Severe constipation/blockage - tried everything!

[dreamerkr]

Long story. About 3 weeks ago I had a really bad viral infection where I had a high fever for almost a week and was taking paracetamol and ibuprofen every 5-6hr. 2 weeks ago, my whole family had a stomach infection for a couple of days everyone had diarrhoea and I had really bad diarrhoea cramps. I thought I was gonna get diarrhoea too but every time I ran to the bathroom (all night) nothing at all came out. For days after that nothing came out when I strained. I’ve never had constipation issues before so it’s really weird.

First, the pharmacy gave me dulcolax. I took that twice only but it didn’t do much at all. The first time it did nothing. The second time all it did was give me cramps and a teeny bit of loose stool. I went back to the pharmacy, they gave me lactulose which was a literal lifesaver after both my c-sections. The lactulose after 2 days gave me a loose bowel movement but the blockage that I’ve been feeling, is still there. I feel like maybe the loose stool is coming out around the blockage?

I had a GP appt over the phone 5 days ago. GP said it sounds like an impaction, they gave me laxido sachets and told me to take 4 the first day within 6hr, 6 the 2nd day and 8 the 3rd day. These sachets did make me pass loose stool but there were no hard bits, nothing to make me think the blockage was getting less. After the diarrhoea or loose watery stools, when I try to strain the same thing again. The same blockage or whatever it is. Still there. Laxido did help me to pass loose stool but I don’t know if it had any effect on the blockage which now I’m not even sure if it’s an impaction.

I had another GP appt over the phone yesterday, they prescribed some suppositories. I used one yesterday and about 50 mins later I had the same watery loose bowel movement. Nothing solid at all. After the loose bm, the blockage or whatever it is is still there. I’m so fed up now. The GP did say that sometimes suppositories take a few days but I don’t even know if it’s an impaction honestly. I’m bloated but not overly bloated. I don’t have cramps. The GP didn’t seem that bothered honestly, they gave an in-person appt for Tuesday where they’ll do a rectal examination too.

But I’m so fed up. I really want to know what exactly this is. I’ve never had anything like this happen before. And it happened right after the viral infection which makes me think that it’s linked. That week I was ill, I was in bed most of the time too. GP said it could be linked to that because I was immobile for that week mostly and usually I walk like 12k or so steps everyday and am very mobile running after my toddler and 1yo.

I have an appt for Tuesday but it’s only Friday yet and I really need to know what’s going on. It’s been 2 weeks of this now. Would it be wrong to go to A&E with this? What am I meant to do? I’ve tried dulcolax, lactulose, laxido sachets, suppositories… any ideas guys? Anything would be appreciated.

If you’re not impacted then you are purging yourself. You really need to be physically examined by a doctor.

My ds suffers horrendous constipation gp gives him liquid Dulcolax Pico, told him to take 20mls at night and that clears his blockage as he suffers with liquid overflow and the blockages are quite high up. Hope you get some relief soon x

Agree, coffee and a jog and I’ll be running for the loo mid run!
id say you need to keep taking the things you’ve been given not just giving up because they don’t work after a day. Drink lots of water and fluids (milky coffee is often good for making you go) and eat plenty of fibre. If you can exercise that’s definitely going to help.

Yes

OP you need a FIT test, I’d phone GP and ask if you can do that today.

Keep going with the movicol as it seems to be working in that you are opening your bowels with it. If it’s impaction it’ll eventually clear, and if it’s another blockage it’ll keep stool loose and able to pass by the blockage. You do not want to end up obstructed and needing emergency surgery.

Drink plenty. A&E if not able to pass wind or start vomiting, pain, or develop a fever.

Hope everything clears for you. It is a horrible feeling.

This happened to my friend last week. She had put off going to a and e and tried everything you have. It was a bit of a wait but they gave her an enema and she says she wished she’d gone days before. Said the relief was instant. I’d do that.

You can get little enemas online. Also Fleet suppositories which are hard and conical and easier to insert.

I had district nurse round to manually empty my rectum a few weeks ago ... not something I wish to.repeat! But that was for an obvious rectal impaction which could very much be felt!

What sensations are leading you to believe there is a blockage higher up the system? You are eating and not nauseous or vomiting.

It may simply be that you feel uncomfortable after a gut infection and things are taking a while to return to normal.

