Blocked up bowel and chronic constipation

Certain medications can and will cause constipation and this will be exacerbated by dehydration. If she is bunged up she will not feel like eating either.
Can you tempt her with fresh fruit, particularly oranges, and I really do think that she needs to see her GP as soon as you can convince her to go - and arrange an appointment of course; not that easy I know.

Your daughter needs to soften her stool. If she is unwilling to see her GP about the constipation, I suggest you speak to a pharmacist. There are over the counter products to help with this problem. The pharmacist will be able to advise you. If you take one of your daughter's prescriptions for the pharmacist to see it will give them a clear idea of which drug(s) might be causing the constipation.

Honestly If she hasn’t been for a week then she almost certainly needs medical help.

I needed just that after covid followed by the flu in quick succession, and ended up in A&E being manually de-bunged - what a relief! But never again!!

I now ensure I drink the correct amount of fluids and take lactulose daily which keeps me going as I am NEVER going through that experience again!!

I had gone past all the over the counter remedies and up your bum thingies - all to no avail.

I had to have a emergency appointment with my daughter who hadn't been for a while. The prescribed movicol at a higher dose iirc and the magic of senna for a week. Job done.
It can be dangerous to not seek medical attention if it has been a matter of weeks rather than days

It should be treated as an emergency if she hasn’t been for quite some time.

I don't know what you mean by "manually debunged". The method I know about is a retention enema of peanut (arachis)oil followed by an activating enema once the impacted faeces have had time to soften.

A colonic lavage may be best when the faecal matter is impacted up past the rectum.

Whitewavemark2

Honestly If she hasn’t been for a week then she almost certainly needs medical help.

I needed just that after covid followed by the flu in quick succession, and ended up in A&E being manually de-bunged - what a relief! But never again!!

I now ensure I drink the correct amount of fluids and take lactulose daily which keeps me going as I am NEVER going through that experience again!!

Yes, I agree.

I had a problem after an operation when I was taking codeine.

The nurse phoned me to say if the laxatives and enemas that she had prescribed did not work, I was to get myself back to hospital as an emergency.

Luckily, they did work.

Senna did not work for me btw.

Lactulose is my go to Whitewave, my reflux med causes an issue, it’s a gentle answer to an uncomfortable problem

Well - please close your eyes those of a sensitive nature.

The doctor evacuated my bowel with his fingers - painful and unpleasant, then used something which after half an hour meant I pooed for England and completely blocked the hospital lavatory. A nurse kindly unblocked it for me.

It was impossible to pass the faeces and I was involuntary passing fluid - I could not sit down it was so painful and uncomfortable. all very unpleasant and traumatic.

Prior to all that I’d taken paracetamol for the two viruses, and I also had sickness and diarrhoea, ehich almost certainly was the culprit.

Our doctor prescribed Laxido which worked in a day when my mum had chronic constipation following an illness.

It is also available from pharmacies. It would be advisable to talk to the pharmacist before buying it at there are some drugs it can’t be taken alongside.

Hope your daughter is better soon.

Laxido / movicol to soften
Combined with something like senna to stimulate bowel movement

Sugar free liquorice sweets did the trick for me after heavy medication.

Tinned prunes.
But A/E might be necessary.

Hibiscus tea.. it is quite bitter but if you can coax her to drink 2 or three cups it should help... as much water as she is able afterwards.
Hope she gets relief soon.

Kiwi fruit is good for normal constipation plus prunes, dried apricots but for an impaction I think medical help is needed.
Lactulose is my go to for a “bad bung”

Impacted def needs medical attention, and sooner rather than later!

Get her to the doctors asap, this sounds very uncomfortable for her and could become serious if she doesn't have a bowel movement soon.
All the best xxxxxxxxx

Co codmol is one to avoid if possible because it can cause terrible constipation. A friends dad was on hospital for a week after taking these for only a few days. I avoid like the proverbial and if required take maxicol etc with a lot of water.

You might give your daughter warm water to drink or get something from the chemist.

Hope situation is resolved soon.

Encourage her to drink more,move more, eat more fibre though I realise it isn't always possible.

Certainly a GP or at least a pharmacist woud be the next step.

Hope it's sorted soon.

If it’s any comfort I once went nearly 2 weeks without ‘going’.

GP - ASSP !

I've always suffered badly from constipation and dreaded taking laxatives as they caused me such pain. Someone recommended bromelain to me as it is good for inflammation so it should help my arthritic hip. Well it was a help but the main thing was the side effect - no constipation, no pain or discomfort from laxatives. It is no exaggeration to say it changed my life, no more counting the days and working out when I had to take laxatives.

Apparently it is an enzyme from the pineapple. Don't know if it would work for everyone but I wouldn't be without it.