You can thank the epa and low water usage toilets for this

PPPS: I just remembered Fred Meyer (NW grocery/houseware/hardware store) carries the very same auger/snake thing that Roto-Rooter used. They worked it hard, but it did the job. And buying it only costs $20. That's what I'm doing.

No crazy chemicals. (Which I used 20 years ago -- the fumes were horrendous -- smelled of chemicals AND of the stuff being dissolved. And I didn't like my, um, stuff, being dissolved into the air of my home, which was happening even w/ ventilation. God, I'd forgotten about that. Blocked it out of memory maybe :-~

I stumbled across this because I've got a clogged/slow toilet now. I'm not an expectant mother, but a guy prescribed iron supplements.

I've actually had to call Roto-Rooter twice, and I'm trying to find an alternative now (plumber's acid?).

I stupidly flushed yesterday when I should've -- as gross at it is -- removed or broke up the stuff first.

I did it before, when I had the first generation of "low-flow" toilets, which used the trad design w/ a smaller tank. I used a hidden piece of wire coat hanger, which does the job, though not easily. But then my landlord replaced the toilet, and I've needed to be concerned about clogs ...until yesterday.

ANYWAY, there is a preventive solution: daily dose of ducosate sodium capsules, stool softeners. It's not a laxative; it can take 24-48 hours to start working, and it's often used on a daily basis. (I use it daily, and group homes & medical institutions across the nation give residents this medicine/supplement every day.)

It's sold over the counter as Colase ($$), but also available via K-Mart & even dollar stores in large private-label bottles for MUCH less money. Or if you're insured, consider getting an ongoing prescription --- which is what I do, and I know it's prescribed & recommended to many pregnant women too.

My doctor & other doctors say to take what I need. This is currently 4OOmg/day, 4 caps each morning. But I'm going to take an extra cap every other day. And I yesterday I took a few extra ...which helped me today.)

ALSO, exercise is super-duper critical! And adequate sleep. The past 3-4 days, I've worked at my computer around the clock, not gone for my usual walks or runs, and slept very very little. Hence the worse-than-usual problems. (I thought I might die in there or suffer perm damage. I think Burroughs' book 'Junky' describes similar experiences. I shouldve known even my new toilet couldn't handle it.)

Now, I'm probably faced w/ another $160 embarrassing Roto-Rooter visit. Until then, it's a fluid-only toilet. Thank god I'm living alone & not dating anyone right now.

(Btw, an older RRooter worker provided me w/ an understanding & knowing smile when I mentioned iron supplements. That made the experience less excruciating. And he came when my apt neighbors were at work too

MK

PS: Believe it or not, I also have diarrhea-predominant IBS. The iron is prescribed for other reasons now. But my doctor is going to keep me on iron and ducostate forever. Though when possible, I'm sure we'll try reducing the amount of iron.

I've tried everything* for my IBS. Even opiates (self-med, then prescribed), which worked for a while, but eventually stopped working ...and eventually led to hormone changes, then low bone density, and yes, low iron.

Nobody had even considered prescribing me iron for IBS. Now my doctor is even going to discuss it in a conference presentation to other doctors!

PPS: I have a really good new low-flow toilet, though not the one shown flushing golfballs. It's worked so well, I didn't even think about using my hidden wire coat hanger. (A regular old toilet would've clogged too -- AND overflowed too. That would've sucked.)

Prune juice is my friend. When not pregnant I am never constipated. This pregnancy after having had an uncomfortable "moment" - at a rest area on the NJ freaking turnpike no less - I've hit the prune juice any time I suspect I'm going to have a hint of difficulty. I take that shit seriously, literally. Don't wait for things to back up!

NP here just to say this has happened to me. I've never confessed this anywhere else (and never will) but I had no idea it wasn't just a horrible, horrible thing that happened just to me and no one else. I ended up using a plumber's snake. It was so traumatic.

Our mothers never warned us.

Anonymous wrote:This is really disgusting but.... I clogged the toilet so much that I started keeping a stash of plastic knives and ziplock baggies in the bathroom. I just (yuck yuck) cut the sucker up with the plastic knife, put the knife in the ziplock and threw it out. Gross, but still better than a clogged toilet.