I agree with @VenusThighTrap It sounds like you're beyond dietary help, and it's good you're going to A&E. But for future reference, dried pears are much higher in fibre than prunes. You need to eat the dried variety, over tinned; dried have more Sorbitol, a sugar which has an added effect with the increased fibre.
You need an abdominal XRay to check for high up impaction. Then enemas, if they see impacting. All the best.

I wouldn’t go to A&E. You’ll be there all day, and they’ll probably tell you to continue the Laxido sachets for longer.

I just had a bowel movement that was not as watery as the ones I’ve been having. Right before I was about to start getting ready to go to A&E. Wow. Not sure if I should still go. I feel a lot better right now.

I swear by this. It’s a stimulant too & way better than the tablets. Sounds like things are moving anyway so I wouldn’t go to ED as it’s not an emergency. Your eating, drinking & things are moving.

I’d stay where you are for now, because if this is the breakdown of the impaction, you’re going to need the loo again soon, and with all the laxatives it might be with little warning.

Dried apricots, OP. Eat a whole bag. Honestly, I think the answer lies there - it very much cleared me out pretty quickly one time at work when I stupidly sat scoffing a whole bag! 😳😂😂😂

I’d wait now. Have you tried sitting on the toilet with your feet on a step?
Id keep up the laxatives and trying sitting on the toilet for 5 mins. About 20 mins after eating. With your feet up.

I always try doing a few exercises if I feel slightly bunged up. Google exercise for constipation.

If there’s some movement then I’d keep going with the laxatives and maybe try the prunes and lots of water. Sometimes it can take a few days of the medication to get things going

You need to keep drinking the Laxido until your poos are liquid. I went through similar and there were hard stools blocking the colon. It is possible to poo but feel a blockage as it leaks through.

Okay here is what you need to do OP -

• If the blockage is further up it needs to be moved down, so right now the suppositories won’t be making a difference. You need to continue with the Laxido initially three times a day but it can be upped. Drink water like there is no tomorrow!! As well as that you can get a senna tablet and take that tonight - you can get these from the pharmacy. Keep doing this for a few days.
• Once things have started moving then you can use a suppository (once you can feel something with your fingers) which will soften the stool and hopefully get things moving. The last thing they would use would be a phosphate enema, it’s a biggie! Im not sure if you can get that done by the practice nurse but you wouldn’t be able to do this yourself.
• If you don’t think you can wait that long, are being sick or are in agony then you do need to get yourself to A+E.

good luck! It’s horrible being constipated :(

just read your update! Woohoo! Hopefully everything has started to move. I could continue with the meds for the next couple of days until things have completed cleared. I wouldn’t bother going to a+e now.

Drink some olive oil

it can take a good few days to break it down and you wont see a lot of solid poo. I have 2 kids prone to impaction and all you are describing is how they are when we have to up the sachets.
You should increase sachets by 2 a day to the max dose and keep going. It will work but it takes a good few days .
At least that is my experience. Dont expect to pass a normal solid poo . You may see some more solid bits but it will all be mostly v watery and loose.

As kids, Mum used to give us Liquid Paraffin. I've googled, and it's still available from pharmacies, not OTC though.
Yes, you can still buy liquid paraffin for constipation, though it is classified as a pharmacy (P) medicine rather than a general sales item. This means it can be purchased in person or online through registered UK pharmacies after a brief consultation or check with the pharmacist.

Microlax - can buy on Amazon and also online pharmacies. 👍

Op,
have you tried plain kefir?
any fermented food? like sauerkraut, gherkins in brine (sour gherkins)?

What’s coming out maybe passing any impacted faeces. You do need seen again, possibly phosphate enema could reach and help loosen meantime. Are you still passing wind? Keep drinking, prunes and fresh orange, take laxido, strong coffee, all will help stimulate bowel. And as above lots of walking a run etc can also help. But go back to GP !
edit to say, seen you’ve had a bit of a better result , stay close to a loo in case of blast off !

I had similar OP after a few weeks of taking codeine and ended up taking copious amounts of biscodyl. When I did finally go, it was liquid to start and then a huge solid mass came out - was like delivering a baby again. Ended up with a small tear but honestly the relief was like nothing I've ever felt! I did spend around 4 hours on the toilet however that morning as the laxatives took effect on what was behind the blockage... don't attempt to go out!