Please give me your industrial strength remedies for constipation

[OverwateredCheeseplant]

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!?

@ImperfectSusan the Op absent had a proper bowel.movement in weeks I think she needs something rather more effective than all bran!

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.

^
THIS

@Fluffyears - totally agree - the smugness is beyond all irritation. I am surprised there is no warning on the packet. It was a nurse when I was in hospital with prolapse that warned me off it and she was so right (I didn't listen, obviously )
I sometimes wonder if using over-vicious laxatives is where people get diverticula from - I have enough problems and don't want that!

And if you are that severely bunged up, loading yourself up with all bran and prunes is just filling it up from the other end, which will be painful, if nothing else. All bran always gave me terrible guts ache and did nothing for constipation at the same time.
Op, you should really go to the gp, if you are impacted they can sort if for you. Don't keep swallowing random stuff now, I think you need a bit of professional help.

Just dont take the co codamol for a day.

Weight Watchers sugar free sweets - I think you can only buy them at group meetings. Used to work for me..

If you still haven't had relief yet though I would see the GP - it might be more than an otc remedy can fix.

Good luck

Get some sort of stool/box or something so you're legs are further up to your chest. Makes shitting a lot less painul in thtis situation and helps it out.

But yeah seriously, if you get desperate there is nothing like opiate withdrawel for some explosive squits.

Keep going with the Movicol, it will work. Just keep taking it, usually it starts to soften up after 3 days, then it's painful and hideous for half a day of lots of poo!

Speaking as a cocodamol / constipation queen myself!

And if you are that severely bunged up, loading yourself up with all bran and prunes is just filling it up from the other end, which will be painful, if nothing else.

Exactly. If your gut function is mostly normal then a bowl of bran flakes will work a treat. If you have issues with gut motility then bran is basically the worst thing you could eat, because it’s going to set like concrete in a slow moving gut.

A physio I saw about the issue said that eating bran was like peat-based potting compost - when it dries out it is impossible to re-wet, then becomes part of the problem.

Sorry to hijack but there seems to be lots of knowledgeable people.
I think I'm constipated, I'm pooing every day but never feel like I'm properly done if that makes sense? I get the urge to go and then struggle. Does bloating come with it? This week in the evenings I've felt uncomfortable. I'm taking fybrogel as of today and have some senna for the weekend.
Hope you're ok OP?

@MummaPI That’s what doctors call “incomplete evacuation”. It is a type of constipation. You can have a bowel movement every day, but if it’s “incomplete” you can still experience a backing up of the bowel over time.

Be careful with Fybogel. Apart from being disgusting (you’re supposed to let it sit for a while before drinking, by which time it’s like gritty jelly 🤢) it’s a fibre supplement, which will set like concrete in the gut if your gut is sluggish. Make sure you drink loads of water with it... or better still, take something more effective. Lactulose is gentle, albeit windy.

The incomplete evacuation thing can also indicate a prolapse. Apparently it’s very common in women and quite large numbers of us have one without realising. With my history I’d be amazed if I didn’t have one, but have been reluctant to take myself to the GP for embarrassing examinations and tests. I’m considering buying a Squatty Potty though - Google it

Ok thanks, might try milk of magnesia then senna at the weekend. I bloat up too and almost feels like an alien trying to get out!
I think I have piles too, oh the joys! Would I know if I have a prolapse?

I don’t think you’d know. But apparently it’s best of think of it as a hose with a kink in it That’s why adopting a squatted position on the toilet with the knees raised helps so much, because it irons the “kink” out.

Milk of magnesia? That takes me back to my childhood!

I'm sure I've read that it helps to get you going but like you I haven't seen a bottle since my childhood!!

Water and oranges.

Psyllium husks

Hope OP has found some relief by now, but I thought I'd point out that adult Movicol is also available in liquid form with an orange flavour, which might be easier for some people to take.

My ds was on Movicol for years since babyhood and as he could detect the powdered Movicol in drinks and wouldn't take it, he was prescribed the adult version (with a much smaller dose obviously) which we used to put in orange juice - proper orange juice, not squash. It does still have a medicinal taste but fortunately ds thought it OK and plus he drank it with a straw which helped.

I've tried powdered stuff in drinks myself and I can't stand the texture either, so I understand why he wouldn't take it.

Magnesium supplement - I use one called Mega Mag, which I got off Amazon. It tastes quite salty BUT I've never been regular, and this gets me going most days. Worth it!

Also, try to relax in the morning. I find I'm more likely to go if I've taken things slowly / stopped to drink my coffee before leaving the house etc than if I'm bombing around.

Go to China and drink the tap water

Fellow codeine user here - haven't been able to look at Maltesers for a long time...

Anyhow, raising your feet really does help (Haworthia is spot on about the kinked hose) but don't spend silly money on a squatty potty. Get some large unwanted books and gaffa tape them together into two blocks of 2-3 books. Use these to rest your feet on whilst seated. Doesn't have to be books, blocks of wood, 2 small paint tins, anything that makes a suitable platform will do.

Prune juice. I didnt think the small glass i had was having any effect so i drank the full litre carton. It wasnt the funniest two hours of my life but it came close and laughing seemed to help the major evacuation effort. Sorry if TMI but it's better for your stomach than some of the tablets.

Weight Watchers sugar free sweets....

Sorbitol is the ingredient to look out for in sugar free/diabetic sweets and foods, and buy or avoid, depending on the desired result. I once by mistake bought some diabetic black cherry jam. It looked delicious spread on a slice of fresh bread.... I spent most of the afternoon on the loo. Threw the nearly full jar away.

Feedback...
Whoever suggested prune juice wasn't wrong!! I had some today and have had explosive diarreah (sp) since. Brilliant stuff but make sure you only have a small glass! Don't make your poo a funny colour too!

Popcorn made from scratch, with a pint of water.