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Toilet trouble....
I am currently recovering from a microdiscectomy that I had just over a week ago. As a result I am less active and on alot of pain meds. I know these things increase the risk of constipation, but I am having some real difficulty! I managed to 'go' a little bit a few days back, and it produced small hard lumps, but i didnt feel like i was done afterwards. Then the other day I went again, this time it was muc harder and bigger, and quite honestly felt like i was passing broken glass! Upon wiping there was blood, and it was clear that I had damaged myself passing the stool, and it took a while to stop the bleeding (not alot of blood, maybe a fingerprint sized mark on the paper each time), Since then the area has been very sore, I have tried placing vaseline on it (as I have heard that it can help with fissures) but tonight I tried to go again and I was close to tears from the pain! I am sorry for being so graphic but I can;t think of any other way to describe it, but the stool was basically stuck and i could not get it any further....as disgusting as it is....it had to go back inside! I poured boiling water down the toilet to try and soften it but it didnt work, and to be honest I am quite terrified about trying again as it is really hurting the fissures! I am drinking as much water as possible, I am not eating junk food. I have been taking lactulose solution, and am planning on buying dried apricots. My question is....is there anything I can do to improve this situation, especially by healing the cuts??
My general history of bowel movements is pretty bleak, even as a child I have struggled with constipation, no matter what I did with my diet! The operation has clearly just aggravated things, but it is really quite distressing! I am seeing a nurse tomorrow to have my staples removed and plan to ask her for help, but I would like to know if anyone here has any tips, or can reccommend something to request from my doctor that worked for them.....or even just let me know I am not alone in experiencing this problem, as it really is quite embarrassing!!! Thanks so much! x
My general history of bowel movements is pretty bleak, even as a child I have struggled with constipation, no matter what I did with my diet! The operation has clearly just aggravated things, but it is really quite distressing! I am seeing a nurse tomorrow to have my staples removed and plan to ask her for help, but I would like to know if anyone here has any tips, or can reccommend something to request from my doctor that worked for them.....or even just let me know I am not alone in experiencing this problem, as it really is quite embarrassing!!! Thanks so much! x
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CONGRATULATIONS. and I'm sooooo glad you are doing better with some relief from your problem The medicine was possibly miraLAX. If you notice this isn't helping before the problem again gets out of hand, take either the items especially the pericolace I recommended or get back to the doctor for a different treatment. GOOD LUCK & HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!
Thankyou again for your advice and support. Unfortunately die to a mix up with the nurses, they never came and I began to develop a fever and was in pain so I ended up going to A&E. Even though it was very busy and they were experiencing a bed shortage, they were very quick in seeing me (I think because I was forced to lay down on the chairs in the waiting room as my back was also hurting, and the risks and problems that can occur with this problem, risking a reherniation!) I have to say today has been the worst day of post op recovery, as all the op pain is controllable by the pain meds! Whereas this left me feeling very helpless and generally unwell. The sister at the hospital administered the enema and after alot of shaking, tears and near fainting....I got there!! I am prettty sure I have experienced the closest practice run for having a child!! About 5 minutes later my bladder was able to release as well (altho i seem to have very little feeling there, so may have to contact the surgeon as it could be a problem if it hasnt subsided in the next week or so).
I have been prescribed with movelax (or something that sounds like that) to have twice a day from now on.....I just wish the surgeon had pre-warned me of this and I too would have made extra precautions as I am quite prone to problems! Other than a painful back and a very very sore back passage....I am relieved! Thanks again for both of your help and advice....it really has helped!
I have been prescribed with movelax (or something that sounds like that) to have twice a day from now on.....I just wish the surgeon had pre-warned me of this and I too would have made extra precautions as I am quite prone to problems! Other than a painful back and a very very sore back passage....I am relieved! Thanks again for both of your help and advice....it really has helped!
I sounds like you are good hands. Sometimes an impaction has to be surgically removed but it is rare, hopefully you want have to have this done. The stool softener in the Peri-colace I recommended will not soften what's there but will soften those yet to come. Hopefully they can get the main stopper to come out and hopefully after that you can start your regime to keep moving in the future. Surgery is terrible about causing constipation. Since I have had so many surgeries I start my preparation to prevent and soften, long before I have the surgery because I Too Learned The Hard Way (no pun intended). Good Luck Hun
The phosphate enema may or may not work. They may do a soapsuds enema, repeating several times, then actually go in and manually disimpact you, which unfortunately is painful. If they do that, ask for some meds to help you relax. They may balk at that idea, since more narcotics can cause constipation. But, you need something to help you through the procedure. Once this has cleared, the key will be prevention, because it will happen again. You must take stool softeners every day with your medication. They will keep the stool soft. You can take more than the bottle states, as it will not make you go, only help. You will have to experiment a little with the correct dose. I took 3-4 two to three times a day. If you become too loose, you will have to decrease them.
Thanks so much for your comments. It has got worse now. I tried two glycerin suppositories and nothing happened. - had to call out the emergency nurses as I also suddenly couldn't wee! The nurse tried other small enemas and more suppositories and an aneasthetic cream. Nothing has worked, apparently it is very much stuck and very hard! I have been in tears all afternoon! They drained my bladded as it is severely impacted so I am at least a little more comfortable. My bum is VERY sore, it really hurts which is makin me dread passing this even more! The nurses are coming back later to try a phosphates enema, if that doesn't work then I will be going to the hospital. I feel warm and after my bladder was relieved I felt realy tired, still do! Theyv said there is no way to soften it so no matter what it is going to hurt.I am so anxious,I don't cope well with pain!! :-(
If its stuck, you need a mineral oil enema. It will lubricate it and although it's going to hurt, it will come out. You are impacted. The only other way to get it out at this point is a manual disimpaction, which is simply digging it out. To help with the initial pain, you can get some viscous lidocaine, or some benzocaine from the pharmacy which you rub down there to numb it up.
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NEOSPORIN- WITH PAIN AID. It will do the trick I PROMISE.
Trust me I know this can literally be a Pain in the A. You are correct the constipation is associated with the pain medication and also the anesthetic both which slows down you peristalsis-the contractions of GI muscles which pushes the waste from one end to the other therefore causing too much water absorption before it gets there causing it to be too dry and hard.
I had back surgery in 02, 03, and 08. I have an implanted Morphine pump and take Loracets for break through pain and of course battle with constipation.
For the sore outside area I would recommend getting Neosporin with pain aid in it. It has lidocaine which is a numbing agent in it and will help numb you back there to help decrease the painful poops while healing the injury site. Warm wash cloth to the area or a warm bath will help too.
First since you are having so much of a problem I would recommend some type of Glycerin Suppository doesn't matter which one and take it tonight to help get broke loose- wet it under cold water or put some of the neosporin with pain aid or vaseline on it since you are so sore there.
then, I have found that PERICOLACE- the red tablets, (NOT colace the little brown gel caps). 3 per night, and 2 ducolax works best for me. I take the colace nightly and the ducolax and additional suppositories when I start having a problem with constipation. After you get broken loose then decrease the pericolace to 2 per night.
The pericolace has a stool softener and a laxative combined in them. Taken nightly it will keep your stool softer and force it to come out too. The ducolax is a laxative only. The suppository is a laxative that will increase peristalsis.
I hope this helps hun GOOD LUCK