frightened-constipation

[nadine111]

i am really constipated. i recently had blood tests that showed a high level of magnesium so i was taken off all magnesium.magnesium is the one item that really helps me. i'm afraid to do an enema since they tend to cause me to have what a call a "session" (hours of screaming pain until it breaks loose.) it is so painful. i'm taking lactalose, fiber, aloe vera and try to drink water but am limited due to problems with sodium levels. i'm hoping someone has a suggestion. i know that my taking narcotics for my fibromyalgia pain is part of the problem. looking forward to your wonderful advise. many many thanks, leslie

[skit]

Eat grapes or grapefruit if nether appeal try prunes or figs? Mostly all meds have some effect of the gut if orally taken. Everyone must drink water how much is really the debate.

[nadine111 in reply to skit]

thank you for the suggestion. will try to be better with my diet. i can only have 32 oz. of water a day. on a good day maybe another 8 oz. , have a sodium problem so am limited on fluid intake. really makes it difficult. THANK YOU EVERY ONE. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I POOPED! NOW IF I CAN JUST REMEMBER WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING THE LAST DAY OR TWO.... i will keep all your suggestions in case need them.

[AnodyneSunshine]

Are you prescribed Laxido or anything? That has really helped me. Hope you get some relief soon, I know how horrible it can be xx

[nadine111 in reply to AnodyneSunshine]

i am taking lactalose but not very successful. i will ask about laxido. thank you much, leslie

[aber218deen in reply to nadine111]

I take senna tablets at night after having a day of no bowel movement and this helps a great deal.

Have total empathy for you as I went through hell not that long ago,when I was on the toilet for a total of 7 hours in a day and a half,with having the urge to push,but nothing was exiting. Had quite a lot of blood but that's par for the course I guess.

Good luck in finding that perfect scenario that keeps you regular. John.

[RayB]

Nadine, I think you need to look to diet as a means of regulating your bowel.

It is not just a matter of what you eat,, but what you do not eat.

It may take a bit of searching but usualy more fresh fruit, veg, pulses, and reduce meat dairy and wheat,,, also make sure your hydrated.

Ray

[nadine111 in reply to RayB]

thank you for your suggestions. my pcp gave me a diet to try which sounds like what you are suggesting.

[Blackwitch]

Hi nadine111

Please don’t stop pestering your GP about this or get to A&E. I had been used to constipation & taking all the usual but after seeing an out of hours GP who gave me an enema which didn’t work, I ended up in A&E. I was admitted, stayed one night, given another enema (didn’t work) & discharged the next day. In a great deal of pain, I rang my GP who (thank God) was furious the hospital had discharged me. He phoned me back to say they were expecting me back but I still had to wait. Eventually I was admitted again. This time it was treated rather more seriously & I was rushed to the CT scanner followed by emergency surgery to remove a mass (thankfully benign) & an 8cm section of my colon. I had a stoma nurse drawing all over my abdomen but I was barely conscious at this stage. Luckily the surgeon managed to join my colon without the need of a stoma & colostomy bag.

I don’t wish to alarm you but this should be taken more seriously. I don’t want to scare you but a friend of mine had the same thing a year earlier. She wasn’t so lucky & hers ruptured & she died from Sepsis.

Please keep at them. I was ‘constipated’ for 12 days!!!

I now take Movicol every day without fail.

Please let me know how you get on. Nic xx

[nadine111 in reply to Blackwitch]

wow! thanks for sharing your experience. i have had too many trips to the er these days. hate it. if still in bad shape in next couple days will discuss that option with either my pcp or will check in with my gastro (which i should be doing. forgot about him.). will keep you updated. appreciate your advise and happy you finally got the help you needed.

[M0AL61 Moderator Volunteer]

Prune juice will help. As the others have said you also need to drink plenty of water - at least a litre a day, I was told by my GP. Try drinking a glass of water every hour, as it's easier to remember. xx

[nadine111 in reply to M0AL61]

great idea except can't drink that much water due to a sodium problem. have been slowly upping water intake yesterday and today. i usually can tell when i've taken in too much fluids so am paying attention to water intake.

