Somewhat urgent-fear of certain medical procedures...(warning gross)

[fireheart]

I'm just wondering what to expect with an enema.

Long story short, I have been constipated over the past week. I have also had a history of itchiness and some bleeding around that area. I also freak out about anything foreign going around my anus/vagina area-hell, I don't even use tampons (it took me a while to get used to sex).

But the laxatives either aren't working, or they are and I'm just scared as hell of even having a bowel movement because of the stool size, the feeling of trying to pass razorblades or just the pain in general. I've been drinking water as much as I can, but because I sometimes have trouble trying to pee as a result of said constipation (I will pass urine after a while though, but the pressure until then is a nightmare), the pain is intense and it makes me want to drink water even LESS.

In short, what do I need to expect with an enema, saline bag, microlax or otherwise? Also, is there anything they can do or I can do so I'm not freaking out when they DO have to administer said enema?

[Plaidman]

How's that gross? Everyone poos, pees and bleeds. Pretty much the 100 percent thing that everyone that has ever lived, has done from the entire existance of life.


Short answer?

Don't worry. People can use them. It will make you poop. It's not painful in the least usually.

It's used alot in uh, porn films to clean said... butt... before something else is used.

It's basically water and other chemicals to clean out your colon (Large intestine).

You'll be fine

[trailerparkmedic]

If you're to the point that you are thinking about an enema, it is so worth it.

I'm not sure about Australia, but there are some available over the counter here in the US, if you to avoid the doctor. You'll see saline (salt water) and mineral oil ones, and I don't think there is a huge difference between either.

There will be instructions on the box, but basically you lay on your back or side, use the tubing and, um, fill yourself up. Enemas usually work fairly quickly. If it freaks you out, try to focus on how much better you'll feel.

[shankyknitter]

Understanding that you get freaked out with foreign objects near that region the first thing you need to do is calm down. When you get one have the doctor explain step by step what he/she is doing a why. If you're using a home kit read the directions a few times and familiarize yourself with everything in your kit.

Other than that, go for it, you'll be fine and you'll feel a heck of a lot better after. And? It'll reduce the risk of you getting sick from being backed up.

[Der Cute]

First question: what strength of laxatives have you used?
I say this because during/after a pregnancy, you get so stopped up it aint funny. Right after I had the baby, I was stuck STUCK STUCK. So bad it hurt.
I used some docusate sodium, the generic stool softener you get OTC. 2 days in a row, no change.
Went to the hospital pharmacy (was still in hospital) and chatted w/ the pharmacist. She got me a generic version of Biscodyl? (bisco something) and DAMN that worked. Just drank lots of water day I took it, and 6 hours later I was doing my business as usual.

So - if you've tried a few times and are more than 5 days stuck, then I'd use the enema.
All it is is getting water inside the colon to help saturate and soften the poo. Ever notice you drop marbles sometimes in the toilet? Those marbles are precursors to the super hard stuck turd.

There is nothing wrong with doing this. It helps you get the junk out, so go for it. Possibly use a hand mirror on the floor or bathtub so you can see where you're going? and make sure you have a full roll of TP in the bathroom, and a few mags.

Also: constipation is often part psychological. If a person gets in the habit of pooping at 4:00 pm every day, your body will gradually adjst to that poop time. AND if a person has an issue with going in public toilets, your ass will NOT let you do it. You literally have to tell yourself : I give you permission, it is ok to poop here....and sometimes that works. Butt (hehe) having a fear of pooping in public toilets, forests...etc...will keep you stopped up.

Good luck!

[Seshat]

It sounds like you could really use the help of a continence physiotherapist for the long term. Bowel constipation shouldn't be affecting urinary output, unless you're having trouble relaxing the muscles.

A suggestion, with that history of itching and bleeding: bepanthen or some other 'nappy rash' cream, and a packet of baby wipes. My continence physiotherapist recommended it: when she checked me for anatomical problems, apparently everything looked a bit red and raw to her.

It has made SO MUCH DIFFERENCE. Apparently my skin is just a bit more sensitive to the irritants than most, and just TP doesn't keep me clean enough to keep that skin healthy. Baby wipes and nappy-rash cream, though, are GREAT.

