Brutal constipation. Please help!

[Marquis Mark]

Ask for some real pain meds. Please. It will not get better. As many sitz baths in water as hot as you can stand (at least 3 times per day is recommended by my current CRS). Try to keep your bm to a mashed potato consistency. I have to take colace and miralax and magnesium to keep this.

Gawd, I don't wish this pain on anyone. I'm experiencing an(other) infection flareup in my fistula and having to use pain meds all day right now. It's the only way I can sit and be a functional human being. I literally stood in the kitchen for 3 hours on Sunday just to avoid having to explain why I cried when my tush hit the chair.

Have to respectfully disagree with the pain meds advice. I think you need to take it easy on those as they are known to cause the constipation that likely lead to the fissure in the first place.

 

[DSRIGGS]

@hilary1617 I am sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately none of the topical aids helped me in fact lidocain actually irritated it a bit more. The diltaziem/bethanocal ointment is a compounded substance that is applied 4 times daily. I Guess it had a littlr relief but it's purpose is to relax the sphincter so blood flow will increase which in turn heals your fissure. That is the same purpose of hot sitz baths or like I did a hot shower running over your affected area. I kind of used my hand to cup the water so it pooled and stayed there for 10-20 seconds and then I let flow some more. I gradually increased the temperature as well.

And I can relate to the pain after the colonoscopy that day and the next. It was the worst but it went from that relative 8/9 scale pain to a 5/6 the next day. Hopefully yours heals without surgery but Dr k fixed mine when I had my revision. He wanted to make I didn't have a fistula and he said under anesthesia is the only way to do it. I did not have a fistula and he simply cauterized mine. He left packing up there that he told me I could push out when I pooped or pull out myself. I pulled it out becsuse there was no way I was shitting that huge thing out. I thought it was pinky sized. Lol I think he was paying me back for being a pain in the ass asking too many questions and he stuck a damn bratwurst sized packing up there!

I hope you feel better soon. I felt better immediately after my procedure. That being said I have read horror stories about the lateral sphincterotomy that had mixed results so I hope you can heal in your own but in the meantime push the docs hard for pain control and action. You shouldn't have to suffer unduly.

 

[newanatomy]

Just wanted to circle back on this as I finally had a colonoscopy yesterday and the culprit of my pain is indeed a fissure. The colonoscopy must have antagonized the fissure as yesterday was one of the most painful experiences of my life (and I am no stranger to pain). I still cannot sit down today, it's either stand or lie down, and neither is comfortable. I have a prescription hydrocortisone / pramoxine I was given yesterday which doesn't seem to bhave any effect. I was referred to a surgeon. Hoping things abate a bit today...

ETA, they found a few polyps as well and "severe" hemorrhoids so the cause of bleeding is any of the above...

Double damn! Sorry this is happening! I hope you can have a quick surgery and that they can fix all that ails you!

 

[DianaCox]

Hilary, if your stools are usually on the loose side, I'd take narcotics if possible. The anal fissure I had was the worst pain I have ever had, and I needed Demerol after the outpatient (!!!) LIS procedure. That was 20 years ago, and it still makes my gut hurt to think of it.

 

[Brandy]

Follow up report on the Biffy and the Squatty Potty.

Love them both and they both help a lot with the Hemorrhoids.

The Biffy, or poor persons bidet, was easy to get set up, except for the heater, which is waiting on an electrician for reasons that have nothing to do the product and everything to do with living in a really old house. We could hook it up but with old wiring, water and no GFCI it just seems smarter to wait. I live near Seattle, WA and the ground water is brisk! The heater sounds heavenly and I brace before turning it on, but really it isn't that bad. I would choose the $99 no heater version over not having this at all. At first, with an active hemorrhoid infestation going on, I used this every few hours and it gave such relief. Now that I'm a week or two past that, I use it after any poop, but generally don't feel the itch to use it otherwise, though I typically do if I'm there, cuz why not. My husband (not a DS'er) has grown to really love this too. We can tell that we will someday upgrade to the Japanese toilet, but for now, we are really happy with this.


