Any nurses about please? Oh help me please :( ( TMI warning, poo related)

[BreeVDKamp]

Ugh, I am constipated AGAIN.

It's actually only been a couple of times this year and I was getting pretty smug that is been regular recently. Then went on holiday and was v aware of making sure all was well, not getting dehydrated, exercising etc, but I think I must have eaten too much or something as I haven't pooed since.

So I'm estimating it's been a week since I did, have taken max strength senokot every night since Thursday and two suppositories today and will try and go to the docs tomorrow.

I don't know what I'm doing diet wise though, or if that will do anything in any case. Should I be eating high or low fibre at this point?

Today I erred on the high fibre side, ryvitas, fruit and veg, dried apricots. Did some exercise this morning. Drunk a lot of fennel tea today and yesterday. Sitting in the bath now with a 2l bottle of water. I don't have much of an appetite of course. Should I just drink and not eat?

And what should I do long term? This seems to happen to me more than it does my DH for example, and he eats way worse than me. I've just bought some All Bran but then read I should avoid wheat in general as it might be the reason. There is so much conflicting advice!!

[BreeVDKamp]

Bump? I've got a headache now and feel sick and emotional.

It's not like I even have a reason not to go into work tomorrow either as I can still function.

There is no silver lining!!

[BreeVDKamp]

DH is bringing me home coconut water to try, but I don't think he'll be home before 10 :(

[YouLoveItDoreen]

I haven't a clue how to help but just wanted to bump this for you, I hope somebody can give you some advice that helps OP.

[Cariad007]

Gosh, I'd get to the doctor tomorrow OP if 4 days of max strength laxatives and suppositories hasn't worked.

Going forward I would say try adding a fibre supplement to your diet like Fybogel or one of the powders you can get from Holland and Barrett. Flax seed also helps. And lots and lots of water, at least two litres a day.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Have you tried Movicol? You can buy it from the pharmacy. I've been using it for post pregnancy constipation.

[InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream]

Long term it would prob be a good idea to have movicol every day

[Shetland]

I'd go to the GP

My GP said there were different types of laxative and that most of the readily available ones worked the same way - so if that didn't work for you then you probably need a prescription one like movocol or laxido, which work jn a different way. She did explain the difference but I can't remember it now.

Dates are quite effective too.

[rembrandtsrockchick]

I am not a nurse but have many years experience of cludgy bowels, piles and general cloggedupness. For me things changed when I stopped eating wheat. I do keep getting the idea that it can't really be the wheat and if I only have toast occasionally it will be ok. HA! No it isn't.

I take Fibogell regularly and this really helps too.

Constipation is no laughing matter! It is painful, inconvenient, ruins yer sex life saps all your energy.

[divingoffthebalcony]

I've finally come to the conclusion that I need Movicol for life. Since I've had it on repeat prescription, it's honestly changed the quality of my life. I don't need to take it daily, but when I feel that my bowels are slowing down (which might be every five days or so - sometimes more, sometimes less) I take a sachet of two and that helps.

Honestly, I'm 33 and I've been constipated all my life. I've tried everything: every natural remedy, every dietary recommendation, every fibre supplement (soluble and insoluble fibre). I just have sluggish, rubbish bowels.

[mrssmith79]

Warm bath, black coffee, tummy kneading and dulcolax. Much more effective than senna.

[Kickassandlollipops]

Hi , how awful ! Few tips for you ( sorry May be tmi )

1. Sit on toilet with feet raised on a few books .

2 . Give your self a tummy massage , with firm pressure start on the lower right side then stroke up then down to the left , on the down stroke try and open your bowels and repeat ( don't strain to hard)

1. Take a little Vaseline and massag

e around your bum hole try and find the muscle on either side and press firmly but gently do not go inside!

1. Drink warm water .

Take your time and try not to strain , relax !

[originalusernamefail]

You can buy lactulose over the pharmacy counter. Senna works by increasing gut motility, lactulose works by softening your stool so hopefully they will work together. A visit to the GP is also advised.

[MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom]

Senna never worked for me. Laxido and lactulose together worked like dynamite TMI

[SWIMTHECHANNEL]

Ditto for wheat.

[divingoffthebalcony]

Meant to add, Movicol and Laxido are the same thing.

[Ledkr]

Prune juice works for me, fairly spectacularly.
Have you tried eating so,etching to set off the digestive system?
Dulcoease is also worth a try as it will soften the stool.

[BreeVDKamp]

Ooh replies, thanks everyone!

Ok I will make sure I'm not fobbed off at the docs tomorrow and mention I've been in this state more than once lately!

Couple of years ago I had lactulose I think, and my god, never have I ever been so windy!

Then had a big box of sachets, movicol rings a bell, does that sound right? They worked better. Think I threw them out during a house move sigh

Ok thanks everyone. Feeling sorry for myself, thanks for replying!

[divingoffthebalcony]

Yes, Lactulose is terrible for wind in my experience! And yes, Movicol/Laxido comes in sachets. It can be quite slow acting, so you need to persevere with it and take time figuring out your ideal dose.

I reckon I could eat Dulcoease for breakfast and they wouldn't work on me

[ememem84]

2ltrs of green tea. Worked for dh the other day. (Although he wasn't constipated - just hadn't realised how potent green tea could be). Whoosh.

[Splendidpear99]

I'm a nurse but in mental health, but on the wards found a combination of lactulose and good,old fashioned prunes used to work wonders for our patients. Sometimes prune juice also. Hope you get suited soon x

[BreeVDKamp]

Doc gave me a prescription for lactulose and an enema. He said do the enema tomorrow if lactulose didn't work, but I'm off work today so I was just going to skip the lactulose and go straight for the enema. But the pharmacy didn't have an enema! Have to go back this afternoon for it. Hope I won't be running to the loo all day at work tomorrow!! But I spose that will be better than it not working.

I have the worst headache ever!!! I can't believe there is like 10 days of food inside me. Mentioned that I get constipated a lot but the doctor didn't say anything so I guess I'm going to just up my fibre day to day.

[Cariad007]

Have you ever considered acupuncture to treat your tendency towards constipation?

[BreeVDKamp]

No I haven't, have you found it effective?

[divingoffthebalcony]

Did you ask for Movicol?

Oh well, if you find Lactulose unhelpful for long term use, try Movicol next time.

[Cariad007]

I was a bit sluggish when I was pregnant and acupuncture seemed to help. Might be worth a try. Also, I have friends who found colonics to be useful. Never had the courage to have one myself though!