Talk to me about stool softener (sore ass mentioned)

kathymarie

Only keep reading if you want to read about my poop and my butt...

 

 

 

 

The past few days my poop has been, well, harder than normal. I'm still pooping, but it hurts. I had to do some special breathing on Monday when I pooped, that's how hard & big these poops are. When I wipe, there is even a little blood (definitely from my butt). I use moist wipes and Tucks medicated wipes.

Do you think I should use a stool softener for a few days so that my delicate bungholio heals?

Karen1998

Yup.  Colace is my friend.  I take 2 a day, which honestly, is enough to sustain a softer poop, not get to a softer poop.  It took 3-4 a day to get me there initially.  Some take much more, but my doctor didn't want me trying more.  That journey also included my new friend orange flavored Metamucil and my evil enemy prunes (they gave me horribly painful gas and nothing escaping, not even poo).  Also massively increase your water intake, exercise a bit (walking helps me) and try coffee, unless you're on caffeine restrictions.  As always, consult with a doctor prior to changing your regime...

Oh, and I take the generic Colace.  It's much cheaper.  I also take fish oil (the vegetarian kind).  Supposedly it helps to grease the poo on out (like Colace), but I haven't seen a remarkable difference.  Also, Charmin Ultra is a great butt saver if you want to try a dry toilet paper.

tigers413

At my OB they prescribe prenatals and stool softeners. Though I haven't had the need for it (yet) I am glad I have it lol! I would probably increase water and more fiber. There are chewable fiber tablets like tums which is bearable haha. I hope this helps and get your poop moving along!

camdenfaithful

I'd definitely start taking some Colace (the kind w/o the laxative).  I was SUPER backed up and my BMs were also just really really hard.  Colace and a ton of fluids did the trick.  I liked the stool softener just to give my hiney a break because for a while I was also bleeding when I wiped.

luckymrs.

Definitely try Colace.

Your post made me laugh with your wording.

I went through this same thing starting last Friday, then again yesterday (my first poo since the prior Friday).  Colace, prune juice and a cup of coffee (decaf) has helped.

GL to you and your bungholio!

Scout05

Damn Bump

Scout05

Okay - Colace for sure. I take it three times a day, per OB instructions. Also, lots of water, lots of juice. I hate prunes, so I drink grape and that does the trick.

Also, cut back on your fiber a little bit. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but the ER doctor told me that once things start to get hard and backed up, more fiber just hurts the process. Avoid, at all costs, apples and bananas. Dried fruit and again, lots of liquids, are your friends.

If at any point you think you are constipated, call and verify that Miralax is okay. It was my savior.

Signed,

The woman who ended up with an impacted bowel and had to have two enimas and a manual disimpaction and wishes to spare all people from a similar fate.

Gummybear

I had the same problem a couple weeks ago. It was scary how hard and big they were. I used a stool softener and it worked great The problem seems to have passed (literally and figuratively) now though!

babes12

i asked the RE about miralax b/c i had some in the house and she said it was ok.  I try to eat fiber one cereal but that gives me bad bellyaches.  Miralax worked like magic.  In fact i may need some tonight. 

rvandiver0705

Man, do I feel your pain!  I had poop so hard that it clinked in the toilet when it hit the bowl, and on XMas eve I had to get out a latex glove to pull out a turd.  I hated my life.  (DH still thinks it is the funniest thing I've ever done.)

I was honestly a mess until I ended up in the ER, but that was because I was a weenie and didn't want to take too much stool softener.  That was a HUGE mistake!  My doctor told me to take 3 Colase a day, to try Miralax if I was backed up for days, and to take a tablespoon of Metamucil every day (mixing it with apple juice does wonders for the taste).  I've had a hard poop here and there, but I've been constipation free ever since. *knocks on wood*  Heck, I've rarely had bad gas anymore either!  Good luck!

spincat9

While I was on Zofran I had this issue...constantly...

I used Dulcolax stool softener (not the lax) and drank lots of water. It helped me get through it until I could go off the Zofran.  The Dulcolax I think has the same active ingredients as the Colace, so I guess whatever is on sale!

itsmegin

This has already happened to me even though I'm so early. I just eat several prunes-sometimes as many as 6/day and that softens things right up.

But again I'm earlier than you so that might be why it's not as intense for me. I have never dealt with this before, I didn't have any constipation in my other pregnancy and I never get constipated, it sucks.

 

eli_and_jeff

I had exactly the same issue.

Surfak is what you need. Don't mess with Colace. Colace actually made my situation worse because it's more of a stimulant than a softener. It actually got, umm, stuck. (blech) Not good.

Surfak is doculate calcium 240mg. The brand is kind of hard to find, but Walgreens makes their own version which works wonders. I took one dose nightly for two days and haven't had a problem since. 

I can't sing the praises of this stuff enough. It's also totally safe for pregnant ladies. 

rock-elle

I've had a tough time poo-ing also lately, I must have busted a hemoroid it something because it wad a painful bloody mess after I finally poo'd. I went a took a one time dose of milk of magnesia which got things movin' and I have some colace I've been meaning to take butt I'm scared to :P

ashleyrsotomayor

Ugh that sucks. I had the same problem all of 1st tri thanks to the progesterone I was on. Thankfully I have escaped it most of 2nd tri. I did prune juice, walking, lots and lots of water, and metamucil. Eventually things got going again but I know how you feel and it's awful. I actually missed work one day because I was so miserable. Feel better Kathy's butt!!!

BabyMimi

rmj80:

my prenatals have a stool softener built into them...i can tell you the difference with it is significant! i would go ahead and take some if your doc says it's ok.

Same here. Mine are prescribed from the Dr. (OB Natal One) and they have a stool softener and DHA in them. Ever since I started them around 14 weeks, I have had no poop issues whatsoever.  

shanna82

I would!  I was so nervous about constipation because I had spotting with my last pg (and not from the bum) from straining to poop.  So I started taking stool softeners in the beginning and it really helped with the constipation.  I haven't needed any lately, but I am keeping a full bottle on hand at all times

AGFaso

Karen1998:

Yup.  Colace is my friend.  I take 2 a day, which honestly, is enough to sustain a softer poop, not get to a softer poop.  It took 3-4 a day to get me there initially.  Some take much more, but my doctor didn't want me trying more.  That journey also included my new friend orange flavored Metamucil and my evil enemy prunes (they gave me horribly painful gas and nothing escaping, not even poo).  Also massively increase your water intake, exercise a bit (walking helps me) and try coffee, unless you're on caffeine restrictions.  As always, consult with a doctor prior to changing your regime...

Oh, and I take the generic Colace.  It's much cheaper.  I also take fish oil (the vegetarian kind).  Supposedly it helps to grease the poo on out (like Colace), but I haven't seen a remarkable difference.  Also, Charmin Ultra is a great butt saver if you want to try a dry toilet paper.

Karen is very smart!