Embarrassing problem (bowel related)

[Embarrassingproblemhelp]

I’ve never talked about this to anyone but I have been living with a problem for years and years. I guess it just became normal for me but I really think I need to start addressing the issue (I went away on holiday recently and it really impacted my trip) and I wondered if anyone had this same problem or could advise me where to start.

My problem is that I NEVER feel the need to go to the toilet (no2). Like ever. I get a horrible bloated tummy ache but it’s like the signal is just not reaching my bowel to release it. I can sometimes feel its close but it just won’t come out. I have to spend ages, up to an hour sat on the toilet to get the smallest amount out. Occasionally if I stand up after getting a small amount out, gravity will help and I can quickly sit back down and do more, but this is rare. And feels like a miracle when it happens. This has been going on for ages, 10 years plus, probably since childbirth so I wonder if I’ve been damaged in some way during labour.

I’ve been trying movicol incase I was constipated but I’m still not feeling the urge to go or finding it easy to get out. So I don’t think constipation is the issue. I exercise daily, eat well…I really think there is something not working right.

if I don’t do my daily sit on the toilet for ages to pass a small amount, I am in agony, look 6 months pregnant and get constipated because what I do pass becomes very dry where it’s been sat there for ages not coming out.

Im tempted to get a colonic but worrying if something is wrong inside it could make matters worse.

I have a doctors appt booked for a couple of weeks as I noticed that when I look down, I have a slight bulge on my right hand side of my tummy but this could just be my bowel. I still don’t know if I’m brave enough to go because I’ve heard a test for looking at this type of thing is being X rayed while attempting to go to the toilet. Which would be pointless for me as won’t happen.

I don’t even know how to start talking to a doctor about this…

I’ll post a pic of my tummy incase it gives any hints.

I have the same issue, I can go up to around 3 weeks without a poo and no feeling of needing one, I eventually went to the doctors and they did loads of tests but nothing notable flagged up, I'm now on 3 sachets of laxido a day and drinking loads of water and I feel normal, what prompted me to call and get this sorted was that it was so difficult to pass a poo that I ripped my bum hole open and the pain was that bad so much worse than childbirth.

Speak to a doctor of course, but also this guy on Instagram is so informative. From diet, to technique, to normal, to what to worry about - he’s got it covered: www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan?igsh=MTUwbmowYTg2enl0aA==

I have been weeks without going to, it was horrendous. Thank you. I’m going to keep going with the movicol and start drinking a lot of water. 💧

Go to your GP in first instance

Doctors is booked. Purpose of thread isn’t for an official diagnosis, just wanted support/ideas/getting used to talking about it.

Oh yes - don’t forget your kegels! Twice a day really helps.

Never heard of them! Looking them up now thanks

I should have made it clear …. I think you should go to your GP tomorrow not in a few weeks.

Absolutely no chance with my doctors. Plus I have been dealing with this problem for 10 years plus so it can probably wait another two weeks. But thank you x

Can I suggest lots of high fibre foods to help everything along. Your microbiome will love you, you'll have no problem with going to the loo and it will balance your blood sugar, reduce visceral fat and help all sorts of health problems.
Here are some ideas - don't have it all at once try one meal a day and up it a bit over a few weeks.
Meal suggestions -
Breakfast - prunes, dates, chia seeds, mixed seeds, berries, raspberries are great added to yoghurt or whole grain cereal
Lunch wholemeal bread, hummus and veg or brown rice with kidney beans and sweetcorn or sweet potato chopped up and roasted with paprika or other spices and feta cheese and beans or a mixed veggies scoop with lentils.
Dinner mixed veg, with some of that chickpea or pea pasta and some fish or chilli with double the beans added and a wholemeal wrap or brown rice. Drizzle with olive oil for some extra gut happiness.
You may want to build up your fibre over a few weeks, but once you're having a couple of high fibre meals a day you will feel a lot better.
And drink plenty of water
Coffee can help
And Magnesium citrate helps your gut retain water so you're not constipated.
I almost forgot - nuts are a great snack.
And stay away from white bread or any white flour baked goods like muffins, croissants etc

Thanks the tips, when you put it like that my diet could be a lot better…and I do eat a lot of white flour foods. Could diet really cause me to never feel the urge to go to the toilet?

magnesium Citrate is really good for having a clear out .

