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Original poster

Please give me your industrial strength remedies for constipation

177 replies

OverwateredCheeseplant · 01/03/2019 17:34

I’m weaning off cocodamol after years and my constipation is just dreadful. I need to go several tunes a day and when I try it’s just tiny malteser size bits! Sorry tmi. Anyway, please give me your best advice as to how to have a good clear out!?

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 04/03/2019 14:19

Just seen your update.

The glycerine suppositories are tricky if you already need to go. Make sure you’re putting them in the right way (it’s the flat end that goes in, not the pointed end). Run a nice hot bath, insert the suppository as high as you can and then get in the bath an this soothes the muscle contractions. Try and count to 100, focus on your breathing.

When you do need to go, you may just pass little pellets and most of the suppository if you’re impacted. If so, start again - put in the suppository, get back in the bath, etc.

It will be chipping away at the impaction and it will work eventually. I once had to use this method when I hadn’t been for 14 days after an operation - it was honestly horrific but it worked in the end.

The other thing you could try is dulcolax suppositories which are also available over the counter. My doctor prescribed them in the aforementioned 14 days from hell, but I found the glycerine ones worked as well but without as much cramping.

SinkGirl · 04/03/2019 14:20

If you can’t get in the bath, insert it and then lie down, watch something on your phone, listen to music, distract yourself for as long as you can while clenching your muscles

Original poster
OverwateredCheeseplant · 04/03/2019 15:41

@sinkgirl thanks for the info. I’ll try the bath shortly. God this is grim! I’ve been going several times a day passing tiny rocks for weeks. Hope this works.

OP posts:

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SinkGirl · 04/03/2019 19:10

Eek, how long exactly since you had a proper one? You might need the dulcolax suppositories in that case - keep up with the movicol too, and drink loads of water. It is absolutely awful but you will feel so much better when it’s over!

CatsForLife · 04/03/2019 19:22

The glycerin suppositories are a bit of an art form. You get used to how long you can hold them in for! Straight away they make you feel like you need to go, but as others have said, you need to hold on as long as you can. Use warm water on them before putting them in. Lie down on your left side. You need to give them time to work. Good luck!

WTFIsAGleepglorp · 04/03/2019 19:24

A whole bar of Dairyfine's low sugar chocolate from Aldi.

"Excessive consumption may have laxative effects"

They're not kidding.

x2boys · 04/03/2019 19:31

The Ducolax\Bisocodyl suppositories are very effective ,my son is prescribed them they do give him stomach ache though and sometimes 're make him vomit Sad

Happynow001 · 04/03/2019 19:57

OP If you hate prune juice try just eating prunes. The soft Agen prunes are lovely to eat straight from the packet or just slowly stew some prunes in a little water and a cinnamon stick until lovely and soft and the water is syrupy. The ones you stew yourself taste nicer than the tinned ones.

thinkingcapon · 04/03/2019 20:11

Op have you been to the gp?!

Fluffyears · 04/03/2019 20:51

The doctor told me to avoid laxatives as they just force our all the liquid but the solid poonos still there. Movicol etc are better as they ease everything through.

Dulcolax advertises ‘Gentle predictable relief when you wake...’ what they don’t say is that you will wake up at 3 am with series cramps and have to bolt to the bathroom before your arse explodes. Then you just sit there praying that your internal organs don’t fall out your arsehole whilst you have explosive diarrhoea.

Dowser · 04/03/2019 21:24

Omg fluffy years.

Have you tried magnesium based supplements
Coral calcium, Epsom salts, milk of magnesia
I find these quite helpful

Melroses · 04/03/2019 22:24

Fluffyears - that was my experience of Dulcolax too, only I was on the point of fainting and didn't know whether to get off the loo and lie on the floor (with the inherent risks), or carry on emptying and fall off the loo.

Movicol is the only thing I will touch now.

EnchantingRaven · 04/03/2019 22:46

@Sinkgirl - random q on the suppositories.. why is it the flat end and not the pointed? Think that might be where I’ve went wrong as I assumed it was the pointy end first! I’ve only used them a few times though to be honest.

OP - I recommend CosmoCol it works very similar to movicol but I find that one works a lot quicker although it’s not as gentle as movicol. (Definitely not on par with dulcolax cramps though!) you can buy at a chemist too. I found a low foot rest / box helpful when trying to go as well. Hope you get some relief soon

BlueJag · 04/03/2019 23:16

Water

BrightSpells · 04/03/2019 23:29

Op try coloncleanse

It's gentle and won't be too horrific but will take a day or two if you're really bunged up. You can take it every other day or so to keep things moving going forward too.

Imperfectsusan · 04/03/2019 23:40

Avoid laxatives.

All bran original (or Tesco fibre bran) and water. Enough fruit and veg.

I promise you this works, and is drug free .

MrsMoastyToasty · 04/03/2019 23:48

Licorice. A whole packet of allsorts.

ChicCroissant · 05/03/2019 00:08

Just to echo what previous posters have said, linseeds were the best way of counteracting the effects of codeine when I was on it for a while (it just kills the urge to go) especially sprinkled on your breakfast and I also agree with the PP who have said that anything advertised with the strapline 'predictable relief when you wake' is a world of pain with stomach cramps. Would not recommend (I only did that once).

Hope you find something that works for you OP.

AntiHop · 05/03/2019 00:20

How are you doing op?

When you use suppositories, you need to wait for about 20 mins. It feel horrible, sorry!

Haworthia · 05/03/2019 00:24

Honestly op, if you’ve only been passing tiny rocks for weeks you could have a faecal impaction.

NHS advice for this is 8 sachets of Movicol per day for no more than 3 days.
www.nottsapc.nhs.uk/media/1250/laxative-treatment-guideline-for-adults.pdf

I’d also suggest a GP appointment.

Haworthia · 05/03/2019 00:24

Also, you are well past the point of food-based remedies, so hold off on the bran flakes.

Pasithea · 05/03/2019 00:26

I’m another opiate long term by prescription user. Movicol. 8 sachets in one day. Then reduce but keep taking for a few days until your passing pure liquid this is very important. Then go on the linseed high fibre and loads of water diet.

Fluffyears · 05/03/2019 00:47

@melroses I want to slap the daft grinning woman in the advert when her pal turns up ad off shebtrots. Yeah love admit it you were up at three am, on the loo, sharting, covered in a cold sweat and breathing like you were in labour! If that’s gentle i’d hate to see the ‘non-gentle’!

TellMeItsNotTrue · 05/03/2019 00:56

Proper dark chocolate is the only food/drink that works for me and I'd rather take the natural route if possible so I always keep some in the house.

It has its pros and cons, it's an excuse for a treat and I don't have to take anything with a foul taste...but it also means I think of it in more of a medicinal way rather than a treat now, whatever the occasion/type

x2boys · 05/03/2019 08:28

Op as you haven't been properly for weeks you are probably impacted and need to go to the GP, ignore all the advice abou t prunes, dark chocolate etc as while they may well work in cases of mild constipation but it Sounds like your s is a lot more serious .