Managing IBS/colitis?

[DHRJ87]

Hi;

Before getting pregnant, I was seeing a GI for chronic constipation and severe stomach pain, likely ulcers. There were thoughts of colitis, IBS, or maybe even Crohn's.

When I got pregnant, he canceled the colonoscopy and endoscopy we had scheduled, told me to stop miralax and the antacids, and told me to work more on my fiber/water intake, and take lactulose if absolutely needed.

Pregnancy hasn't done good things for me in this department. I stopped pooping entirely, and my stomach pain was terrible. It was 17 days before I had a BM, and that was after colace, Metamucil, enemas, and glycerin suppositories failed. My midwife gave me the green light for senokot, and that finally worked.

But now...I tried it again a couple weeks later, and it's not working. It seems I can't have a normal bowel movement while pregnant, and my options are limited for OTC AIDS. Most of those approved aren't working at all, or work once, then stop.

For the record, I eat healthy, drink water, and exercise regularly. Does anyone have any advice? Any strange tip or trick that worked for you? I'm desperate.

[katieloub22]

Hi, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last year in July and too have had trouble going since pregnant, i seem to go a day and miss a day. I don't take any supplements with iron in as they constipate me, drink plenty and have a lot of soluble fibre, then take senokot every other night. It's a natural remedy and my specialist consultant told me I'm safe taking them regularly so i don't worry. Have you tried putting a hot water bottle on your back? That works a treat for me where my food seems to get stuck, lying on my left hand side or stomach with my arms above my head. Hope this helps in some way, it's hard for you to do a great deal without an official diagnosis :( trial and error I'm afraid x

[DHRJ87]

Thank you--very helpful!!! Haven't tried the hot waster bottle; will tonight. And it's reassuring to hear of someone else taking senokot.

[MHEditor]

Here's some advice from the MedHelp website and our I'm Expecting app on constipation; I'm sure you may have tried these tips but hopefully there's something new that might help.
http://www.medhelp.org/pregnancy-health/articles/Constipation-During-Pregnancy-Your-Symptoms-Manual/2115
You can find this in the app by going to the Pregnancy Diary from the home screen and selecting Constipation from the Symptoms menu. Then click the menu bar in the upper left and select Symptoms Manual to see your symptoms.