How many movicol a day have you taken?

Not read every comment but I would strongly recommend reflexology I don’t practice any more but when I did I specialised in pregnancy reflexology and had massive success in improving all digestion issues even though that wasn’t what they were coming for. It’s super relaxing too and you can tell your family you’re going for any reason, just relaxation. You don’t even have to tell your therapist although if you do they can focus more on it but either way it will help you feel better. Best of luck bowel problems are so stressful.

@Embarrassingproblemhelp prunes, figs........ I dont like them either. But I eat them because they help! And added to cereal, or with some custard or in yoghurt or a handful of nuts - really not so bad.

Sounds like impaction and the diarrhoea is the over flow. You need a serious movicol regime and then when you are clear you need to keep taking it every day. Hope you feel more comfortable soon OP.

You don't have to like them, just eat them!

It’s common to have bowel issues. The dr will be very used to them.

I’ve had chronic constipation. My consultant put me on four Laxido sachets a day! I had bought Movicol but it wasn’t really working. The Laxido is better for me. But it’s better to get them on prescription as it’s much cheaper. The other thing mentioned quite a lot is prune juice, 75ml per day.

I would wait until someone has given you a scan or something before deciding on diet. I‘m on a low fibre one for my problem. Sometimes they suggest clear fluids to allow the bowel to rest. Or low residue.

Good luck at your appointment.

Prune juice is lush, but do not drink a lot of it. I made that error once...

However, if you really don't like eating prunes, it might be easier to drink the juice.

Please don't change your diet to high fiber until you are going regularly. I found it bunged me up terrible! Don't be scared of Senokot it's a lifesaver for me when nothing else works. People tend to over emphasize the very small amount of people
Who may end up addicted to it. I find Dulco lax great for softening. You need softening and stimulant together just to get started then gradually change your diet. I don't think prunes or the like will
Work for you while you are so impacted

@Embarrassingproblemhelp see the gp first rather than trying all these things.

Could be more than one of the explanations but as a mum of a child who has suffered with constipation over a long period some of the info given sounds good & some doesn't sound right.

Bowel Bladder UK and ERIC both have lots of useful info. Definitely worth a read too.

I'd say your first step would probably be a full disimpaction wirh movicol but gp should help you with advice but not all gp's are equal so if the first is rubbish go & see a different one (saw 3 in our old practice who were not far off hopeless before we met one who could properly help my dc)

I have had problems with constipation for a while , gp thinks it’s connected to an Under-active thyroid so is treating that but I’m not entirely convinced
think I saw these ‘ORTISAN FRUITS & FIBRE CUBES ‘recommended on here some time ago , they do help me ( sold on Amazon)
also in my case the gp says not to worry too much about loads of fibre as she thinks it might make it worse ,
You have my sympathies, it’s really frustrating, hope your gp is helpful

Well done for posting, OP.

Loads of women suffer in silence. I was definitely one of them, but
I'm on now the weight loss drug, Mounjaro, which slows down food transit, and I've found I'm now swapping tips to relieve constipation with so many people - it's come out into the open!

Obviously your problems are no related to that.
It does sound like you have something that the doctor can help with. I hope you feel better after posting here.

I second the Glycerin suppositories (wet them first) to remove any stool in the lower part.

I also now taken Magnesium (as a PP mentioned) which isn't a laxative and works very well,

Good luck OP - lots of options out there xxx

I support going to see your doctor.
Just to let you know this can improve. I spent my childhood/ teens/20s like this. After this it generally improved.

That didn’t look like a ‘slight bulge’ to me - it may be the photo, but it looks quite large.

Definitely speak to your GP before you try anything else. You’ll be so glad you did.