[Hidden]

Get sent to bowel specialist, I did,it was nothing to do with what I ate,,it was a problem with the bowel itself .prune juice is good .

[nadine111 in reply to Hidden]

if still having a problem in a couple days will do so. thank you very much, leslie

[Jenlovesnails]

I suffer too between the codeine and hemorrhoids so I take Senna (a cheaper version of Sennakot). I take 2 of those at night with 500 ml of weak dilute and that has helped loads along with occasional Germaloid suppositories for hemorrhoid when needed.

Good luck *soft hugs*

[nadine111]

thanks much!

[val1960]

Diabetic chocolate works. When I was matron of a nursing home many years ago, a colleague told me about it. We used to give a few squares of it to a client if they were having problems and hey presto they would go the morning after. Worth a try.

[nadine111 in reply to val1960]

thank you-what a great idea..

[Bemoresquirrel in reply to nadine111]

Chocolate works for me too! Pleased to see you’ve finally been.

[Kazz26]

I use biscodol 2 at night hope that helps x

[Bools33]

Nadine 111

[Bools33]

Nadine111, I was exactly the same, actually went 15 days as was on the verge of going to hospital due to the pain and ended up damaging my intestine,. In the end I had a colonic irrigation and had to have a colonoscopy after. The specialist who is from Chile told me to eat Advocados I was amazed . They work so well ... eat two a day to start for a couple of days then one a day and you will go everyday . It is a very greasy fruit . Please try it and see. Good luck 👍 🙂

[kimar in reply to Bools33]

Avocados are great for this.

[Hidden]

Book a session with an acupuncturist, tell them that you really constipated. I’ve been really constipated over past month. I’ve not been given any medication (yet) but it has helped so much to keep me regular. Give it a try, if you can.

[nadine111 in reply to Hidden]

thanks..i'm going to see one tomorrow.

[NinjaKnitter]

I definitely second the Movicol/Laxido suggestion. I have IBS and take opioids for pain so constipation and I are old enemies. Movicol has been the only medication that has worked for me and I’ve tried a awful lot. Talk to your GP and see if it’s an option for you considering your sodium levels etc xxx

[Jammyonion13]

Aww mate I know exactly how it feels I don’t know if you’ve tried movicol it’s great at it getting everything out but it’s diluted with water I’m having problems with it now as every time I try to drink it it’s coming straight back up again in absolute agony rang my consultant last week to try and get help but he’s not in waiting for a call back but haven’t been in 8 days and it’s unbearable I’ve had everything there is and movicol was definitely the best but now I’m having problems with that as well hope you can get help have you had a a colonic transit study it’s just taking tablets I think they’re are radioactive then a week later you have an ex ray and they can see it there is an underlying problem I have slow transit constipation which is crap (pardon the pun) good luck Nadine 😊

[LuluCops in reply to Jammyonion13]

My grandad takes movicol straight from the packet- he doesn’t dilute it at all, just chucks it straight down his throat lol! He’s restricted to his fluid intake too so I guess this is why he does it!?

[Jammyonion13 in reply to LuluCops]

Sounds disgusting lol bless him does it still work without the water?

[LuluCops in reply to Jammyonion13]

He’s done it for as long as I can remember and I’m 39, I think it does, yes xx

[Jammyonion13 in reply to LuluCops]

Im gonna try that thanks 😊

[nadine111 in reply to Jammyonion13]

thank you. hope you can find out what is going on with you and get some help..

[ShootingStars]

Until a gastro doc made a key recommendation, I used to suffer from occasional constipation and a rare 5 to 10 days of no movement myself. Five years ago I had two 10 day episodes one year apart. I realized both incidents had one thing in common: too much dairy in a very short period. Dairy can cause too much mucus, so that might be why.

