Nothing worked

Blossom1961

I have spent the last two days in hospital with a blockage in the upper bowel which is in turn causing me severe leg muscle pain. Movicol, senna, coloxyl, enemas, nulax, dulose, osmolax, all on top of a hi fibre diet. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Morphine, endone, tramadol for pain. Nothing works for that either. They are doing the mastectomy on Tuesday regardless of whether I have managed to get things working or not. I am very tired and over it, crying at the littlest things. I have tried exercise even though my legs are weak and have given under me a couple times. Also tried heat packs. Water consumption is approximately four litres a day. I will seriously try anything.

Sarnicad

@Blossom1961 oh bugger hun I can’t think of anything worse. In normal times do you have any food that would normally get things moving -for me it’s pumpkin guaranteed to go through me, if yes try lots of that food!  Otherwise I have no suggestions just hugs

Patti J

I know this is not what you want to hear @Blossom1961, but stop with the drugs already! Give your body a rest. 

arpie

Oh Gosh @Blossom1961  ... I really feel for you.  It is an oldie but a goodie ..... have you tried prunes?

When I worked in the Gynaecology ward at RNSH, after surgery, the patients were often given Peppermint Water to drink - to make sure all the intestines had straightened out OK before they were allowed to eat solid food ... it sort of percolates thru the whole system & down to the bowel somehow ..... it would move the 'wind' that was backing up in the intestines ..... and that in itself is incredibly painful! 

Sadly, it would appear that you have one very big hard bit that doesn't want to squeeze down to a shape that you can pass easily.     Is one of those they've already give you in the list above, a simple suppository?

Hope something happens SOON!  xx

kmakm

Time to ask for a suppository I think @Blossom1961.

When you try to go, have your feet on a little stool to straighten your colon. That helps pass the poo. I was recommended warm pear juice and warm prune juice. However as @arpie says, you may have a blockage. Time to take this to the doctor I reckon. Good luck. And lay of  the truffles! Dark chocolate has a slighty firming quality... K xox

Brenda5

Epsoms salts will break it up but only use less than an 1/8 of a teaspoon in water. It works pretty fast. I found if I stretching exercises on the loo, lean to the left, lean back sort of rotating my body that seems to ease it all down gently. Oh and for pain relief after the op, get Targin. It has a built in laxative to stop you binding up.

Blossom1961

As it is in the upper bowel, suppositries and enemas don't work. I have tried prune juice and my usual go to of orange sweet potato and porridge with chia didn't work either. I will try the peppermint. I haven't had any truffles @kmakm, maybe I should? I didn't know I could ingest epsom salts @Brenda5 so I will look that up. I wasn't on ANY medication before this @Patty J so stopping them now probably will be going backwards, but normally I would agree as I hate drugs of any kind. 

kezmusc

Pain killers can make you constipated to begin with.    Now if you weren't in hospital I would say red wine normally does the trick but they might not be happy with that.    Hope it sorts itself out quickly for you.  xoxox

Blossom1961

The nurses said pain killers were only to be taken for that very reason @kmakm. I am home now beceause they didn't know what to do with me.

kmakm

Time for a second opinion @Blossom1961. Back to the GP for a referral to a specialist? Give the BCNA helpline a ring on Monday, 1800 500 258. It's staffed by nurses so there's some expertise there.

No truffles! Maybe a curry... K xox

Zoffiel

This is not good @Blossom1961 Has anyone checked to make sure there is not some sort of mechanical obstruction such as a twisted intestine or an adhesion? Being constipated is common enough but it sounds like you are past any stage of normal now. The build up of pressure can cause leakages which can lead to peritonitis. Time to be a bit more demanding, everyone sounds like they are focussed on your surgery but that doesn't mean something else doesn't need attention. Mxx

Blossom1961

Thank you for your comments ladies. My GP was just going to organise tests which is why I ended up at the hospital instead. They did a CT and couldn't find anything obstructing but could see where it was blocked. No time for a second opinion or specialist as surgery for mastectomy is booked in for Tuesday. I have tried the peppermint and will give it another try later today and tomorrow. Pain is currently subsided so no pain killers but it mainly plays up at night anyway of course.

Blossom1961

@zoffiel No one has EVER accused me of being normal

kitkatb

Hi @Blossom1961 ;  < I cook for an aged care and the first line of attack before medication is used is a mixture of  pureed prunes, warmed apple juice and all bran all pureed together to the consistency of a thick custard.  This works most of the time for the residents.   xox

Blossom1961

@kitkatb Wheat binds me up due to an intolerance. Could I use oat bran instead?

kitkatb

Absolutely @Blossum1961 ;   and as mentioned this concoction works for most residents.