Constipation - in agony!

[april24april]

Please can someone help? I have been suffering from constipation for about 3 weeks now, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. Every now and then I feel the urge to 'go' but can't. I think everything is blocked. Sorry for TMI, but I'm in agony.

I have tried all the obvious things that people have suggested on here with no success. I finally managed to 'go' a little bit today, but then the toilet bowl had lots of bright red blood - I think I have piles too! I am in so much pain and discomfort. I went to the chemist the other day and asked what I could take for constipation and they wouldn't give me anything without the consent of my doctor or midwife!

Please help. I could cry it hurts so much

X

 

[gertrude]

I suffer with bad constipation and my Dr gave me lactulose to use (used to use movicol but she said not to use that now I'm pregnant unless it's really necessary)

make sure you drink LOTS of fluid, eat fibre (things like shreddies, bran flakes etc are great), but dried apricots too work wonders for me

I find it takes about 24 hours of trying really hard to eat the right things before it makes a difference

if the blood is bright red it probably is piles, but still go to you Dr because there is cream you can use if they're really bad - but they can also prescribe you lactulose

whatever you do don't hesitate to go though as it could be a fissure if you've strained a lot and they REALLY hurt - trust me you dont' want one of those!!!

 

[gertrude]

oh and do not strain/push - that makes the piles worse

if they are external ones, try to not wipe - use moist tissue or just dab instead - the wiping can make them much sorer

all adults should have around 20g (this varies between 18g and 25g, I aim for 20g) of fibre a day for a healthy bowel - when you're looking at what to eat aim for that amount - there are lots of websites which give you the fibre content of foods

 

[Gemma_xX]

I hve the same problem!
I eat weetabix every morning for fibre...doesn't work...I'm going to go to the docs as I get cramps and all sorts cause of it

 

[My_First]

Another here for Lactolose...I had the same problem, its bloody awful..I feel your pain!

 

[Tonnilou]

Aw ouchies poor you *hugs* How about natural things like senna are they allowed? I am with the others and like gertrude I swear by a few pints of water and some dried apricots over the evening, seems to get things a movin.

 

[april24april]

Thanks everyone. Can you buy lactulose over the counter or does it have to be prescribed?

 

[My_First]

Over the Counter, at the Pharmacy. You do have to explain, obviously, that you are pregnant, as you need something 'natural'. It tastes of sugared water, and didnt bode well when I was feeling rogh, but boy, it did the job. I suggest, perhaps, that you do it in an evening, and not first thing in the morning. The amount of times I went to the loo after that stuff, work would have thought I had some serious issues. P.s. Also drink PLENTY of water....Good luck!

 

[gertrude]

I really can't recommend enough people look up how much fibre they're eating in an "average" day - I was horrified when I worked it out, I was having about half of what is advised.

 

[KandyKinz]

I say call your midwife or doctor as there are things safe to take in pregnancy like colace

 

[gertrude]

https://www.constipationadvice.co.uk/achieving_inner_health/fibre_content_table.php

is one example of the table

or https://www.gloshospitals.org.uk/ppi/leaflets/pdf/ghpi0811.pdf

- remember we're aiming for between 18-25g of fibre per day - I bet most people don't have anywhere near that amoiunt!

I'd look at your diet before you start taking anything for constipation. I take stuff because I have IBS and my digestion is stuffed (hence the fissure and many incidences of piles)

 

[april24april]

Thanks for that. I think I'm eating quite a bit of fibre. I'm craving fruit at the moment and snacking on it all day. I'll try some cereal too. And am drinking plenty of water. Honestly I could cry. On top of feeling sick 24/7, constipation, piles and feeling so tired, I have to teach five lessons tomorrow to some pretty tough secondary school pupils

X

 

[gertrude]

tbh you would have to eat a mountain of fruit to get your needs

an apple, orange, grapes and banana is only 6.3g approx!

 

[ayako]

when i went to japan ( iwasn't pregnant yet) but i think the environment change got me realllly constipated. I couldnt eat because i was so backed up and lost about 8 lbs and i was only 125lbs

So this is what i did.. took a suppossitory - didn't work
took a pill-it worked, only when i took the pill, then i'd get constipated again and those pills HURT because of the gas

so i started to eat bananas and apples with every meal (they encourage bowel movement)

I stopped eating all bread, (prevents bowel movement)

i drank like a liter of prune juice ( that was the trick)
but (TMI) i was stuck on the toilet all day because i drank so much prune juice.. and i was realllllllllllllllyy backed up.

after that i ate really dark greens often and drank this little can of prune juice when ever i didn't poop in a day 1/2
it worked every time.. and i got back to normal right after.. however.. the weight didnt come back quickly, i got way too skinny