What kind of fiber are you taking? If you’re taking psyllium, it can cause constipation if taken in excess or if not consuming enough water. It happened to me despite drinking a lot of water daily. Psyllium forms a gel and that gel can become too binding and viscous, creating a blockage.

I found this out the hard way last summer during my last severe episode when I had to do a stool sample. When I was finally produce enough to sample, it was so incredibly hard and viscous. The lab rejected my sample because it was too hard and viscous to be testable. That was thanks to the psyllium, which I stopped immediately. (There’s that sticky mucus theme again. First dairy, then psyllium.)

What helped my IBS constipation the most is taking daily Benefiber. The gastro doc I saw last summer made this suggestion. I have not had a serious constipation episode since starting the Benefiber. I occasionally forget to take it for a few days and then I have reduced motility. Apple pectin can help, or I take half a dose of an herbal cleanse product I’ll have to tell you the name later.

Can you tell us more about your sodium problem? What do you take for that condition?

livestrong.com/article/5264...

[harmony2 in reply to ShootingStars]

Yes, please tell us more about your sodium problem. If you’re low on sodium and your doctors don’t want you to dilute it further with more water, can you not just have more sodium in your diet? Sodium is not always bad. I have extremely low blood pressure and need to ingest sodium in my normal diet to keep from tipping over when I stand up, et cetera.

And always check with your dr but I think water will be a critical long term part of your solution, along with the right diet including certain things and avoiding certain things, as others have said.

Blessings and hope things get moving!

[nadine111 in reply to harmony2]

my sodium was so low once that i was hospitalized. shaking was terrible.it somehow ties in with other health issues i have like hypotension. i can take more sodium when i notice i'm shaking pretty badly but have to be careful. i'll keep you updated. thanks much..

[harmony2 in reply to nadine111]

Hi, I have hypotension too. Rarely get to the shops but got out today. Low back pain so bad I have to squat to relieve pinched nerve. When I stood back up (x3 occasions) it was like one sees on cartoons where my vision went dark, I had to lean on something solid, and it only came back in a little, slowly opening circle!

I had better start having more salt again! Been cutting back due to my sore, dry Sjogren’s mouth!

I really empathise with you about not having much liquid. Must be hard. Can you have a little more water if you get salts/minerals/electrolytes you need?

[Hidden]

Only just seen your p!ight hun,,not been in network for ages,,I can suggest to you that you ask your g.p. Or pharmacy for some Picolax itwill help enormously,when you feel more human again come back to me About diet...been there dunnit got it the t shirt!

[Scoo1961]

Hi

Have you been sent to a gastrointestinal dietician throughly you doctor ?

Please ask them to send you you many

Need fodmap diet ? Some times it food that triggers bowel problems ?

I hope you get sorted

Take care 😊

[Alone717]

I think I also have Sjogren's now to add to my several other autoimmune conditions and I have been severely constipated of late ; looked on the net and found out about taking extra virgin olive oil neat; I have been taking a desert spoonful a day before eating anything and it has helped me so much and it is also natural and good for you,

[nadine111 in reply to Alone717]

i started to take mineral oil but extra virgin olive oil sound much better. thanks much.

[feisty-girl]

Can totally relate to you I have crohns disease!!try prunes,orange juice,movicol,mind gone blank ,

Hope dont mind me asking but how many days do you not go loo normally?

If a fair few suggest getting refereed to a gastroenterologist for tests hugs xx

[jessiegirl]

Hello I feel your pain we all have been there .I drink prune juice as a hot cup of tea .Try 2 ounces at a time with hot water , a couple times a day add more or less if it works drink lots water.ask someone first though .i like it and i read bottle no magnesium.. good luck .

[nadine111 in reply to jessiegirl]

just had my husband go buy prune juice so will add it to items to try.

[jessiegirl in reply to nadine111]

drink it like tea maybe 3 times a day 2 ounces at a time . its water and will help too good luck

[jessiegirl]

Happy birthday to all people celebrating in may . be happy be joyful and love life ...

