Postpartum toilet issues…4 months on

[WeeRunnerGirl]

So I’m just going to get right to the point, as embarrassing as it is - I’m struggling with constipation that won’t go away.

Since I gave birth via forceps 4 months ago, my toilet habits have never been the same. Some weeks I will bleed profusely and it feels like I’m passing glass when going for a number two. The Doctor has examined me internally and confirmed I have an external skin tag and she couldn’t feel anything suspicious but I’m worried because although the bleeding has stopped, I can’t shift the constipation.

I’m not sure if it’s relevant, or connected, but I’m exclusively breastfeeding. That’s making me thirst like never before 24/7. Some days I also feel that while breastfeeding I overheat too. So I’m worried something more serious is causing these issues.

I guess I’m just looking to see if anyone has had a similar experience? Am I being silly to still worry that it’s something more serious going on and want the doctor to run some more tests?

thanks 😊

Have you got a prolapse?

Have they given you anything to take that alleviates the constipation? Ie medicine powder to mix into water or cream for resulting haemorrhoids?
I had a similar experience (also had forceps delivery, breastfeeding and also took several months to get better) and was told it would just take time for it to go away/ get better and to just continue to use the powder sachets mixed into a jug of water and drink throughout the day. Also told not to push even if it was painful. Which felt a bit crap to be honest.
Two things that helped were warm baths for the pain and laxido powder sachets that i was prescribed by the dr.

Apparently it's common to have constipation after childbirth, and yet it's never spoken of i think which is annoying. So you don't feel alone in this.

i have wondered about a prolapse because I’ve felt pressure in general down there in all areas since birth. It’s got much better over time and when I’ve suggested this to the doctor, they’ve said they weren’t able to see any visible signs of prolapse.

I have to admit though, I’ve found my doctors to be a bit dismissive due to being “young”.

@Paintandpots thanks for saying I’m not alone. Some days it get me so down, feeling like im the only one.

I was given pessaries and cream for said issues but it only ever gives short term relief I’ve found.

Ive also become an over worrier since having a rare form of cancer previously found inside an ovarian cyst which I had surgically removed. I’ve found that despite that being my history from my 20a, the GP never thinks much of it and insists it’s all just normal postpartum issues!

Oh that’s tough. You should definately go back to get checked out again, im
not a medic and but had similar after a ventouse. Your instinct on constipation may be correct and it often doesn’t look like typical “straining on the
loo” blockages can be a little further up and present differently especially after birth. Secondly you can lose sensation in your bowel especially after traumatic births like forceps, issues such as rectocele are common. For kids with chronic constipation a long term (ie 6-12 months) stool softener helped allow the areas where the blockages were to heal up, regularize
and strengthen. But you should push for a blood test for sure, the thirst is a flag for other issues, did you have any gestational diabetes? Thirst is relative how much do you find yourself needing? If it’s 1 litre of water to 4l that’s a lot but if you previously only had a few cuppas a day? Hope you are okay. A pelvic floor physio is also a transformational experience for so many women in your situation i couldn’t recommend these
amazing professionals enough I am
abroad but they may have more insight into your issues than a gp if you could ask for a referral or get a private appointment. Best of luck.

@Timothhorton thanks for replying. I think you’re right, that I should go back and ask (may need to insist) on some tests.

id say before I got pregnant I was bad at drinking fluids. I would consume a poor 750ml on average a day. Since breastfeeding, I now have upwards of 2L. No gestational diabetes when pregnant but I did have preeclampsia at the very end and lost a lot of blood during delivery! I’ve very short and petite so that knocked me and I was white as ghost and my temperature couldn’t regulate for weeks.

Two litres sounds like a lot but with tummy issues and breastfeeding it’s more of a minimum depending on how active and you are, don’t drop the fluids whatever you do. You mentioned you lost a lot of blood, do you know if you are anaemic now? That can bring a host of issues, like heart palpitations and breathlessness it may feel like you are overheating when that happens. What I would do is write it all down for the next week, try and piece the last month or so if you can, use a water bottle which you can keep track of how much exactly you are drinking each day and then you are armed with information when you see the doctor again. I hate the idea of armchair diagnosing you but it sounds like a b12 deficiency, anaemia and pelvic floor rehabilitation would be some of the things that need to be looked at for you. Congratulations on your wee baby and I hope you feel more yourself
soon.

Thanks so much @Timothhorton. you’re actually making me feel better about the situation…I tend to catastrophise and have been worrying that it’s colon cancer. I’m going to do as you say and also try to eat as healthy and fibre rich meals as I can so I’m prepared when I go to the GP.

Actually my mother in law is a consultant paediatrician, and although it’s not her specific area, she did also say so many mums are deficient in B12 which can cause a lot of issues. Will crack out the vitamins too!

Thought I’d update here that my blood tests came back normal except for my ferritin levels which were low- no anemia though. She said it can be a sign of something more sinister but to try to stay positive because my levels were normal right before I gave birth, it’s ever since giving birth 5 months ago (where I lost 1.75l of blood) that all my issues first began.

the Dr also said that although it’s been haemorrhoids initially, my symptoms now sound like a fissure. She did an examination but it was so painful she had to stop. I’m being referred to a bowel specialist because of my history of a rare neuroendocrine carcinoid.

Definitely get everything checked as your GP recommends, but I'd say tackle diet and fluid at the same time.
Whilst breastfeeding I drank 4 litres a day and ate around ten portions of fruit and veg, and still had constipation. Had to take half a dose of movicol every day throughout BF, which fixed it. Since stopping bf, all back to normal, back to my customary 2-3l per day, and no movicol. Maybe it's just like this for some bf women?

@Gingerwright thanks for sharing your experience because I’ve been wondering if it’s partly caused by breastfeeding too. I’ve been prescribed movicol as well, so really praying that this time things improve and stay better!