, nuts etc as they take a lot of water from the gut & slow it down.

I was told gluten free white pasta is good, white rice, chicken creamy soup, chocolate etc.

Eat little and often. Even if it’s a block of kids lunchbox size cheese every 2 hours to kickstart your tummy & keep it moving.

look up Ghrelin the hunger hormone if bored.

I warn you now, if after all other laxitives any doctor suggests you continued followed by 7 consecutive phosphate enemas in 3 days, run. Run away. Run with whatever semblance of an asshole you have remaining and rock yourself to sleep in the next best a&e hospital. Ideally sitting on an inflatable ring. With the full knowledge your dignity will never be fully redeemable but your asshole may regenerate.

Also bulk buy baby wipes and sudocrem/bepanthan/metanium. Do not go into it dry. Physical Regrets take longer than expected to appear and heal. Emotional regrets, longer.

Final top tip: don’t have an enema whilst hooked up to a drip machine plugged into the wall with the toilet several metres away. Instant regret.

There ends my TMI poop advice.

Wishing you all happy perfect poops tomorrow and forever more.

@mfhtoeh sounds grim. Where are you up to today? I've upped the water intake massively, following these damned incomplete evacuations.. just awful.

Hoping you will be okay 🌺

@allthebeautifulflowers any joy?

Upping water is a hugely wise idea.

I’ve currently got gut explosions during visitation time so feeling bad for everyone else on the ward.

My picc line sticker has fallen off & my nurse is as useful as a chocolate teapot so I’m having to escalate it to the ward sister. Very tedious.

Also waiting for the antibiotics prescribed yesterday to arrive.

Been told more bloods reviews next week so I’m resigned to no release this weekend. Rubbish. You get less time for burglary lol

Gone down to 62kgs, so I’ve lost another 2.5kgs in 2 days. Not a recommended diet plan.

Think I may be feeling a bit better generally though, or at least no more crap.

@mfhtoeh that's not great having a nurse comparable to a chocolate teapot.. for goodness sake, that's all you need.

Not a great diet plan, but if you are feeling a teeny bit better, well that's something.

You are certainly doing " time" with the NHS. You can review on Trust pilot, on release!

🌺🌸

No joy, I'm afraid, but thank you. The last GP I spoke to (fourth discussion so far) said to see if reducing laxatives would help. It has not.

I'm drinking loads and giving some of these suggestions a go, in case they help long term if not now. Regular sitting on the loo, forcing myself to eat often, binge eating kiwis. Have noted the advice to avoid phosphate enemas! Unfortunately, I'm coeliac so already gave up gluten.

I have another GP appointment on Monday, when I may beg for help.

I really can't face A&E as I'm bedbound with long covid fatigue :( I know lack of exercise doesn't help.

@mfhtoeh, you have my utmost sympathy.

@allthebeautifulflowers oh i didn't realise you were bed bound with long covid fatigue.. can't be great for you at all 🌷🌻

I think it would be best to seek advice on Monday ( and I REALLY hope you have some joy before then) You can't continue this way. You need medical intervention now.

I remember last week with incomplete evacuations, it was awful and I was so stressed, so can't imagine how you must be feeling.

Keep us updated 🙂

I agree. @allthebeautifulflowers you do need to be seen, it's been too long and it can actually become dangerous. You need to push for help

I Overheard (so loud, I couldn’t not hear) at nurse changer over that there’s a paraplegic chap with spinal damage and a leg amputation who needs his bowels to be manually evacuated every 2 days. That sounds unbelievably awful. Also the nurse qualified to do it is young & beautiful.

Don’t take having a poo for granted remains my advice: You have no idea what you’re missing.

alas there ends my poop-update really other than I’ve started the tummy antibiotics & awaiting progress.

oh and if you’re bored and au-fait with the bristol stool scale, look up the kings college poop scare - it’s supposed to be better/more thorough & what the dieticians use here.

Sympathies to all fellow gut sufferers.

Sleep well.

Can you try your local walk in centre? Mines fantastic. Go early & get there before the queues of kids with colds & ear infections.

Alternatively, there’s a private dr app called Babylon where you can book virtual GP appointments online. It’s fab. I get it free with my dads family bupa but I think it’s maybe £10/ month B otherwise? Could be a tenner well spend for some decent advice & any referrals or prescriptions. You pay for the prescriptions but it’s often cheaper than the nhs set prescription rate, or call the gp saying you were advised xxx and please can they dispense it for you.

being bedbound with king covid sucks. It also will affect your gut at the natural bounce, gravity & movement is hindering your gut transit. I’d try rubbing the belly with oik (massage oik, coconut oik, baby oik etc) and get your tummy nudged into a bit of movement

Prune juice or califig can work wonders

How are we doing, fellow poo warriors?
@mfhtoeh @allthebeautifulflowers ?

Any joy @mfhtoeh and @allthebeautifulflowers ? Really hope so 🤞

Not ideal news.

I was offered bowel surgery but elected for more investigations so I have a colonoscopy on Monday; it requires bowel prep hence the delay.

Double dose of Plenvu & 8 (!) bisocodyl prescription this weekend in an attempt to deal with the blockage/obstruction. I asked for a side room as 3 days of bowel prep hell are ahead of me but request was declined. My poor bay patients & their visitors.

Had 3 moviprep & daily enemas for 7 days along with 5 weeks 290mg linacloitide, 4mg prucalopride, macrogol etc.

Scans show the blockage/obstruction is not shifting.

i got so blocked that I couldn’t wee so had to be catheterised. Daily enemas provide a teeny bit of relief and produce a handful of golf balls followed by loads of jelly mucus.

I think Satan has relocated to my gut.

I’ve put on 3kgs this week of pure poop!

Surgical options offered:

1. hole in bowel & I self irrigate into stoma.
2. complete bowel removal.

It all felt too rushed after 5 weeks of diabolical inaction from the gastro team. I am going to get second opinion from the Southampton gastro consultant I’m with if they haven’t had to cut me up on Mon!

I hope you all have good poops!

@mfhtoeh oh crikey, you poor thing. What happened today? Did you have the colonoscopy?

Why can't they shift this blockage? Surely this is a real danger now ?

Yep had it today. Totally awake. Sedation failed entirely. Painkillers (fentanyl) May as well have been calpol - I was writhing in pain. Was told to keep moving position.

Bowel isn’t contracting. Gastroparesis. Biopsy results in a week but basically surgery the next step. I know now I’ve seen it so have a clear idea that this really is the next step. I’m preparing for it emotionally.

Lost 6lbs in 2 days of 4 sachets of plenvu bowel prep & 8 bisocodyl. That’s a lot of poop. And it still wasn’t clear.

Week 6 of hospital. Really struggling but trying not to.

@mfhtoeh gosh sounds grim....
Do you have friends / family coming in to keep your spirits up?

Really feel for you 🌹🌻