[kimar]

Hi and so sorry you are feeling this way. That sounds awful. Can you try a stool softener? It may need a day or so but it should help. I only know a brand na.e from here in the States, Colace.

Hugs

[Banditqueen]

Have you tried fibogel or probiotics? Be careful with lactalose as it can have the opposite effect. I would suggest natural remedies like figs and dates, fresh ones and some fruit, but don't go mad as you may go the other way. No tea, no coffee, no caffeine. Some herbal teas help as does milk thistle. Prune juice if you can stand the taste. No chocolate, no fatty or starch foods, just healthy lean chicken or fish, with nuts or salads or jacket potatoes, whole bread, grains, pulses, fibre foods, no red meat, although bacon or sausage sometimes helps. Peppermint also helps. If nothing helping after a few days or you are are lot of pain, please go to your doctor or chemist or health specialists. If painful try stand and walk about, rub back and groin and stomach in small circle motions, using a massage oil or lavender oil. This relaxing muscles and movement is encouraged. Hope you find relief. Take plenty of water, maybe put lemon in and peppermint tea, not too hot. Try a wash and massage of the back passage, just at lower back. Try a bottom massage. Fiber gel bulks but it also relieved constipation. Senna is also a natural laxative. Very sorry to hear you are in such pain. Seriously, though, if none of these works, you need to seek medical help. Don't be afraid to see the doctor and tell the receptionist it is urgent as you haven't been for three weeks. You will get an urgent appointment. It may be nothing, it usually is, but you could have something which needs treatment and it is always better to get the best advice. N.B Don't take codeine or co codamol and if you do take them or medicine with them in be careful as these cause constipation.

Hope for you getting better soon.

[nadine111 in reply to Banditqueen]

thanks much for the advise.

[Banditqueen in reply to nadine111]

You are welcome. Take care.

[Eleanortoo]

When having problems from taking codeine, I use either senna 2 tablets at night or ducolax. Both work.

[Hidden]

If you eat lots of fruit and vegetables it should help. Unfortunately if you take strong painkillers you can't win. If you eat foods like prunes, brown rice, bran etc, it's supposed to work. Movicol/Laxido is a laxative that is kinder than senna or lactulose.

[Nixinoo]

Have you tried the jelly type suppositories, sorry can't remember what they're called but they are like Vaseline. Hold them in for as long as you can, then believe me, it won't take long before it wants to come back out. It may help the start of clearing your bowels. Failing that Vaseline could help. Good luck, the longer you leave it the harder it is to pass it.

[rach1402]

Fibre will bung you up even more unless you can take in enough water to bulk it out, it will absorb moisture through your digestive system and make you more constipated. Try to eat as much of your fruit and veg with the skin still on, that's where a lot of the fibre is and the fruit and veg are natural sources of water. Dried fruits are natural mild laxatives, especially prunes and prune juice. Easier said than done with fibromyalgia but exercise will get you moving in more ways than one! Spicy food might help. Avoid enemas if possible, not only are they unpleasant but they also affect the natural action of your bowels. Good luck!

[nadine111 in reply to rach1402]

thanks for the advise. so much going on with my body right now that dealing with constipation is just the worst. i have ibs so almost no fruits/veggies agree with my stomach. no greek yoghurt either. just found some dried fruit mix that seems to help. feel like i can't even leave the house.

[rach1402 in reply to nadine111]

That sounds horrible 😣 hope the dried fruit helps. Apparently apples and pears regulate bowel movements ao they might be worth a try. If they don't agree with you raw, how about stewing them? You're probably best steering clear of dairy anyway and eggs as they can cause constipation. Have you tried apple cider vinegar? I don't know if it helps constipation specifically but if my stomach feels a bit iffy a couple of tablespoons in a glass of water on an empty stomach usually settles it right down. I don't seem to suffer from as many mystery allergic reactions since I've been on it either.

[Peristera]

I am taken Mineral oil(Paraffin) .It does help.

[nadine111 in reply to Peristera]

thank you...