Pain management for those sensitive to severe constipation?

forensicmama · September 2011

Just last week, DS was breech and I really had to consider the possibility of a c/s. When I had DD, I had a really rough birthing experience. She was posterior and didn't turn and I have a small pelvis. They prepared the OR for me, but I pushed as hard as I possibly could and with the help of a generous episiotomy and a vacuum extraction, she was born vaginally. The pain medication they gave me, Percocet, caused me to go into the ER at 6 days postpartum with an impacted bowel. The main fear of having a c/s with this pregnancy was how I would deal with the pain. I would ideally love to have a natural birth with as little pain medication and intervention as possible, during and after.However, I need to be prepared, right?

Has anyone had a similar experience and what was the pain management solution that you and your doctor came to? TIA.

eesome · September 2011

I was put on Oxycodone which was much easier on my body than Percocet.

Along with the pain meds, I took Colace a few times daily to soften the stools. I then was given a suppository in the hospital which helped me to go within 20 minutes after taking it. 5 days later, I took another suppository once home and got the same results.

I also upped my fiber intake once home. I noticed eating fresh cherries really got things moving.

HTH!

MereB · September 2011

I had some severe constipation a couple weeks ago and it is certainly not fun. I also suggest getting a bottle of prune juice before baby comes, so it's there when you get home. Between drinking a glass of prune juice, eating an Activia yogurt, and taking 1 Colace, my constipation has turned around. I've stopped taking the Colace now, and am still eating a yogurt daily to maintain, with a glass of prune juice here and there.

I plan to have some prune juice waiting for me at home after my c/s just to make sure things get moving quickly. I can't drink a lot of it, but just a little bit certainly helped me.

everam01 · September 2011

They Colace-ed the heck out of me after my c-section and I never had any constipation at all. After a previous surgery, I took vicodin and had the worst constipation ever so I asked them for extra stool softener this time.

canthardlywait426 · September 2011

eesome:
I was put on Oxycodone which was much easier on my body than Percocet.
Along with the pain meds, I took Colace a few times daily to soften the stools. I then was given a suppository in the hospital which helped me to go within 20 minutes after taking it. 5 days later, I took another suppository once home and got the same results.
I also upped my fiber intake once home. I noticed eating fresh cherries really got things moving.
HTH!

I take percocet for an illness I have and the bottle says oxycodone (generic for percocet). So I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. Are you possibly thinking of a different medication?

mmhorn79 · September 2011

Try starting the Colace regimen a few days earlier- I was constipated through most of my pregnancy and about three days before my planned c/s I started on stool softeners and lots of water and fruit. You might even consider a general diet change a few days before too- all things that are easy to digest for you (unprocessed foods, well cooked vegetables, rice, no dairy, etc.) just so that you start out on the right foot.

Good luck, hope it all comes out ok (bah dum dum) Smile

lite-bright · September 2011

I've had both a vaginal and a c/s birth. The first time, pushing for 2.5 hours gave me horrible hemis that needed laser treatment (no pain meds beyond ibuprofen during recovery). The second time, the pain meds for c/s recovery (I had a very hard time with pain during recovery) made me terribly constipated and I ended up having a fissue because of the additional problems at an already vulnerable area.

I took all the colace they gave me at the hospital after my c/s, and still did not have a bowel movement until I took milk of magnesia on the third day in the hospital.

Frankly, the pain meds were non-negotiable. I could not move or comfortably stand straight without them, and I tried several different ones at varying doses; only the strongest made me comfortable. If I have another c/s, I will start out sooner with stronger stool softeners, because I already know the the baseline stuff doesn't cut it for me when I'm on those type of meds.

I still have lingering issues. If we do have a third child, the proctologist I saw actually recommended another c/s in order to try to minimize additional damage (read: protect my ass. Ha!). I don't know if I'll take that recommendation, because between pushing vs. strong pain meds, it seems like six of one, half a dozen of the other. But I do have to take it into consideration.

Disneygeek77 · September 2011

I hear ya. For me, constipation was the worst part of the c-section experience, but I never compromised my pain meds. I was given stool softeners but unfortuntely those were not working either. On my third day in the hospital with my third c-section, I took a suppository and it worked within 30 minutes. Dear Lord, I don't know why I hadn't done that before. I took a suppository about two more times once I was home because I didn't let myself go threee days without a BM. After that, everything was fine. I was able to stay regular with over the counter pain meds, stools softeners and water.

I would suggest the same. Try stool softeners and if those aren't working in three days then use some KY jelly and a suppository. Hopefully you won't have to have another poopectomy.

forensicmama · September 2011

You ladies are absolutely awesome with the suggestions! Thank you so very much!

I was actually given stool softeners with DD and they obviously didn't do a thing. At home on the 6th day pp, I tried everything from suppositories to laxatives and still nothing, so I ended up in the ER. I definitely need to be more forthright in the usage of stool softeners, suppositories, etc. this time around, whether vaginal or c/s delivery.

Thank you again! I truly, truly appreciate it!

RoxBride · September 2011

Also try and move around as much as possible after a c/s - it helps get the gas out and the bowels moving, so if you can tolerate short walks, do it!

eesome · September 2011

canthardlywait426:
I take percocet for an illness I have and the bottle says oxycodone (generic for percocet). So I'm pretty sure it's the same thing. Are you possibly thinking of a different medication?

I am not sure. Percocet makes me throw up the minute I take it, so they gave me the Oxycodone instead.

a&b=him&me · September 2011

colace...lots of water...and fiber one bars lol.

With my first section I was constipated and it hurt.like.hell. This time around the nurse actually dosed me lol (she slipped me a pill to make me go) because I had only passed gas - it hurt but not as bad.

lewis514 · September 2011

I only took the percocet the day I delivered and before I got out of bed the first time. Then I just did Motrin on a regular schedule both at hospital and home. They also gave me Sennakot which I also took at home for awhile so I wouldn't have to strain. I also tried to stay very hydrated.

toriwc · September 2011

I took Percoset after gallbladder removal about 6 years ago. I told my OB yesterday that I refuse to take it after my scheduled c/s. It stopped me up for 7 days. We are going to try Colace each day the week before, then obviously after, Tordol (sp) for the pain, and increased fiber. I am praying that it works.

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