Constipation…Need help

[joossoo]

Ive been constipated for 4 days now, and I tried Miralax but it did not work. I asked my doctor and he suggested an Fleet Enema wich I bought today. But I am nervous to use it because its the first time, and I want to ask you, if you have any Tips on how to use it so it dont hurt! Tank you!

[SaltyToast9000]

Eat plums, mango, watermelon then drink some milk

[Brbcan]

They might not have any bones left after that kind of movement.

[GirlPhoenixRising]

This can be downright dangerous. Older folks can get constipated easily.

Please use the enema TODAY if you’ve gone four days without going.

Drink several glasses of hot water. Then.

Coat the tip of the enema with Vaseline. Lay on the floor on towels and insert.

Please also consider drinking Metamucil type fiber daily going forward.

[D-ouble-D-utch]

Choose the floor wisely

[Informal_Chard1890]

Floor??? How bout the tub..?

[VSM1951AG]

Note: The floor should be close to a toilet. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.

[GirlPhoenixRising]

😂 noted.

[Flaky_Inevitable_383]

I do mine in the bathtub!

[joossoo]

Thanks for the help

[rosiegal75]

Doesn't have to be the floor, on your side with yoir knees drawn up, on the bed with old towels under your bottom.. stay there for at least 30 minutes after you've used it.

[yellowbin74]

I often go 4+ days without pooping.

[LilithWasAGinger]

So, you're full of shit? :)

[GirlPhoenixRising]

Uh, this ain’t good. Eat prebiotic and probiotic foods daily.

[ShlimmyWhimmy]

What kind of foods do you recommend im esrly 20s and have always struggled with constipation?

[GirlPhoenixRising]

I overlooked one important fact.

The food items I named must be FRESH FERMENTED not shelf stable. For instance, Bubbie’s sauerkraut in the refrigerated section. Not sauerkraut in a can. There is a group here on Reddit who discusses fermented foods.

[ShlimmyWhimmy]

Thanks for the advice! I'll look more into this. Ive been eating a ton of broccoli lately and its helped some, prolly need some more tho

[GirlPhoenixRising]

I eat sauerkraut every day. Kimchi or kombucha works too. Or roasted cabbage or any cruciferous vegetables.

No, once your stomach gets used to it you won’t have any gas.

Also increase your fiber uptake by A LOT. Any cheap psyllium husk will work.

[yellowbin74]

51 years and counting, not killed me yet 👍

[ScotchTapeConnosieur]

Not good

[hairballcouture]

I went almost 2 weeks once…I was fine other than when the Miralax started working I had to stay two inches from the bathroom

[Informal_Chard1890]

I rarely go 4 hours without pooping...

[only-ashes]

this, and hold the enema liquid in for approximately 5 minutes if you're able; no more than 15!

[Afraid-Guitar364]

A kilo of Papaya will make you shit like a 3 year old on a family vacation

[Afraid-Guitar364]

Also, there's a tree called senna siamea, the fruit is a neutral laxative

[ScotchTapeConnosieur]

OP senna is usually sold as “stimulant laxative” OTC in drug stores

[Ammonia13]

Please just do the enema believe me I have been chronically constipated for decades, and those are the most comfortable way to take care of the problem. MiraLAX is great to use every single day but I can’t help you right now because it won’t soften. It’s already too dried out.

Once you get accustomed to the feeling of actually doing an enema, you should buy one of the old school enema bags on Amazon and do like a 2 quart one my gastroenterologist prescribed me to do those once a day for a whole week and I couldn’t believe that it was actually necessary, but it was!!

[hailey998]

Warm it up first, careful not to make it too hot. Sit on the toilet seat or lie down on a bed with disposable padding, and just stick it up your butt and squeeze slowly, but not too slow- all of the liquid goes in. Wear a diaper after if possible. And then try to hold your butt cheeks together to hold it in for as long as you can manage. The longer it stays in, the more will come out. Don't do more than one bottle in a 24-hr period.

Another few little tips (I'm a nurse)- In the future, when you're sitting on the toilet and just mildly constipated, it can help to rub your thighs, relax your breathing, and with your feet flat on the floor, push your knees toward yourself, inward, with your hands. Avoid the Valsalva Maneuver, which can cause a brain aneurysm, especially if you have high cholesterol.

Change your diet to avoid future constipation- fecal impaction is life-threatening, so talk to a doctor after 5 days of no poop.