The Squatty Potty we are not quite so sure about. I love it, it seems to make things go faster and that can mean less pain. DH says that it is no different than leaning forward. He has not had hemorrhoids since we got it though, so what does he know? Nothing, that is what! I think this might be a YMMV thing based on your anatomy. I have been surprised by long farts right after getting on it, so I think it might also help with the rare case of bloats, but it is too early to say for sure.

Do you guys think I should start a new thread with my reviews for the above? I think that these things would have been nice to have in place early in my DS life and I doubt most of those people are going to read 5 pages down in a poop thread until they are in trouble.

 

[southernlady]

Do you guys think I should start a new thread with my reviews for the above? I think that these things would have been nice to have in place early in my DS life and I doubt most of those people are going to read 5 pages down in a poop thread until they are in trouble.

PLEASE

 

[Marquis Mark]

Follow up report on the Biffy and the Squatty Potty.

Love them both and they both help a lot with the Hemorrhoids.

The Biffy, or poor persons bidet, was easy to get set up, except for the heater, which is waiting on an electrician for reasons that have nothing to do the product and everything to do with living in a really old house. We could hook it up but with old wiring, water and no GFCI it just seems smarter to wait. I live near Seattle, WA and the ground water is brisk! The heater sounds heavenly and I brace before turning it on, but really it isn't that bad. I would choose the $99 no heater version over not having this at all. At first, with an active hemorrhoid infestation going on, I used this every few hours and it gave such relief. Now that I'm a week or two past that, I use it after any poop, but generally don't feel the itch to use it otherwise, though I typically do if I'm there, cuz why not. My husband (not a DS'er) has grown to really love this too. We can tell that we will someday upgrade to the Japanese toilet, but for now, we are really happy with this.


The Squatty Potty we are not quite so sure about. I love it, it seems to make things go faster and that can mean less pain. DH says that it is no different than leaning forward. He has not had hemorrhoids since we got it though, so what does he know? Nothing, that is what! I think this might be a YMMV thing based on your anatomy. I have been surprised by long farts right after getting on it, so I think it might also help with the rare case of bloats, but it is too early to say for sure.

Do you guys think I should start a new thread with my reviews for the above? I think that these things would have been nice to have in place early in my DS life and I doubt most of those people are going to read 5 pages down in a poop thread until they are in trouble.

I got a cold water bidet from Amazon for $40. I love it. Works great and literally took 3 minutes to hook up. I find the water temp "refreshing," but I live in LA. Doubt I'd want to try that in North Dakota. It's so much more hygienic and pays for itself with the TP savings. It's also much better when you have a fissure, diarrhea, etc. No irritating paper wiping.

As far as the Squatty Potty, I just use a cardboard box, or, as your husband says, lean over. There's always somebody ready to sell you something you don't need. My favorite are the chip clips that sell for $1 or $2 each at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I just use binder cips, or even paper clips. Works the same. But there's no money in it for anyone to tell you that, I guess. Anyway, as far as Squatty Potty, the whole idea is to minimize the 90 degree angle between your lap and chest so as long as you do that, you're OK. Frankly though, I haven't noticed much difference.

 

[DSRIGGS]

I just don't get the whole bidet thing and have no desire to do so. It seems so nasty and messy, and just has no appeal to me. Toilet paper doesn't bother me even with diarrhea. I also can't see how it is more hygienic, to me it is the exact opposite because some of that stuff isn't coming off with just water unless it is so high pressure it tears you a new asshole anyway, which defeats the purpose. so you are going to have to wipe it away to some extent anyway.

Oh well, glad some of you like them but just not for me.

 

[Marquis Mark]

I just don't get the whole bidet thing and have no desire to do so. It seems so nasty and messy, and just has no appeal to me. Toilet paper doesn't bother me even with diarrhea. I also can't see how it is more hygienic, to me it is the exact opposite because some of that stuff isn't coming off with just water unless it is so high pressure it tears you a new asshole anyway, which defeats the purpose. so you are going to have to wipe it away to some extent anyway.

