The one area where I am not satisfied with any of my doctors is my constipation. I have been constipated literally for my entire pregnancy. I didn’t poop ONE TIME until I was 6.5 weeks pregnant, and that was only with a Dulcolax laxative. Suppositories didn’t even work then, nor did stool softeners.
I am now 17 weeks and 1 day, and since 6.5 weeks I have pooped fewer than 10 times, almost all of which were prompted by another Dulcolax laxative, which includes excruciating pain and cramping that is so bad I actually cry and moan. It feels like childbirth. Nothing else works at all. I am eating whole bags of prunes, cups and cups of pear, huge bowls of black-eyed peas, collard greens, whole grain hot cereals, celery… That is, when I can get anything down.
I’m drinking prune juice, pear juice, hot water with lemon (which is all a BLAST since I’m so sick I feel like I’m going to die whenever any liquid touches my stomach). Plus I’m already on 3 liters a day of IV fluids through my PICC line. I’m also taking a fiber supplement and a prescription stool softener twice a day. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW SOFT THE STOOL IS IF IT CAN’T GET OUT, YOU IDIOTS! I have fiber and fluids coming out my ears, and yet I cannot poop.
Every appointment with every doctor I tell them that I cannot poop. Every appointment with every doctor I tell them that I’m scared of getting a fecal impaction because I haven’t pooped in however many weeks. Every appointment with every doctor I tell them that the last time I pooped was anywhere from 3 to 15 days ago and it was less than my 20-lb pug poops — maybe a quarter cup of hard, dry pellets. If I go that amount once in a week, it’s amazing. Twice is a freaking miracle.
And every appointment with every doctor they tell me to keep doing the things I am already doing. They recommend other stool softeners or other fiber sources. They tell me to drink more fluids. Ha. IT’S NOT WORKING, GENIUSES! OTHERWISE WHY WOULD I KEEP TELLING YOU THAT I CAN’T POOP??? “Oh, well, it’s normal for pregnant women to get constipated.” Look, jerkwad, it’s not normal for ANYONE to get THIS constipated, especially since I’m doing everything you keep telling me to do and then some. GET A CLUE. NOTHING ABOUT MY PREGNANCY IS NORMAL.
Yesterday I called and told them that I wanted to try an enema because I am so desperate and nothing is working. After visiting 3 stores last night I gave up trying to find the fleet bisacodyl enema they recommended (the pharmacist had never even heard of it!) a generic fleet saline enema from CVS. I was actually excited to do an enema. Silly me, because IT DIDN’T WORK. What actually came out was all of the enema fluid and then barely more poop than I can manage to labor out on my own.
So now I’m SURE that I have an impaction and I’m also SURE that if anyone had been listening to me for the last 17 weeks I would not be in this position. I left a message for my provider with a nurse in the office first thing this morning and am still waiting for a call back almost 3 hours later. I told my homecare nurse how upset I am and she is trying to arrange for me to be seen at my doctor’s office today and also called them and left a message asking for an appointment ASAP and asserting the severity of the situation.
WHY is no one taking this seriously? HOW can anyone POSSIBLY think that this is normal? What is wrong with these physicians and other providers that they cannot understand basic English. I cannot poop. I have not pooped. I am so full of poop that it actually hurts when I sit down. Even though my nausea is improving, I am so full of poop that the mere act of putting anything else into my system makes me sick because there is nowhere for it to go. HOW CAN I BE MORE CLEAR? WHY WON’T THEY HELP ME? I am doing everything right and I still cannot poop. This is, forgive the phrase, total crap. But what else is there for me to do? I am stuck. Much like my poop.
/end rant/
OMG!!! I’m the same problems!!! I’m eleven weeks and severely backed up. I.don’t know what to do.anymore. I can’t eat because I can’t poop. I have excessive saliva, sinus drainage all day, internal hemorrhoids from trying to go, pee when I throw up which is several times a day, and nausea!!! Nothing has helped. NOTHING HAS HELPED!!! I CANT GO, IM SICK, AND NEED HELP!!!
Girl, I remember those days. So sorry! What finally helped me was two bisacodyl enemas to clear things out followed by twice-daily Kristalose, a heavy-duty stool softener (the highest dose they can give) and three Colace at bedtime for the entire rest of the pregnancy.
