I know I need to go to my doctor really but they are not open until Monday, typically this started last night.

My bowls had been fine until last night and but now I find it really painful to go for a No.2 (see sorry TMI). The last time I went there was blood, I just tried again now and I was in more pain that during labour ~ my LO got stuck and the MW was showing me where to push to and I think she had a finger or something stuck up my ass!

Anyway, I don't know if it piles as I heard that you can get these after pregnancy but there are no 'grapes' if you know what I mean. I am trying to not be constipated but can't seem to get loose and I have just taken some cocodine & paracetamol to help with the pain as its affecting my sleep.

If anyone has any ideas please let me know. I am not sure what to do until I can get to the doctors and I really don't want this pain or fear of going to the loo anymore.

Thanks

I had this .. almost feels like your pooping broken glass, and there was blood on the poo.. you can get tears around your butt called an "anal fissure" (google it) They are quite common after childbirth. You can try a sitz bath to help it .. I also brought a stool softener (different from a laxative) to help. I also found the witch hazel pads for hemorrhoids help sooth the area. Also make sure you are drinking lots of fluids.

The pain stopped after a couple of days with me.

Also codiene can cause constipation.

I had something similar - Iron tablets can cause constipation so this irritates the area no end. You can get 'internal' piles as well as the 'grapes' you described and they can often be responsible for the blood you talk about. I have both so have sympathy. I find that sitting on something cold helps - icepack and the like - as it takes down any swelling. I know it can be daunting but you must not hold it in....go little and often, don't force and if you can drink plenty of water or get your hands on a stool softener from the pharmacy. If you can't get to the Dr, speak to your pharmacist (I know it's embarrassing but pain isn't something you should live with for 3 whole days!!) and they may be able to help to take the pain away until you can get to the Dr's. (I find my pharmacist is often better than my Dr for things like this!)

Hope it improves and this helps x

I suffer with IBS so I can be like this quite often. You can buy Lactulose from the chemist which is a stool softener. It can take a day or so to work (and take more than it says on the bottle cos it will tell you to take 10mls but I take 30mls twice a day). Drink plenty of water and if you can stand it drink plenty of fresh orange juice. Also when you are sat on the loo it will make it easier to go if you have your knees up on a stool or box or something. Basically so your knees are higher than your hips. Hope that helps hun.

I feel your pain - I have this too. I think it's piles and so I've been using Boots' own haemorrhoid cream. It makes it feel a bit better but certainly doesn't entirely remove the pain. I would definitely say DO NOT take codeine, as this will constipate you and make things worse. If you want a painkiller, just aim to use plain old paracetamol on its own. If I didn't have my 6-week postnatal check with my GP next week, I would have made an appointment already to sort this out - but because I have just four or five more days to go until that appointment, I figured I'd try to live with the pain, as I really don't want two doctor appointments in five days.

What I was surprised at is how I didn't get the piles (assuming that's what it is) until about 3 weeks postnatally. I figured if I was going to get them, they'd be there straight after birth. But clearly not. There was I getting all smug that I'd got through pg and labour unscathed by such an embarrassing issue, and then PING! - along come the piles. Little (or not so little, LOL) buggers!

Do go and see your doc next week if the pain is still there. They won't find it embarrassing - there's far worse things that a GP has to look at, believe me ;-)

xx

Thanks so much ladies

Maffie ~ I only had a mix of tablets hence why I took it, typical I made things worse!

Yep broken glass is certainly what it feels like, great description Chaos. . . when I go to the loo I just wish I could just reach out for some gas & air again!

I went to the doctors, got an appointment this morning, for some reason I convinced myself it was Saturday?!? So I was so very relieved it was Friday and I could go. The doctor had to examine me and said it was common after pregnancy, think its defo anal fissure I have been given some supositories (1 taken and yet no relief ). I have had fruit and am proceeding to drink lots of water / juice.

The health visitor also said Lactulose (thanks LK), I will be hunting this down too.

Aimee ~ I wish I could go little ansd often, I'm really worried as I try but nothing is passing, I know I need to relax and get it out but the pain to not even get anything is unbearable I think I will take some paracetamol and try again in a bit once I have drank some more.

Colsy ~ I was the same, thought I had been supa lucky. Typical, I dunno how you can cope with no pain relief.

Also, HV said to me to keep active and that will help too.

Fingers crossed this goes soon, I wish OH were here so I could have a nice relaxing bath.

I've had this problem this week too. Also when I feel the need to go it comes on very suddenly and I have to go - something I've not had before. I also had this before I was preganant and as a young child. My mother found the best solution - canned pineapple! A couple of cans normally sets me right. I went to the doctor last year and did the whole embarassing poo in a pot activity and he reckoned that i had damaged my inside with 'hard' poos. Grapes also have the same effect but not as dramatic as tinned pineapple.

It is my mum's favourite story at family gatherings the impact of tinned pineapple on me as a child!

I am normallyt like this so it makes it worse when I am trying to control the pain, slow and steady and all that

Well drank lots, took painkillers and doctors rec supositories, had a bath and they eased it a little. Lets hope tomorrow is better!!