Oh well, glad some of you like them but just not for me.

Most respectfully, but adamantly, disagree with you. From experience. If you got mustard on your arm would it clean up better if you wiped it off with a napkin or a high pressure hose? The bidet has adjustable pressure starting from a trickle to a blast. It gets my bunghole squeaky clean, much better than smearing poop around with paper. It's more hygienic because you don't have to put your hand down there. In fact, odd as it seems, you don't even have to wash your hands afterward. The stream is so directed that it does not go all over the place. Your cheeks guide the water perfectly and your perineum stops it before it hits your boys.

It's just something you have to experience, Scott!

I actually gave five of them out as Xmas present this year. Everyone thinks I'm awesome!

 

[DSRIGGS]

the napkin cleans the mustard better for me because it gets the greasy layer. water gets some but not all unless there is soap involved....but anyway for you who like it that is great. I am staying with TP and get the ultra clean with soap and water in shower.

 

[DianaCox]

I am a Toto Washlet convert. So much nicer on the butthole, especially after a painful poop, washes me completely clean, with nice WARM water. I set it on the stronger spray, with oscillation and pulsation. I have no patience for the air-dryer, so I just pat dry. No poop on the paper. I'm going to miss that thing when we move, but I'm getting the Biffy with heater for the RV.

 

[Clematis]

I have a separate porcelain bidet. In the European style, one uses TP to wipe off any lingering "solids" @DSRIGGS then transfers to the bidet (the bidet is essentially a sink for your bottom so not plumbed to handle solids). The fountain-like spray, pressure and temperature adjustable like a sink faucet, does a good job, however I usually also finish with a soap wash and rinse. It also makes a great foot soak if I sit on the edge of the tub or bring over a chair. When my kids were little it made a good baby bath, too.

 

[countryham]

Yes, definitely. Right now, i just can't put that much down so that's why I'm only able to get 70-80 protein/day. I'm sure, as time goes on, that will increase. I'm amazed by my surgiversary buddy, Mike, who is already up to 120 grams a day!

Right now, I eat a lot of cheese, milk, eggs and chicken. I also do some spit pea soup/beans as they have a lot of fiber and is the highest protein of the veggies.

I have to retrain my brain away from a low-fat mentality. This brutal episode is making it clear.

I don't plan to quit calcium, of course, but right now my butthole is killing me and I don't want to do any damage. These have been the of the most miserable days in memory. First things first. Same with iron. Need to just really up the fats, benefiber, add magneisum oxide and start taking stool softener at night, I guess.

I am about 4 weeks out of surgery also Mark. But I can tell you cheese will constipate the hell out of me

 

[countryham]

My father (who was training to be an Orthodox rabbi before he decided to be an atheist instead, because pork spareribs) studied engineering and did a lot of handy stuff around the house, and as the oldest, I enjoyed helping him and learning how to do a bit of it. I'm a scientist, so I had to build stuff for my experiments too. I changed my carburetor on my 73 Pinto when I was in grad school, and I can do some minor electrical stuff too. But I rarely have to anymore, since my husband is a contractor and can do everything better than me anyway.

My brothers are auto mechanics. But my sister is more of the hands-off type, so I guess the trait lives on.

I'm telling you, the Toto Washlet, which only has to be attached to the cold water supply and a plug (and of course, affixed to the toilet bowl) will change your life.

What model do you have do you know Diana?

 

[Spiky Bugger]

And I, living in So Cal where cold water isn't that cold that long, am good with the cheap, cold-water only, type that needs to be attached to the toilet and the incoming (to the toilet) water line. Since beginning bidet attachment use, we have had five different homes with ten total toilets...and not one was near an electrical supply. FURTHER, even though adding an outlet isn't usually a huge deal...having real plaster walls, some with chicken wire inside, makes it very messy.

Right now, we're good with a couple of <$30 bidet attachments.

(The only hard part is getting visitors, especially young ones, to NOT stand next to it and "test" the controls. We know when they do...because. screaming.)