Constipation after Colonoscopy?

[Mrs_R]

Hi everyone.

I had a Colonoscopy Saturday just gone and since then, I have been really constipated and am starting to get a bit worried. After years of battling chronic diarrhoea, constipation is very out of the ordinary for me generally. I am yet to have a bowel movement since Saturday, I have tried going but feel like I am just pushing against a brick wall. I am very uncomfortable and I am cramping right now, with increased pain in my lower right abdomen. I would say my appetite is relatively normal but I am having bouts of nausea that come and go.

I just wondered if it is quite common to suffer with constipation following this procedure or whether it is something I need to be concerned about.

Thank you all in advance x

 

[theOcean]

It may be that your gut flora got messed up from the laxative, which happens for some people. You could try a probiotic or probiotic yogurt. Using that has actually stopped all straining for me, which has been wonderful. Otherwise, you could try a gentle laxative for the time being -- docusate sodium works with lots of water, or there's Miralax/Restoralax which I'd highly recommend and use myself.

 

[Ali29]

Hi Mrs R, my last colonoscopy last month did the same thing to me. It was crazy as all my previous colonoscopies did not do that. Out of desperation and pain - I ordered a greasy pizza (one of my trigger foods - usually I can sop up the grease and it is ok - I left it all greasy this time) guess what - the pizza kicked in quickly and I was back to the chronic D.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Mrs_R]

Thank you both so much for your responses - feeling much more reassured from what you have said.

I must be mad really to want to go back to 'normal' BM's but the constipation is becoming very uncomfortable and painful now. I will definitely try eating something I know usually sets me off and if I have no joy, I will take the laxatives you mention and hopefully it all gets my guts moving again.

Many thanks again, really appreciate it x

 

[theOcean]

As a person who has been dealing with chronic constipation for awhile, I can definitely say you aren't mad for preferring diarrhea. Good luck!