I need to vent...

[carson]

I haven't been on here long and don't know any of you, but I need some help. I've searched other topics to try and help myself. I've taken advice from them, so now I'm frustrated because NOTHING is helping!!

 I fell at work a week ago and really hurt most of my left side, especially my knee. It swelled up like a volleyball and I couldn't move it. I was afraid to go to the hospital incase they wanted to move it around, so I went home, iced it, elevated it, compressed it and took some endosets/percacet (2). The next day, the knee was still swollen and very sore, so I took an endocet to help me sleep. Then I did this for a few days in a row. The knee has gotten alot better but now I can't poo. It's putting extreme pressure on my tailbone, keeping awake at night, making hard to sit or lay.
I took some colace and nothing. I called my Dr. and they said to go to my local emerg and get a script for lactulose. I went, saw the doc there and he told me to take senekot as it works better. So I did. Nothing. Then I called my Dr. again and they said to take lactulose. In the meantime, my hubby (being a healthcare aide/personal support worker who worked in a nursing home) suggested an enema and I told him the only kind I can have is a soapsud enema. He confirmed this with my Dr. and went to 4 pharmacies to find one. Not one had it, infact they hadn't heard of it. Turns out it's not available commercially. So instead I just had a warm water enema. NOTHING. So, off he went to get the lactulose, finally. I took 2 tablespoons 4 hours ago and went to sleep. So far, nothing. I'm getting pretty scared. I hurts like crazy to try to poo. I don't want to cause any problems down there, but it feels like I'm trying to leg a BIG egg. I don't know what to do...more lactulose? How long does it take to work? Can you take stool softeners with lactulose? It says to drink lots of water with all of these things and yet, I can only drink so much. I woke this morning looking like a water balloon.  My fingers looked like twinkies! I feel really awful. I haven't eaten at all today...How do I get past this? (Or should I say get this to pass?)

[jedimaster]

Get a referral to see a gastro specialist...like soon!. There are some products on the market that will make you poo real fast, but you need professional help before taking any of those. 

[stauffenberg]

You should see a physician about this problem, since it is possible that in falling you injured the nerves along the spinal column (the aching tailbone could be a symptom of this), and that it is the damage to the nerves which is causing the constipation.

[meadowlandsnj]

 I fell at work a week ago and really hurt most of my left side, especially my knee. It swelled up like a volleyball and I couldn't move it. I was afraid to go to the hospital incase they wanted to move it around, so I went home, iced it, elevated it, compressed it and took some endosets/percacet (2).  My fingers looked like twinkies! I feel really awful. I haven't eaten at all today...How do I get past this? (Or should I say get this to pass?)

Those painkillers are known to be constipating, at least that's what I've been told.  I feel for you, really.  I was in this situation myself from taking Percacet.  Patience..............this too shall pass.  (I know bad joke)  You may need the Brown Bomber which is what they call the Rotoo Rooter of laxatives.  Tell the doctors, I know you don't really want to but you don't want to get an impaction and end up bleeding from the rectum and I tell you that will HURT. 
I hope you feel better soon.   

Donna

[anja]

Sorbitol, prescription required, works well for this problem also~ and quite quickly.  Good luck, hope you get relief soon.

[goofynina]

Please, try some warm prune juice, (there i go pushing my prune juice again)  but really, it is the one thing that worked the best for me, i took about 1 cup, heated it up, drank it then chased it down with some warm water (to really get it in my system)  I have had other patients tell me that it helped them when they tried it,  good luck 

[KICKSTART]

I think we have all been in this situation at some time! I dont think your fall has anything to do with this , its probably because you have been inactive for a few days. Go back to your GP and ask for a stronger laxative or suppositries? Taking 1 or 2 senna on their own is not enough , sometimes you need to take 2 in the morning and 2 at night ( i was told this at the renal unit) I was told that Lactulose is not actually a laxative and only works to help prevent constipation , once you have got it , you need something a lot stronger. Also a hot water bottle on your tummy will help ease the discomfort 

[angela515]

Please, try some warm prune juice, (there i go pushing my prune juice again)  but really, it is the one thing that worked the best for me, i took about 1 cup, heated it up, drank it then chased it down with some warm water (to really get it in my system)  I have had other patients tell me that it helped them when they tried it,  good luck 

I took Susie's advice this last time I was constipated in the hospital... it worked.

[meadowlandsnj]

Sorbitol, prescription required, works well for this problem also~ and quite quickly.  Good luck, hope you get relief soon.

A few years ago I had a bag of sugar free hard candy.  My cousin, who had no clue they had sorbital in them ate almost the whole bag.  She was in and out of the bathroom for hours!    Sugar free chocolate is an instant laxative for me, cookies, hard candy, anything with sorbital does it for me.

Donna

[goofynina]

Sorbitol, prescription required, works well for this problem also~ and quite quickly.  Good luck, hope you get relief soon.

A few years ago I had a bag of sugar free hard candy.  My cousin, who had no clue they had sorbital in them ate almost the whole bag.  She was in and out of the bathroom for hours!    Sugar free chocolate is an instant laxative for me, cookies, hard candy, anything with sorbital does it for me.

Donna

Sorry for going off topic here but i just had to reply to Donna's post.  When i was younger i found a box of Ayds candy, does anyone remember these?  They were like caramel type candies, ohhh Lord, I too was in and out of that bathroom.  Thanks for reminding me 'bout that Donna, sheesh, what a rotten kid i was 

[kitkatz]

Oh Man I stay out of the sugar free chocolates. They give me the bathroom dance!

[Joe Paul]

Sorbitol, prescription required, works well for this problem also~ and quite quickly.  Good luck, hope you get relief soon.

A few years ago I had a bag of sugar free hard candy.  My cousin, who had no clue they had sorbital in them ate almost the whole bag.  She was in and out of the bathroom for hours!    Sugar free chocolate is an instant laxative for me, cookies, hard candy, anything with sorbital does it for me.

Donna

Sorry for going off topic here but i just had to reply to Donna's post.  When i was younger i found a box of Ayds candy, does anyone remember these?  They were like caramel type candies, ohhh Lord, I too was in and out of that bathroom.  Thanks for reminding me 'bout that Donna, sheesh, what a rotten kid i was 

Yep, been there done that too goofynina   

[carson]

Hey, thanks everybody for the advice. I'm feeling MUCH better now!! 
THe biggest problem I found with the colace, lactulose, sennokat, etc is the amount of water you're supposed to drink for them to become effective!!  Anyway, double doses, lotsa black licorice and apples and corn bran cereal seemed to do the trick.
Sorry, goofynina, I just couldn't bring myself to drink the prune juice. But I promise, if I ever feel that way again I will try it before anything else! Too many others can't be wrong!
 

Lisa

[KICKSTART]

 

[goofynina]

No worries Lisa, I am just glad things are "smooth sailing" for ya now   (ok ok, bad joke)