UOAA Discussion Board

Hello,

I have been irrigating for 5 years now and have this past week been unable to get irrigation to work.

I suffer from hard stools that cause terrible pain when passing so I take magnesium every night. Occasionally I will still get hard stools which cause severe pain during irrigation, but they pass and I'm alright. However the past week I have been dealing with slow returns of brown water and no output. I have that severe pain during irrigation like a hard poo wants to come out, but it doesn't. I am considering taking magnesium citrate to liquify the stool and get things going, but I am fearful after all the dangers regarding a blockage.

I do feel full from no returns and stuck water, but when not irrigating I have no pain, can eat fine and am not vomiting. My stoma feels soar from irrigating and the cramps the unsuccessful returns cause, but other than that no pain.

Is it ok to take the laxative as I feel the hard stool will only get worse the longer it is in there. My stoma could never handle solid waste without pain for some reason.

The only change I have made recently has been taking advil for a back injury as well as some muscle relaxants. I think they could be partially to blame and I will not be taking them again.

You should be fine as long as it's an osmotic one. I take lactulose pretty regularly and it works by drawing in water to the intestine. I am lucky in that I tend to go once every day or two but often I want a guaranteed clear day so I take 30 miles it takes 2 hours to work for me, and I can be doing what I like in that time. I much prefer this to spending half an hour or more in the bathroom and my surgeon says it's no problem as it's basically just a stool softener.

Hi Lindsay,

This can turn into a rather serious problem which ends up with a trip to th ER if not managed in time. I have had similar experience as a result of side effects from chemo infusion meds. I have found that right after an infusion I have to use Miralax each day for about 4 or 5 days to prevent constipation. It seems to work well. Two important takes aways: treat as soon as problem starts and don't stop until normal bowel movements have returned.

Good Luck,

Mark