[fireheart]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I went to the hospital today to work out what to do best.

That said, I have a few questions to answer:

Laxative strength-I've been using Coloxyl with Senna. Was 1 tablet, now will most likely be 2.
Cause-not 100% sure, don't believe it's psychological necessarily. My diet hasn't changed dramatically, what may have contributed to it was the severe sharp pain I received when I DID have my last bowel movement.

And now onto the hospital stuff:

So I arrive, hit the ED. Get assessed, get tummy felt. Get micro-lax enemas administered. Did not work-all it did was made my butt sting like hell. And I was in more pain

Had an X-ray: turns out I was backed up almost 2/3 of the way through my large intestine (so if you divide it into thirds, going up, left and down from your rectum, I was blocked almost to the end of the left stretch). So we go to the fun part: the "big guns" as this doctor calls it.

Yep, had to have the glycerin and oil enema. Worked like a charm thankfully....VERY well. In fact, so well that I now feel like I'm going to be sick. The nurse was very understanding with me about my fears and let me play my DS while it was being administered to take my mind off of the sensation. I've got a good chunk of it out, there's still probably a little bit in there but I'll soften it up

I've got 2 days off of work, and I need to drink like a fish and increase my fibre intake until then....joy, more stacking on weight.

[fireheart]

I know I was sent home with a bottle of this really salty tasting liquid laxative that they usually give to patients getting prepped for bowel surgery...heavy-duty stuff, and I was very grateful that I wasn't working at the time because there is no way I would've been too productive with the constant runs to the bathroom!

I already had a decent enough laxative, so they figured it'd be best to keep me on that.

[Plaidman]

So I arrive, hit the ED. Get assessed,

Heh heh. You Said ass in a thread about poo.

Had an X-ray: turns out I was backed up almost 2/3 of the way through my large intestine (so if you divide it into thirds, going up, left and down from your rectum.

Rectum, Descending and Transverse Colon. Ouch.

[Seshat]

That's pretty severe constipation.

Hopefully it is a one-time thing. If not, like I said, ask to get assessed for problems and see a continence physiotherapist.

[fireheart]

That's pretty severe constipation.

Hopefully it is a one-time thing. If not, like I said, ask to get assessed for problems and see a continence physiotherapist.

We're hoping. What the ED doctors think is that I might've been focusing too much on protein rather than fibre so I'd feel full (which is one of my bigger problems)

So to compensate, I've been drinking like a fish and having a salad wrap 1-2 times a week to compensate for the chicken sub I normally have.

Otherwise, problems have been relatively normal. I'll be continuing with the laxatives until the end of the week, after which I'll start weaning myself off of them soI'm not too dependent. I WILL be adding some benefiber/metamucil into my diet as well just to help smooth things over.

[blas]

I had a stomach flu two springs ago that, after the vomitting and the runs were over, I was backed up for a few days.

I had to use suppositories. But damn they worked. It took a while to get over the "ewww" factor, but eventually I did because I felt so much better.

I understand being squeamish or grossed out by it.

[fireheart]

I understand being squeamish or grossed out by it.

Oh yeah. I was crying for ages on the toilet after I had the micro-lax administered because I wasn't going anywhere and then freaking out about the "big guns".

I freaked out when the nurse bought in the IV bag of glycerin and oil thinking "Oh god is she going to put ALL of that in me?"

But the funny thing is-if I have a cut, I might be alright. I scrape my knee really badly, I'll be alright. I have blood taken out-OK, I won't watch. I get a visit from Aunt Irma-no problems at all. I watch someone vomit, spew up blood, piss blood, have a catheter inserted or anything involving the anal area-yeah I can't watch....

[blas]

Imagine how I felt about suppositories.

It wasn't any better that I had the most unprofessional pharmacy tech imaginable who yelled really loud about them in front of an entire store.

[telecom_goddess]

Imagine how I felt about suppositories.

It wasn't any better that I had the most unprofessional pharmacy tech imaginable who yelled really loud about them in front of an entire store.

I remember that!!! Has it really been a couple of years?