New to constipation…what can I do to get things moving and not be shy on the loo?

Submitted by Sierra on March 4, 2015 - 4:30pm
Body: 

Okay so my wonderful day is winding down with a new worry. I've never been constipated in my life, yet I'm realizing that my goddess belly is a little distention from the fact that I haven't had a bowell movement since Monday. Might not be a big deal for a lot of you but I've never had this happen before and I've read plenty about cystocele and rectocele going hand-and-hand. I was diagnosed by PT as cystocele only but that exam was lying down. I had a 3rd degree episiotomy and have been stinting (just realized on this site that there's a word for it) only occasionally (every 6 months or so) for years.
I'm worried about this next BM leading to rectocele and have no idea what to expect. I'm ready to jump in to gear and walk, walk the stairs, do fire breathing… whatever is the best "movement" inducing thing to do.

I'm worried about straining as I don't even know what those muscles are. I fear that the bulge after my BM on Monday has me toilet shy. I've mastered emptying my bladder with WW toilet posture and had several BM's per day with ww posture in the last week.

My diet is autoimmune paleo because of my Hashimotos (thyroid condition). I fear that my recent decline in activity level and figuring out the ww toilet procedure (and worrying about making it worse) has caused the issue. My diet is high in veggies, healthy fat and clean protein… no sugars or other things that usually cause constipation. I drink tons of water and get over 35 grams of fiber (not including from the veggies). I probably should have decreased my protein and calorie consumption to go along with the drastic decrease in activity ( I wasn't thinking, didn't see this coming) but I've been caught up in the posture. My very healthy, clean diet is usually just perfect for me but I will be adjusting right away.

In the meantime, what can I do now to get things moving? How do I get comfortable with my new toilet stance and overcome my shyness. Having a difficult BM (which I don't even know what it feels like) is scaring me because I don't know what to do to relax.

Forum:

Aging gracefully

March 4, 2015 - 4:48pm

Hi Sierra,
I was all ready dealing years of constipation going into this, but descovering prolapse made it all the more scary to go. At first, I did splint also feeling a slight weakness in the back vaginal wall. Your diet sounds perfect for you, so I wouldn't change a thing there, but decreased activity does tend to throw our system off a bit doesn't it.
Drinking a hot beverage in the morning always seems to get things moving for me. Also, wait until you actually feel the stool moving into your rectum, and when you go to the toilet half squat hover over it at first. It took me time to be able to build the muscle in my thighs to accomplish this, but you shouldn't have a problem with it.
I did make a mess on the back of the toilet a few times in the beginning, because I was so afraid to ease down on the toilet and put any pressure on my prolapse.
When my body became more used to the posture, all the kinks straightened out, and my rectum really took on its proper alignment, to the point that I have become a champion pooper now. Not something to brag about in some circles, but for someone with years of constipation under her belt, it means a lot.

Sierra

March 4, 2015 - 4:56pm

AG, I already feel calmer, thanks for the tips. I am carefully walking up and down the stairs in a wonderfully comfortable ww posture (since my massage) and getting a sweat on. This exercise calms my nerves as well. It's so nice to have all of you there with instant responses for these sudden panicky thoughts that just POP up (pun-intended :-)

Surviving60

March 4, 2015 - 4:58pm

Sierra -another thing you might want to consider is the fibre/water thing. That sounds like an awful lot of supplemental fibre, needing an awful lot of water to bulk it up and keep it moving, so you might actually be aggravating things in a way that didn't matter before you had prolapse. Try cutting back a little for awhile. - Surviving

Sierra

March 4, 2015 - 5:04pm

S60, Got it. I have a tendency to be thirsty ALL of the time, goes along with the Hashi's. Clearly something is off-balance so I will try that. Thank you!

Sierra

March 4, 2015 - 5:17pm

SH, Great info. I'm on it. I'll search it. Really, I already feel calmer. Already had an epsom salt bath ( my new routine) on my agenda for this evening. I also put drops of ionized magnesium behind my knees every night. I take plenty of supplements for the Hashi's so I don't have any oral Magnesium supplements.

Surviving60

March 4, 2015 - 5:25pm

Sierra, I wouldn't necessarily cut back on the water too much, but try cutting back on the extra fibre a bit. I can think of several constipation threads where women who were loading up on fibre to alleviate constipation, eventually discovered it was having the opposite effect. Lots of luck!! - Surviving

Sierra

March 4, 2015 - 6:09pm

S60, Yes, I understood the easing up on the fiber, not water. My response to you was confusing.

Sierra

March 5, 2015 - 9:30am

What an ordeal this morning as I'm sure that many of you have experienced. Let's just say that I have never spent that much time thinking about my horse or my dog… and feel like I'd like make a toast to Louise! Even though I thought it would never come out, with patience and returning to the loo at least 30 times and using loop strategy and belly breathing things came out naturally (which didn't seem physically possible) AND no POP setbacks. I'm still bulge and pressure free. Still feeling almost normal this morning. Louise, SafelyHeld and Surviving 60 are the BEST and I really enjoyed reading my fellow equestrian's posts ("Saddledup", I think) about horses and dogs! Cheers Ladies!

clareb2014

March 6, 2015 - 4:30pm

Hi Sierra,

My problems are a lot better now - but I used to have terrible trouble using the toilet due to anxiety/shy bottom. It would be like I was trying to go - but my bottom would close tightly and wouldn't let anything through, no matter how hard I tried.

It used to make me constipated - which made the problem worse.

The worst place was at work - I have terrible trouble using a toilet stall (even when there is nobody else in there), which used to make things worse.

As I say, things have been much better recently.

Was there anything in particular that was stopping you from being able to go?

Clare

cleo

March 7, 2015 - 9:24am

Don't get constipated. I feel ok if I am not constipated. If I am I drink plenty of water. I am eleven years into having a rectal prolapse. I will never have an operation. Don't worry it won't hurt you if you cannot go. Doctors might if you go to them and get operated on. Our bodies are not meant to be so called perfect. Good luck. You will pass stool in the end but If you don't then contact a GP.

Sierra

March 7, 2015 - 9:32am

Cleo, thanks! all good now thanks to Lopo!