Sorry everyone: constipation and piles help!!

[blockopop]

Sorry about the grim topic folks but I'm at my wits end over here!

I'm only 9 weeks pregnant and for the past five weeks I've had horrible constipation. I managed to improve the situation with natural remedies (e.g. prune juice, psyllium husk, loads of fruit and water etc.) but I've been put on iron tablets and I'm back to square one - actually, it's worse than it was at the start! To make matters worse, I think I can feel the beginnings of the dreaded bum grapes coming on

I've asked my GP if I can switch to SpaTone or a liquid supplement and she said they don't contain enough iron and I need to stick on the tablets which means I'm stuck with this situation

I'm guessing this is only going to get worse, right? I dread to think what state my arse will be in by the time I'm 40 weeks!!! I think I need to switch to stronger treatment for the constipation but will that be ok to take long-term? And finally, is there anything I can do to fend off the bloody piles??

I think you can take Lactase which is a laxative safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Obviously check with the pharmacist but I’ve bought it over the counter at boots. I also drank prune juice twice a day whilst pregnant to help.

Lactulose.. Its a syrup drink. I have been guzzling it by the bottle as the constipation turned into piles and its been horrific

I really do sympathise. I ended up sobbing on the toilet more than once during this pregnancy! I’m sorry to say but as the baby gets bigger it probably will get worse

You’re definitely doing all the right things to help. All I would add to that is keep active and perhaps go for a massage to help get things moving. Also as well as water you could try some warm drinks. I started talking hot water with lemon after reading that warmer water is easier absorbed by the colon.

As for medication I was prescribed lactoluse by a dr at the hospital after a gp sent me up to get abdominal pain investigated (turned out to be constipation pain ). You could try it as well to soften things. I can’t say I noticed it doing much for me though but perhaps the dosage was wrong. My mother who has taken it after surgery to help with painkiller induced constipation swears by it.

As for the p issue sitting on the toilet straining is the WORST thing you can do. Don’t force things and when you feel you really need to go sit there and relax and try to let things happen. Taking a warm bath beforehand can made things less painful down there.

Sorry for the essay but I can remember how desperate I felt in the second trimester. Just keep telling yourself that this too shall pass - literally

Lactulose is absolutely fine to use.
I'd also be tempted to use anusol now to try and get on top of the piles before they start. I find the anusol hc suppositories amazing. They can be given over the counter or prescribed but they are in that list of medicines that say only to use of absolutely necessary in pregnancy. This is just because it's not ethical to actually test them on pregnant people, not because they are in any way unsafe to your baby.
Make sure your also taking your iron with vit c and look at vit d and b12 as well as I think they are all linked?

Sorry, yes meant lactulose!

Ask your doctor for Laxido. It’s so much better than Luctalose in my opinion. It’s a powder that you mix with water. I have ISB & I’ve used it on & off for years to help with constipation & it’s safe in pregnancy. It’s gentle but very effective. I have HG & take an anti-sickness that’s awful for constipation. I also take iron as very anaemic. So a double whammy! I take one sachet of Laxido a day in the morning & it’s kept everything ticking along nicely. Occasionally, I need a second in the evening if my diet has been particularly bland.

Please don’t suffer. There is perfectly safe medication to help things along!

You probably tried this, but for me it workes whole bread, fibre cereals in the morning too. Orange juice it's not bad too, has some laxative effects.

I have long term chronic constipation which is quite literally a pain in the bum! Now that I’m pregnant funnily enough, it hasn’t been too bad.

Movicol and Lactulose are safe in pregnancy so good to have on hand. Pure Aloe Vera juice works wonders if you’re able to get hold of it, have a little at a time or else you won’t be able to get off the toilet I get it from Costco and tend to put a small amount mixed into juice when I’m quite bunged up. Papaya if you can get it is also a miracle cure. And then there’s the usual stuff like prunes, lentils, bran flakes etc. A mix of everything regularly will make it better.

Use a stool softener to prevent piles, drink lots of water, don't strain and if any pop out, push them back in (TMI!!!).

If you use lactulose, you really need to stay on top of it. I find it hard to remember 2x a day.

I use lactulose x2 plus fybogel when I remember.

Constipation is the worst, so much sympathy!

Thanks for the advice and sympathy ladies. I've just placed an online order for some of the products you recommended and am going to stop taking the iron tablets for few days to try and clear the current blockage

It really is the worst and I hope everybody else who's suffering gets some relief soon

I really was not expecting this to be a pregnancy problem but here we are. I am verging between laughing and crying about this situation!

So I've been taking lactulose for the past couple of days and it seems to be helping which is great. Does anybody know if it's ok to take this for the duration of your pregnancy? Because I'm only 9 weeks, I'm worried that it's a long time to be on medication and I don't want to become dependent on laxatives once I'm no longer pregnant.