Sorry to ask this one

[twist330]

WARNING graphic detail of things we really don't want to talk about.

I'm having a problem passing stools.I believe this may be called faecal impact. Its there waiting to come out but it won't. If I push to hard it makes me feel faint. I think it's to big. I took senokot for constipation but I think that may have been the wrong thing to do.

I don't know what to do.

[twist330]

Thanks for your help.

I have managed to pass a stool but this had left me feeling sore and I know there is more to come but now i'm sore, and I got really hot which made everything else feel a whole lot worse. I will go to the chemist tomorrow to get dulcolax, Everything shut  today as we live in a small town and I can't drive at the moment due to other symptoms . I can't seem to find the oil in the UK when I www it, but they do seem to have the suppository.

Thanks again

[Steven99001]

I know this is old, but for anyone who feels they may be close to being impacted, DONT WAIT.

If you are truly impacted you'll have bad cramps, nearly unbearable along with nausea, belly pain, etc. It's important NOT to try an enema or strong laxative on your own. Contact your Dr or go to the ER. This can be life threatening if left long enough.

If you feel you are nearing impaction, ie  several days without a movement, bloated, sluggish, full feeling, You may want to ask your care provider if you can use a mineral oil or olive oil enema.

This is what the ER would do for impaction anyway. Usually 4 to 8 ounces, held for a half hour will soften the mass enough to pass it.

Be sure to use cleansing enemas afterwards. I found this out the hard way after I was given oil in the ER for the first time and leaked for 3 days as well as not passing the mass till then.

The next time an oil enema was ordered for me a couple months later, I made sure to ask the Dr to order soapsud enemas as well to cut the oil

[Mand125]

Hi there

You have my sympathy! Once you get the immediate problem sorted out yyou might want to try something like Dulcoease, this makes things a little softer, I find this a much better solution than Senokot which just gives me cramps.

You can buy it in Morrisons if you have one nearby, I'm not sure where else sells it but probably most chemists, I couldn't find it in Boots though.

Good luck and I hope things "work out" for you.

Mand

[sickofsick62]

HOPE YOU ARE FEELLING BETTER NOW.
ARE YOU?
I'VE DEALT WITH THIS SINCE I WAS BORN.I'VE HAD M.S.MY WHOLE LIFE.
I HAVE LEARNED, LOW FAT!,LOTS OF WATER, EAT PRUNES FOR CANDY SUBSTITUTE.
DULCOLAX FOR PROBLEMS TIMES. YOU WILL NOTICE ABDOMINAL GAS OR "HURT" DAYS FOR YOU NEED TO PUSH TO GO,SO TAKE THE DULCOLAX THEN.
I ALSO TAKE BENTYL/DICYLOMINE 4 TIMES A DAY. BUT, I WAS IN AND OUT OF THE E.R. SINCE I WAS BORN FOR THIS STUFF.,SO, ITS BEST IF YOU SEE A GATROENTEROLOGIST OR A GOOD INTERNIST FOR THIS PROBLEM.
GOOD LUCK AND IM PRYING FOR YOU.
PLEASE WRITE IF YOU NEED.

[Lulu54]

Twopack is absolutely right - drastic problems sometimes call for drastic measures.  You fit both categories and her advice is very good.  Please do not let this problem go on longer - it can only get worse.

hugs, Lu

[twopack]

It's much better to ask than to suffer in silence, and I know you are suffering.  Senakot is fine but you need to work on passing this hard mass of stool first and products taken by mouth are going to take too long.  You can try an oil or bisacodyl edema.  You just need a small one.  

The bisacodyl (AKA Dulcolax) will help pull water into the bowel and irritate it to stimulate contraction.  It can make you cramp.  The oil works more like when you get your hand stuck in a jar and pour liquid soap in to help it slide it out.

You can buy either type in a disposable container in a pharmacy here in the US and I assume in UK.  Get some gloves and lubricant while you're there too as you may need to use a finger (or the tip of the enema tube) to break the stool up a little to help it pass (breathe...breathe..people do this).

Make sure you insert the tip very gently and don't force it against resistance.  Hold the enema as long as you can by deep breathing and relaxing so the liquid can work.  This should make it possible to pass the stool mass without bearing down so hard.  (When you get that faint feeling it's probably because bearing down can stimulate a big nerve, the vagus.)

If one small enema doesn't do it, you may need to go to emergency to get some professional help.  You will feel the fool (I did) but they should be professional about it.  

If you have access to a prescriber on a Sunday, you may be able to ask them to order the liquid that is used for a colonoscopy prep.  You would drink it as directed ONLY until you start to eliminate - NOT the whole thing.

Once you have some relief there are a variety of diet choices and medications to help prevent this from happening again.  

Mary

[mistylee]

I had the same problem. I also took senokot. It did work but with differculty. Drink more water, eat more fibre or fruit and try to exercise if you can . It all helps. You may need to try the senokot a couple of times before it works.

Good luck
Mistylee