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Im 7 weeks pregnant and i havent pooped in 2 weeks now. i feel like my kidneys are hurting from it and last time i felt like i was going to poop it felt like the size of a soft ball and was so excruciating i had to stop because i felt like i was going to get a hemorrhoid.
idk what to do either ive tried everything possible…
I have this problem every pregnancy and even in between. I had hemmeroid surgery after baby 3 (it was like hrapes on my butt from straining and 4drs said itd go away-wrong) and now I’m having twins which will make 7 kids total. Here’s what I do: I drink water from mini 8oz bottles i slug it and as much as I can daily which is about 6 of them-when ur backed up like you are don’t sit on toilet try standing up from a three quarter stance with fan blowing-gravity and air seem to help* I have cream for anus I apply prior to pooping its a lidocaine hydrocortisone 3% combo helps numb and decrease swelling( lots of drs dont even know what it is but it exists and dont put into anus just on outside-i always have my poop consistency of soft serve ice cream and do this by taking 4-6 tablets of docusate sodium/senna laxative tablets(2when not pregnant). I get em at target they are target brand and one pill is a combo of both meds. I understand-most people don’t get constipation as severely as us-need to clear what’s there-initially may take week to even start going and it will be painful and daunting but keep taking pills and drinking water-but once you pass the initial insane amts of poop built up you will be able to regulate. You may have to gently pull poop with gloved hand as pieces stick a little out to get em out(this is what nursing does when impacted) My dr who did my hemmoroid surgery had me do all this and I was same-no matter how much food or fluids I was backed up-since doing pills with water and a probiotic called metagenics(available online)I’m ok. But I NEVER GO A DAY WITHOUT POOPING otherwise the cycle starts over. Good luck to you. We are in a very small percentage of people so most of what people and drs and nurses say won’t work doesn’t apply. I was lucky enough to have a gastro and general surgeon who understood and helped me-Best of luck to you
I have to not pooped in 3 months. I have tried evrything. Prescriptions….enemas…..suppositories….and prunes. What should i do.
Oh no, I’m so sorry! I just kept running down this list and advocating for myself with my doctors. What finally helped was reducing my dosage of the medication that was constipating me so I could finally get some relief. I’m sorry you went through this! -kk
I know this is from long ago, but I came across this because I can’t poop either. I have severe Hyperemesis as well and have a PICC and am on TPN. This is my second pregnancy with those treatments. Except this time, I haven’t pooped, in over 2 months. I started improving vomiting-wise but once I started eating at all I get severe pain in the abdomen just below the stomach. I started eating a few weeks ago. I am now instructed not to eat if it causes me pain. But nobody seems to care that I don’t poop and I don’t pass gas, and that food causes me horrific pain. Yesterday I had to have some apple juice because my blood sugar dropped too low. Even that left me in horrible pain. When I went to the ER (not yesterday, but the time I ate prior) the doctor said that it is impossible not to poop in two months and thus didn’t believe me. She ordered no imagine and gave me no pain relief, not even the tylenol I asked for. I’m curious if you did have an impacted bowel at the end of all that. I think the pain I feel is my gallbladder (I have gallstones, thanks to my last pregnancy). But I also have the whole thing where I cannot poop or pass gas.
Ughhhh you poor thing. Your comment got hung up in my spam filter so I’m hoping that with this much time passed you are no longer in this situation! I managed to avoid fecal impaction though I am not sure how. It was infuriating that no one would listen to me! Made me so mad. Like, look, bro, I know you went to medical school and all but I AM LIVING IN MY BODY AND I AM TELLING YOU WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. DID THEY NOT GO OVER “LISTENING TO PATIENTS” IN YOUR TRAINING??? How did things turn out? -kk
I m also have this problem. I m trying every supliment but no help.
Oh man, I’m sorry. I hope you get some relief soon. <3
Same problem here. Doctors not doing anything to help me. I am bloated so much so that I look 30 weeks and not 17. I am pooping every 6 weeks and when I do they are like 15-25 lbs. I do not know what to do.
Oh how awful. I’m so sorry. The only thing I can suggest is to just keep being vocal and insistent with your doctor and if they are not listening get a consult with someone else. :/ Hugs.