What should I do if I still can't have a bowel movement after using a laxative enema for constipation?
Disease description:
It's been five days already, and I haven't had a bowel movement at all. I feel very uncomfortable and have the urge to go, but nothing comes out. I'm quite worried, so I tried using a glycerin enema (Kaisailu), but still couldn't defecate. What should I do? Could you please advise what to do if constipation persists even after using a glycerin enema?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Cheng Yicheng
At this point, patients need to take medication as directed by a physician to achieve relief. Lifestyle adjustments are necessary, including developing a habit of regular bowel movements. Medications should not be used indiscriminately. When feeling the urge to defecate, patients should go immediately. A balanced diet should be maintained in daily life, with moderate increase in dietary fiber and adequate intake of plain water. Patients are advised to first visit a reputable medical institution's proctology department for a local anorectal examination to ensure an accurate diagnosis. If the stool is too hard to be expelled via enemas or laxatives such as glycerin suppositories, a simple and effective method is to wear latex gloves and manually remove part of the hardened feces, which facilitates subsequent enema use and easier bowel evacuation.