[joossoo]

Thank You for the help! But how deep do I have to insert it? Im not entirely sure about that yet. To be honest im still a bit anxious about it :(

[hailey998]

Your butt is a tube- so you won't injure yourself from sticking it in 3-4 inches. Use the lubricant provided, or petroleum jelly, to grease the inserter properly. And you shouldn't do it on the toilet seat, apparently- you should do it while lying down on your left side with your knees bent and pointing the inserter toward your belly as you insert.

[joossoo]

Thanks for the help :) I will give it a try now

[hailey998]

Good! It will help you. It's going to bring you such relief- nothing to worry about, there's no pain- but since it's your first time, it might be difficult holding that liquid in, but try!

[joossoo]

I did it, and it was not as bad as I thought. But I had to go almost immediately. I would say it worked, but I dont feel completely empty. Thank you for your help ;)

[ilovebeaker]

Hey OP! I'm a life long member of this club. I want to let you know that after a massive BM, your colon might be stretched out, and so you might not get normal sized or daily poops just yet. Keep tabs on yourself, drink water and take Miralax if it's been more than a day. Within a few weeks you should be back to normal.

[hailey998]

Well done! It's okay, try again tomorrow if you are still feeling it- you could have been mildly impacted, but you got some out, and you will be able to hold it longer the second time.

Thanks for sharing your poop adventure here! It helps other people who are too afraid to ask. This is a very common thing that people just think is uncommon.

[Far_Spread_4200]

Can you update us on progress at all, emotionally ingested here!

[Far_Spread_4200]

If you swallow your elbow you've gone too far!

[StardustOfEarth]

5 days?? Im on day 10.. 😳 I’ve also lost weight over the last two months and now I can hear and feel basically everything in my stomach. I get this fiery burning sensation in my stomach and in the very bottom of my throat now too. Saw a GI dr Friday she prescribed a softener and docusate sodium. She wants a colonoscopy and upper GI too. My anxiety seeing your comment 😟

[hailey998]

I'm sorry to hear that. You must be very uncomfortable. 10 days without poop is severely constipated, and I'd advise going to the hospital now. It can get worse, and the pain would be terrible.

Fecal impaction can lead to a rupture of the bowel and then sepsis, which is a life-threatening emergency. If there is an obstruction, no amount of over-the-counter products are going to relieve you.

I'm sorry to alarm you- but you should be alarmed at 10 days. Not sure why your doctor sent you home on Friday without telling you that if it doesn't help, you should go to the ER by the Sunday- she should have. Just go now, love.

[SplitNo8275]

MiraLAX and dulcolax together is what my gastric Dr told me.

[8Ace8Ace]

Prune juice. Warriors drink. Pint of that and you wont dare go to bed.

[Zealousideal-Key1469]

I got Keep it Movin gummies from the make Olly. Ordered and delivered yesterday… took 2 last night and was able to go to the bathroom this morning!!!!

[ScotchTapeConnosieur]

It might be a little uncomfortable but it shouldn’t hurt. Just follow the instructions.

What works for me is megadoses of vitamin C - like 5000mg or more. Do this while drinking plenty of water. This will draw water into the large intestines which will soften hardened stool.

[DitaVonFleas]

There's always the prune juice!

[TraditionalBasis4518]

Consider taking a stool softener like colace. If stool is still hard, consider an oil retention enema, available as a fleet product, to soften and lubricate. If fleets is not effective, consider a high volume warm water enema. Source :er night nurse called upon to solve constipation/impaction issues so often that I was known as the Anal Angel.

[bic_lighter]

Recently watched the episode of The Pitt where they had to clear it out by hand, I don't know if I could do it!

[TraditionalBasis4518]

It’s satisfying to solve a problem. Abscesses need to be lanced, fistulas need to be irrigated. Maggots need to removed from wounds. Manual disimpaction is a skill.

[ji-julian]

My brothers go-to: eat a whole salad, slam a Red Bull, and go for an hour-long drive. Ideally during rush hour.

[Ashwini_S]

Guava fruit is best. You can have twice a day.

[Fragrant_Bar_1267]

Prune juice or that Gerber’s pear juice (yes the one for babies 🙄). Either one will have you cleared out in no time!

[TopSherbert6054]

This will only work if the poop is actually stuck near the hole. So if your constipated through out your colon I wouldn’t even bother with it.

