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Original poster

When would you go to A&E?

375 replies

Usedphone · 07/02/2025 04:17

I suffer from chronic constipation, I've been to the GP in the past and they just have me tons of laxido and senna to use "sparingly/when needed" but that was it.

The hematologist mentioned it was related to my iron malabsorption (by not dieting it, it sediments in my colon and causes blockages). He also said there was nothing that could be done, and it had never been mentioned again.

So I've been suffering from a blockage for the last 3 weeks I still go, so I get some relief, but this time the laxatives have stopped working which made me go to the pharmacy. There the very kind pharmacist gave me like 20 mins of his time because he was shocked that after 4 senna tablets NOTHING has moved. I took them in one go btw. He then told me the next step was A&E because there was not much more tablets could do.

So then he told me to take 8 sachets of laxido and that if still nothing had moved it was hospital time.

So here I am 12 hours after I took the first 2 sachets, and about 6 since I took the last 2 (8 total) and still nothing! I just have pain but that's it.

Given that I'm not a priority case, would it make more sense to wait it out another day (and take 8 more sachets)? I'm thinking of popping in after my 9am meeting hoping that they see me before the school run, and if they don't, I just walk back home. The only thing is that for the past 5 days it has become super painful, especially my lower back.

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 07/02/2025 07:14

You think you need to go to A&E and vehemently disagree with anyone suggesting waiting or trying anything else at home. So go to A&E.

DoAWheelie · 07/02/2025 07:15

If you are starting to not want food it's time to go to A&E.

I've had to do this a few times due to blockages caused by medication that no amount of laxatives would shift.

They usually gave me an enema, kept me in for a few hours to make sure I was able to go again later, then sent me home. At its worst I had to be put under a general and have it surgically removed but that was only once and after 6 full weeks not passing anything.

Monstermashermashedthemonster · 07/02/2025 07:15

Can you increase the laxido ds who is 7 was precribed it when he was completely blocked up and we got upto 12 sachets a day until he was cleared.

Interested in this thread?

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General health
PiousBitch · 07/02/2025 07:25

I work in A&E. I don't know what it's like where you are, but in our department you'd be extremely unlikely to be seen "before the school run" because it's usually a 12hr to be seen!

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 07/02/2025 07:27

Please go to A&E, there could be something else going on, an infection or something and like you said you are going away in a week

HoraceCope · 07/02/2025 07:28

can you get someone to pick up your dc this afternoon if necessary @Usedphone

Barney16 · 07/02/2025 07:38

I think it's ok to go to a and e. If you are worried about wasting their time don't be, the pharmacist told you to go. Tell them that at a and e. One of my children suffered terribly but Movicol always did the trick but he took a lot of sachets. ( By consultant advice). And it did take quite a few days to work.edited to say it was probably at least 12 sachets.

Lougle · 07/02/2025 07:54

@Usedphone would it help to know that I've nursed patients in ITU who have had sections of their bowel removed because they got so constipated that their bowel ruptured?

This is not something you can do yourself. At the very least you'll need an enema. There is absolutely no point in taking more oral laxatives if the blockage is lower down - that can only work on the stool passing through the intestines. Once it gets past that, into the rectum, they can't soften.

Zita60 · 07/02/2025 08:00

This is a no-brainer. As others have said, you’ve been advised by a health care professional to go to A&E. Also, you’re going abroad in a week’s time and this needs to be sorted before you go. And as others have pointed out, this could potentially get very serious if it isn’t treated.

If you go to A&E first thing in the morning, the wait is likely to be shorter.

Itonlytakesone · 07/02/2025 08:04

Strong coffee. Refer to get a ct colonoscopy with dye then follow low fod map diet for 3 months after to reset your bowels give them time to heal

Angelofmycoins · 07/02/2025 08:06

Hi OP. It sounds ridiculous but try a yoga for digestion video on YouTube eg

In addition to everything else you've been doing it can really help

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/_-5zghWBFuY?si=edY45YgEQpIoV_dm

tipsyraven · 07/02/2025 08:08

I haven’t read all the thread but you need to take the 6/8 sachets of laxido over a period of 6 hours. It sounds like you are taking it over a longer period. My GP told me once to mix 6 sachets into something like 1 or 2 litres of water (I can’t remember which) and drink over a six hour period. It did the trick.