OMG IT'S YOU!!! There was a post in the off-topic forum today about our favorite DCUM posters. There were lots of suggestions, but I voted for the poor lady who cut her poop with plastic silverware! I have never been able to get that image out of my head. Gah. The things we endure during pregnancy.

Been there!

Drink lots of water and take a stool softener (or two) daily -- trust me, it helps!

Since everyone will be reading this again after the s/o thread...

Just wanted to mention that if you're constipated because of an iron supplement, switch to FlorIron/Floradix with Iron products, available at HFS and online. It's way more expensive but better absorbed, tastes considerably less like ass and does not constipate. I used it briefly and DD also used the kid version as a baby after lead exposure. She hated the regular iron supplement, like screaming/spitting - this one she asked for more. Her levels dropped like a rocket, much faster than with the other stuff.

I too have occasionally had to use some utensil or something else (occasionally a stick) to break up big poops. Glad to know I'm not alone!

The other thing that helps that I don't think anyone has mentioned by name (or not much) is Colace, which is a stool softener. I too am on prenatals plus irons supplements and the doctors have said it is totally fine to take as much colace as needed. The colace itself is pretty expensive so I also sometimes buy the cvs brand. And apparently it isn't as "addictive" as some other types of stool softeners/laxatives.

This started for me postpartum. I've managed with the plunger right next to the toilet at home for now, but there's one bathroom at work with a very low-pressure flush. A few weeks back when I really had to go and the other bathrooms were busy, I almost had to get the janitor. That would have been mortifying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really disgusting but.... I clogged the toilet so much that I started keeping a stash of plastic knives and ziplock baggies in the bathroom. I just (yuck yuck) cut the sucker up with the plastic knife, put the knife in the ziplock and threw it out. Gross, but still better than a clogged toilet.

You somehow retieved your poop from the toilet and cut it up into small peices???? How does that work? What, exactly, do you do?

I just stuck the bottom half of the plastic knife in the toilet and swished it around to break it up, making sure to always keep the top half/handle of the knife above the water, and then I just put the dirty knife in the baggie and threw it out. I never touched anything directly or got my hands dirty. I never told anyone this before since it is so gross and embarrassing but since OP is having such a hard time I thought I would just put it out there.

I love you for posting this. I clog the toilet at least twice a week -- my husband thinks I need a medical intervention, but I'm just going to put my collection of plastic utensils to good use.

I feel for you all - it seems to go away after 2d trimester - it did for me both times. I had it so badly and had to use enemas. This time around, I have a child who also clogs the toilet with too much paper so my husband is just annoyed at having to pump the toilet daily. I have been a huge fan of Activa yogurt this time around and i really think it might be helping!!! And another thing, perhaps the men should stop trolling this forum if it is they are too sensitive to handle the parade of horribles that occurs during this magnificent and joyous time!

Ladies! Call a plumber! S/he can discuss power-assisted flushers (like you see in commercial establishments) and other options that will get rid of this problem.

Please - no more digging around in the toilet.

We deal with this with one of our kids. It is another facet of constipation which is caused by lack of fiber and lack of fluids. You need to really dramatically up your fluids and ask your OB about safe stool softeners (DC takes Miralax). Otherwise all the fiber is making the problem worse. I think I was offered Colase in the hospital but check witht he doc. Depending on when you poop, you can leave it in the toilet overnight and it will absorb some water there that may make it break up. But you really want it to be softer to begin with and combine that with more fiber. The GI told us 64 oz at minimum of fluids and we push foods like soup, veggies, and fruit like grapes and watermellon. Some foods like cheese, rice and bananas are very binding and should be avoided. Daily exercise like walking is also helpful in moving things along.

Anonymous wrote:This is really disgusting but.... I clogged the toilet so much that I started keeping a stash of plastic knives and ziplock baggies in the bathroom. I just (yuck yuck) cut the sucker up with the plastic knife, put the knife in the ziplock and threw it out. Gross, but still better than a clogged toilet.

ME too - except I poke it with an empty paper towel tube (I don't have to reach in as far) to break up my poop. Mashing it does help.

Something nobody ever talks about - the board is filled with constipation stores, labor description, and nausau boughts, but nothing about the mega poops! Thank you.