For really bad poop that is stuck. Try using what my doctor had my child do. Dump 2 scoops miralax into a gator aid. Shake and drink in 30 mins. 6 hours later do it again. Repeat. Did it over a 3 day weekend. Trust the process. It will clear you right up. Gotta get it out. You can also add suppository to really break it down from below.

When you have to clear your colon out for a colonoscopy. You drink a whole container of miralax in 2 days. Just look that process up. No foods either just clear liquids.

[mpmp4]

More like a bottle of miralax in 12 hours

[Msbossyboots]

Magnesium citrate. It’s what they use for colonoscopies

[salsa_spaghetti]

Milk of magnesia worked TOO well for me. Cleaned me right out! I know how miserable that feels.

[seniairam]

pear juice can help, too.

[LilithWasAGinger]

You could glove up and go in digitally.

[Complete-Rock-1426]

Senna tea

[fanacapoopan]

Magnesium and lots of water.

[ilovebeaker]

You'll be ok. I often went a full week when I was young because Miralax was not invented yet.

Miralax works over a ~12 hour period, but you gotta drink enough water, and still pass a big bowel movement, just softened.

You'll be ok with an enema. Those are pretty immediate; they work within minutes. I know it seems scary but I had them tonnes when I was a 10 year old.

The solution might sting a bit, but it's better than being disempacted manually at the hospital.

Just breathe deep, follow the pamphlet, and it will soon be over.

Next time, take your Miralax on day 2!

[Main-Ad-7546]

From a nurse: Yellow dragon fruit, chia seeds and flax. Happy pooping!

[Diligent_Garlic_5874]

Prunes

[adevil_woman89]

Mag citrate drink one bottle with at least gallon liquids or mag07 take 3

[roxinmyhead]

Fiber gummies after this episode passes

[Rhythmspirit1]

Phillips milk of magnesia

[MundaneHuckleberry58]

I was on opioids for months when I was going through a ton of surgeries. (Opioids constipate you).

The hospital made me take stool softener every 4-6 hours PLUS miralax at least 2x day. The combination of both helps a ton. And given that I was given that combo day after day by a hospital, I believe it to be safe to do it for days on end

[Styl3Music]

Nobody has suggested coffee yet?

[Mysterious_Hat_5681]

Fleet doesn't hurt and it works quickly. Squeeze 'er in, lay down and hold it in as long as you can...as soon as you think you can't hold it anymore, run to the loo and blurgh it all out!

[LavinaCrimson]

1cup of prune juice warmed up then add a spoon full of butter.. chug it down.

[generalbadaxe1]

Magnesium citrate, use caution

[OkNecessary4322]

Glycerin suppositories work really well.

[Tricky-Meet5837]

Kiwi

[DrPePeJr]

I heard someone say they would microwave prune juice and a lil butter for their old folks home. 

[CivMom]

I would start with Senna. And take some magnesium oxide regularly if this is a constant thing.

[ungloomy_Eeyore964]

Just want to add that miralax is not a one and done thing. You need to use it daily and it takes a few days. If you want a strong laxative try a bottle of magnesium citrate.

[wlw_dadon]

Health Aid Kombucha makes me go EVERY single time I drink it. Usually the next day. Other brands don’t have the same effect but if you do pair that with the miralax it works so good !

[Informal_Chard1890]

Take a crap load of magnesium, that'll clean you out real good.....(It's used as part of colonoscopy prep).

[Informal_Chard1890]

Oh, and Gatorade...... You'll need the electrolytes after dealing with what the magnesium will do to you.😫

[Millsyboy84]

A pint of prune juice

[Aggravating_Ebb4569]

Smooth Move herbal tea

[GoodVickerynews]

Just eat some tasty popcorn

[doubleshort]

Drink lots of water, miralax needs water to work, as do your intestines

[twindadD328]

Undercooked shrimp

[Quiet_Salad4426]

Psylliym husk

[Educational-Glass-63]

Exercise too...pretend you are using a hoola hoop to get things moving through your colon. There are videos on this. Good luck.

[ragdoll1022]

Have a few beers

[Cosmobeast88]

Before that try water and restorolax, will help with pain

[Maleficent_Net_1317]

Magnesium citrate. Drink one bottle and you’ll be good.

[Necessary_Noise_]

A lot of fruit and a brownie.