Fwiw, I have been in hospital with constipation, mistaken for a gynae problem. The treatment for me then was lactulose and 2 glycerine suppositories.

Having said all that, I would go to A&E because you need proper assessment and a treatment plan.

Rockschooldropout · 07/02/2025 08:12

I am an ex nurse and I worked with gastrointestinal patients in our surgical ward .
You have fecal impaction and you need to go to hospital now if you aren’t already in the way there .
Youll need an enema and most likely a bowel prep and then a discussion about further bowel investigations .

Pinkypup · 07/02/2025 08:14

Omg you poor thing. This sounds horrendous. I would never have been able to wait three weeks! I would have been down a&e after a week 😂 but I am a baby!

Have you tried to get your hands on something like moviprep? This may be what you had before the colonoscopy?
equally have you had any tests or investigations done for diverticulitis as well as any other issues you have?

You can get suppositories for constipation - might be worth trying those as well if you can’t get moviprep?

personally, as it’s been three weeks and you’re going away, go to a&e today. Like now!!

Original poster
Usedphone · 07/02/2025 08:14

tipsyraven · 07/02/2025 08:08

I haven’t read all the thread but you need to take the 6/8 sachets of laxido over a period of 6 hours. It sounds like you are taking it over a longer period. My GP told me once to mix 6 sachets into something like 1 or 2 litres of water (I can’t remember which) and drink over a six hour period. It did the trick.

Fwiw, I have been in hospital with constipation, mistaken for a gynae problem. The treatment for me then was lactulose and 2 glycerine suppositories.

Having said all that, I would go to A&E because you need proper assessment and a treatment plan.

No, they were all taken within a 6 hour period as told by the pharmacist.

The yoga doesn't sound crazy, I've done my morning session and obviously it hasn't helped but it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.

I also noticed my wee smells rancid, but I thought that was the laxido (as it only started smelling after I took it).

OP posts:
Mynewnameis · 07/02/2025 08:17

Yes you should go. If the pharmacist didn't want to give you a suppository or anything, they have told you next steps.

AyrnotAir · 07/02/2025 08:20

I think you should go to hospital. My dfil is in just now for the same issue as he became so unwell and was blocked right up to his stomach. His whole abdomen was massively swollen, he was not eating and was unable to fully empty his bladder. It's taken a full week in hospital for them to get on top of it.

Original poster
Usedphone · 07/02/2025 08:21

Pinkypup · 07/02/2025 08:14

Omg you poor thing. This sounds horrendous. I would never have been able to wait three weeks! I would have been down a&e after a week 😂 but I am a baby!

Have you tried to get your hands on something like moviprep? This may be what you had before the colonoscopy?
equally have you had any tests or investigations done for diverticulitis as well as any other issues you have?

You can get suppositories for constipation - might be worth trying those as well if you can’t get moviprep?

personally, as it’s been three weeks and you’re going away, go to a&e today. Like now!!

That's the movicol! I know this because that's how I prepped for my colonoscopy :)

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 07/02/2025 08:25

Have you tried prunes?

When you get this current situation fixed eat prunes every day.

tipsyraven · 07/02/2025 08:26

You should really take the advice of any medical people here.

lunar1 · 07/02/2025 08:26

I would go and get seen, they would rather see you now than letting you become a medical emergency.

Oldermum84 · 07/02/2025 08:32

Isn't it the case that laxido softens the poo to make it easier to come out / less painful, but doesn't actually make you go...?

I think you need a suppository maybe to actually stimulate the bowel.

Sympathies OP.

Original poster
Usedphone · 07/02/2025 08:35

Oldermum84 · 07/02/2025 08:32

Isn't it the case that laxido softens the poo to make it easier to come out / less painful, but doesn't actually make you go...?

I think you need a suppository maybe to actually stimulate the bowel.

Sympathies OP.

I think they told me take it because my bowel works OK, my malabsorption problem is what creates the problem, not my bowel so softening is what makes sense

OP posts:
Janiie · 07/02/2025 08:36

Always ring a gp or 111 in situations regarding chronic problems.

dgirluk · 07/02/2025 08:40

I'd go to A&E and be prepared to wait. I had a similar situation with constipation after my hysterectomy and ended up in A&E with two types of enemas and then a manual disimpaction. All the various symptoms you're describing sound like it's getting worse, and you won't be laughed at based on my experience!