Constipation

OOOOOk, way TMI, but I haven't had a proper BM for 3 days now. I did take some metamucil, am eating tons of fruit and veggies and drinking tons of water, but still nothing. I didn't start experiencing this until I was put on bedrest and the I think the inactivity has slowed down the digestive system. Any suggestions? Any similar experiences? Is this dangerous, I can't imagine it being healthy?

 

They said that was one of the side effects of bedrest, so when they admitted me to the hospital they started me on colace 2 times a day and I also take Miralax once a day. It seems to really help. (Though I was constipated before bedrest, so I needed it!)

I would ask your doctor about what you can take to help out.

 

My doctor said I should avoid getting constipated so I don't have to strain when going. I'm actually less constipated in pregnancy than I was before (due to IBS). It's the one thing that has gone right during pregnancy. I do take one colace a day now and I think it really helps. I hope you feel better soon.

 

This is a harsh reality for bedrest victims I was on bedrest for 2 months in the hospital and the suffered several episodes of severe constipation.

The only thing I think worked very well was to keep my bowels moving by eating every morning ALL BRAN, 2 pack, tastes awful but it kept me regular. I also ONLY ate fruits and veggies and drank more water that a horse!


Constipation is the worst experience every. It is the most awful thing and I wish you luck. Warmed prune juice, all bran, water and fruits/ veggies, don't even think of eating white bread or anything like it. This is what worked for me.

good luck

 

Tell your doctor, constipation and "straining" isn't good. I was on a concoction of Colace and Senokat(sp?), per my peri. The constipation was one of the worst parts of bedrest, especially when a bedpan was involved.

 

Ugh, I'm dealing with that too now that I'm in the hospital. I think it's from a combination of bedrest/inactivity, lack of access to fruits and vegetables, and the fact that baby A's head is way low and likely creating some amount of stool obstruction. I've been on twice daily colace and it's just not doing the trick. I didn't think senokot or miralax were good options in pregnancy because they are stimulants and can also stimulate the uterus to contract. Might try milk of magnesia next.

 

QUOTE(allboys @ Nov 2 2007, 08:21 PM) [snapback]478840[/snapback]
Ugh, I'm dealing with that too now that I'm in the hospital. I think it's from a combination of bedrest/inactivity, lack of access to fruits and vegetables, and the fact that baby A's head is way low and likely creating some amount of stool obstruction. I've been on twice daily colace and it's just not doing the trick. I didn't think senokot or miralax were good options in pregnancy because they are stimulants and can also stimulate the uterus to contract. Might try milk of magnesia next.



I'm on colace twice a day, plus miralax once a day. For me it hasn't caused any side effects. (I'm also on hospital bedrest.) I know that just colace doesn't really work for me either, but the combo seems to do the trick!

 

Me too girls! It's a very uncomfortable problem AND one that can start up contractions for me. For me, I am sensitive to milk products, so every couple days I have my husband pick up a Jr Frosty or some kind of ice cream and that usually does the trick!

 

Unfortunately bedrest slows EVERYTHING down. Constipation is a tricky one though, because you want everything to come out easily so there is no pushing involved (could cause dilation), yet they don't want it to be too loose because then you are up every 5 minutes and that defeats being on bedrest. I was on a cocktail of stool softners and laxatives, it seemed to be a futile cause. Then one day, it happened! I was so anxious to poop because I didn't want cause anymore dilation! But everything came out just fine. Even now when I go to have a bm I still get anxious even there are no babies in my belly...

 

QUOTE(allboys @ Nov 2 2007, 08:21 PM) [snapback]478840[/snapback]
Ugh, I'm dealing with that too now that I'm in the hospital. I think it's from a combination of bedrest/inactivity, lack of access to fruits and vegetables, and the fact that baby A's head is way low and likely creating some amount of stool obstruction. I've been on twice daily colace and it's just not doing the trick. I didn't think senokot or miralax were good options in pregnancy because they are stimulants and can also stimulate the uterus to contract. Might try milk of magnesia next.


I know senekot is a big no no in pregnancy. My pharmacist looked it up for me and it had a big red flag on it for pregnancy. I think the pharmacist is the best resource when it comes to asking about drugs, my Dr. just seems to be stuck on what she normally perscribes and doesn't go over alternative options with me which is annoying.

 

Just an update -- my doctor started me on daily miralax this week and it's been great. Doesn't cause me any contractions and has been really effective. Plus I'm still taking my twice daily colace.