Constipation

[Izzieloo]

I had such a bad experience yesterday I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else .

I have been constipated for a week then I started to go the pain was unbearable my poo got halfway out and get stuck the pain was worse than a labour pain . I just couldn’t move I was on the verge of calling an ambulance,

After two hours of pushing I passed a stool that was like a hard rock I am terrified this is going to happen again I feel so embarrassed.

Was wondering what I could take to prevent this again . There seems to be a lot of laxatives I have no idea which one to buy, how long should I leave it to take one

Any senna is good as a starting medication.

Drink plenty of water too, as well as eating plenty of high fibre foods.

You need to change your diet, drink more liquid and walk more. Then you will have softer stools and better gut motility.
Reduce red meat, increase fruit, veg, porridge, prunes, salad.
If that fails consider lactulose or movicol.

Laxido.

I would avoid senna products. Try Laxedo or Movicol sachets, they are expensive but work the best. Senna irritates the bowel.

Laxido softens your poo. Senna just makes your gut push harder. I would suggest that a softener is more what you need. You can buy laxido at a pharmacy.

I also have constipation OP and it's horrible. I keep mine (mostly) under control by drinking lots of water and eating well. I'm also getting in the habit of sitting on the toilet every morning and trying to go. Not forcing it but just trying to get my body used to a routine, if you like. I also use senokot at times. I also massage my upper tummy and abdomen if I haven't been for a few days and this usually gets things moving too.

Some dried or tinned prunes, dried apricots and plenty of water daily would help. 2 x kiwis a day is another way. Better than laxatives.

GPs often prescribe Fybogel, which must mean its ok for long term use. Until you get diet etc sorted. Cheapest via Amazon.
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/fybogel-ispaghula-husk/

edited to confirm this is not a laxative, but a supplement which provides dietary fibre.

If this is a long-term or recurring problem you would be better getting a prescription from your GP for macrogols (generic movicol/laxido).

I also use magnesium citrate, plus daily psyllium husks.

But if you get that bad again I would suggest some glycerol suppositories or a micolette enema, both of which you can buy cheaply from the chemist. Gross but effective when things have gone too far to attack from the top end.

Lifestyle advice is good but simply insufficient for some people, and it is not a moral failing if you need medicine.

Magnesium Citrate taken daily can help. Also, if you ever find yourself with stuck poo, you can push it out by putting your fingers in your vagina and pressing against the back of it.

Gross, I know. Sorry.

Overhaul your diet to include more water and fibre. Take a Movicol sachet every couple of days.

Prunes will be your friend here. Have three or four prunes every day and drink lots of water.

Thank you so much everyone weirdly I walked miles last week , I am not great at drinking water but drink loads of tea and coffee . Will try the other things you all suggested . Really don’t want this to happen again. When is a long time not to go? I think I hadn’t been for a week. Should I take a laxative sooner? I’ve never really suffered from this before.

I resort to senna after about 5 days when it's starting to feel uncomfortable but we are probably all different!

Are you taking any new medication, have you had any anaesthetic procedures recently, have you changed anything in your diet? Sometimes these things can provoke constipation.

If this is new for you and if it happens again despite you changing nothing as above, then I'd be thinking hmmm change of bowel habits and maybe get it checked by GP?

Try all the great suggestions given so far, and keep an eye on it.

No new medications I will
tske a laxative when I start to feel
uncomfortable:

Lots of water alternate fizzy & plain if you struggle and yes 2 kiwi fruit every morning with skin on - easier to eat if you thinly slice them .

An apple daily is meant to help some people too.

Water water water. Doesn’t have to be cold -add a bit of warm from the kettle. Caffeine is a diuretic so you are dehydrating yourself with tea and coffee.
my DH doesn’t drink water but ended up with kidney stones. He now has a full glass of orange squash each morning -not enough imv

Not only diet and exercise, but the way you sit on the actual toilet can make a massive difference. Western toilet sitting positions don't allow the sphincter to fully open. A squatting position is best, but even just raising your legs up helps. You can buy squatty potties and specialist steps, but even bricks or upturned (empty) garden pots or buckets to put your feet on.

Laxido and movicol help add water to the bowel and unlike senna and some other laxatives, aren't addictive. If the poo in your rectum is still rock hard, a small enema like microlax or or a glycerine suppository can help.

Removing certain foods from your diet will help.

I find cutting out starchy food helps. So definitely no white bread, white wraps, pizza bases...scones and donuts are killers for me. Certain starchy potato snacks I avoid.

Yea and coffee not great as they’re diuretics. Maybe try a bit of cordial with a pint of water. 2-3 litres of fluid a day is recommended but we get some of this via food also.

You can also use suppositories if you are stuck like that - they are called Glycerin suppositories and you can get them on the shelf at Boots. You insert one, lie on your side for at least 15 mins and then wait for it to do its job! Easier if it’s an emergency issue I find!

mine just seems to have been caused by peri menopause