Goodness, it's good to know there are other people out there going through this (sort of....don't really want anyone to have to go through it, but you know what I mean).
So, I'm a 31 y.o. Aussie and have just been diagnosed with an AF. I suspect it's not the first I've had - I have had problems "down there" over the years with very similar pain, but always just assumed it was haemorrhoids - but this time the pain was so excruciating and hadn't diminished after a week so I decided it was time to see someone. GP sent me to a colorectal surgeon (who thankfully saw me the following day) who immediately put me on Rectogesic and Movicol (dose 2x daily) and told me to drink lots of water (3L a day) and make sure I kept eating lots of fruit and veg.
So, that was Thursday. And here we are on Monday afternoon and since then I have only had one bm which was on Friday and which was not at all a pleasant experience. Hard does not describe it. I know you're not supposed to strain, but I got a little distressed (I hadn't been since the Tuesday before) and thought that if I could just clear that one things would be smooth sailing from then on in. Wrong. Since Sat I have had the urge to go but nothing happens at all. Yesterday I was beside myself and gave the push of my life (thought my head would explode...and words can't describe the feeling in the nether regions) and still could not move that thing. This is more than a little frustrating. My tum is sooo swollen and gurlgy from all the fibre, movicol and water, and the thought of food or any more liquid just makes me want to be sick.
Anyway, just needed to tell people who understand. Has anyone else been this constipated after using movicol for 4 days? I called the emergency hotline at the hospital last night and they said to just keep doing what I was doing and things would move eventually (I've been bathing a ridiculous amount of times a day, drinking prune juice, not taking any codeine based pain-killers, making sure I get PLENTY of fibre, walking around a lot (when I can) and yesterday evening I also started on the linseed oil). I'm now waiting for a call back from the colorectal guy I saw the other day but it's hard waiting. The pain doesn't even bother me right now....I just want to go, you know??
Okay, thanks for listening.