Constipation help please!

[JBJ]

I’ve struggled a bit with constipation for a few months; usually made better with a fibre supplement. However, I had a gallbladder removal 3 days ago (haven’t had a poo since last Thursday) along with a dose of Fentanyl, and I’m so bunged up it’s painful. I’ve had senna every night - given to me by the hospital - an extra dose of dulcolax last night and have, this afternoon, resorted to trying a glycerine suppository, which has done absolutely nothing! It feels like I’m trying to pass a tennis ball 😩

Any suggestions/ideas? I’m back at hospital tomorrow to have a drain removed, so I’ll ask for help there, but would love a bit of relief in the meantime!

Thanks :)

Have a hot bath - usually helps me. Although also I didn't go for few days after LO was born involving a forceps, a tear and stiches! Might be your body just guarding the sore area. The first one back was hmmm ginormous! Although actually fairly soft and easy to do...

Probably the last thing you’d want to ask someone else to do, but do you have anyone at home who could manually have a go for you?

It really is. Had issues with it before, but never this bad. Feel constantly like I’m dying for the loo yet someone’s stuck a cork in 🤣 I’ll give that a try, thanks.

I haven’t got a bath unfortunately and I’m not allowed to submerge myself in water at the minute anyway due to all the stitches.

I have a 19yo son here and that’s it. Not a chance in hell he’d help!!

Try dolocease plus senna. Take after lunch and before bed. For a few days.
If that fails to work then about four movicol sachets. Again for a few days.
If that doesn't work glycerine suppository.

I’ve been taking senna for 3 days, dulcolax for one, movicol and a glycerine suppository (2 now)

Ok hold steady. Keep up the regime. Something should move soon. Try dulcoease. It softens the stools.

I'm on a lot of medication and have experienced terrible constipation. I always keep enemas indoors now just incase. You can get them off Amazon and they've never failed me yet. They do the Microlax ones and also Fleet saline ones. Both are good and within 5 minutes it's all over. I really really feel for you. They are a last resort when everything you've tried hasn't helped.

I’ve actually just tried a Microlax one as got some of those and nothing is happening. It’s so frustrating!

Have you tried putting your feet up on a stool (look at the Squatty potty for the science!)

RESULT! I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to have a shit 🤣🤣 After much poking about, I obviously managed to break up the blockage enough to get things moving. The relief is immense and I feel a stone lighter 🤣

Sod’s law I’d just logged a callback with 111 as I was at the point of desperation and had stopped being able to pass wind. Really don’t know how to cancel that tbh

I'm so so happy for you!! I know the relief you're experiencing and I'm so glad you've been. Don't you feel good now!

I bet you feel like a new woman! I’m glad you feel better!

Thank you all for the suggestions and moral support. I was starting to feel quite frightened.

Superb! Hope you get a decent night of sleep now that you probably feel so much more comfortable. Good luck with your hospital appt.

Keep the appointment and ask them to prescribe something to keep you moving for the next few weeks - your digestive system changes hugely after a gallbladder removal and there is a fair chance you'll need more help - and it's always easier to treat things early.

Once you know how you react to different foods you can balance things out with diet alone but you don't want to be back here next week.

So happy for you, OP. You’ll be sleeping like a baby now, no doubt

Good result op

I know that relief! Well done!

Good news. Re the gas pain, I couldn’t believe the shoulder pain I had a couple of days after op, nobody told me about it, I was really worried.

The gas pain was worse than the actual surgery pain! Very glad that’s eased off a bit now.

Well, not a great night’s sleep has been had. Turns out taking a ton of laxatives is a good way of staying awake on the loo most of the night 🤣

Yeah. I was pooing quite a lot for about a week after my experience

I’m literally 3lb lighter this morning than I was yesterday 🤣🤣

Keep.going with either Movicol or lactulose for a couple of weeks just to keep things moving! Once you recover from the surgery and are more active, things should revert to normal.