When would you go to A&E?

[Usedphone]

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.

You haven’t read the thread then? 🙄

Prunes are good so are oranges and kiwi fruit. Not sure if they'd work for @Usedphone as this sounds impacted?

Do you do the stomach massage?

OP I would get some glycerine suppositories and use one immediately. They have worked fantastic for us in the past. At least it will get some out, if not all. Then back to your GP to demand proper help going forward, as clearly you’re being failed.

My son has been hospitalized a lot for severe constipation due to a rare disease.

They tackle it two ways.

1. From above with laxatives.
2. From below with an enema.

I would try an enema at home and clear some of it out.

If an enema doesn’t work head back to emerge.

Have you had IRIDA syndrome since birth? It looks to be genetic. Do your siblings have it? It really sucks having a rare condition, no one really knows what to do with you, but sounds like apart from all this you're managing it pretty well.

No advice just sympathy.

My DM keeps going in about it, but I would have thought yoga would do something similar.

I'll definitely go to a different pharmacy and ask for an enema and the suppositories.

Or I could go back to the one I went to and update them on what happened.

Once managed it's not that bad (apart from the constipation) but being so RARE I'm not surprised medical professionals look at me like I'm making stuff up.

I inherited from my paternal side, a few aunts have similar issues, and we think my grandfather had it too.

I'm the one with the most severe symptoms (which really is just iron is always low, I run out of it, and iron rich food causes even more constipation), my sister only gets the iron deficiency, which is not as severe.

My hematologist suggested I tested my DC, but he said that maybe I could wait until they were older and actually show symptoms.

@Usedphone when dh was constipated I did a stomach massage for him and he went soon after. Have a look on YouTube. Stop if it's painful though obviously 😉

Sorry they turned you away.
I'd try the suppositories.

Once you clear this blockage maybe a bowel stimulant would work. It did wonders for my dd. Sodium picosulphate. Don't take it now though.

Hi, as someone who struggles similarly with constipation I absolutely empathise, it’s so awful. Getting close to a week since I last went.
I find when I’ve been doing the healthy eating and laxatives and still nothing is happening, eating something sweet gets things going. Usually pancakes with lots of maple syrup and an hour later I have to go. Try something super sweet to see if it does anything for you. I think the sugar stimulates the colon.
My sister swears by popcorn.

Change GP. It sounds like you are just hitting a dead end with your current one, they are resistant to
trying something different/investigating further. Obviously that won’t help you today but might get some preventative treatment in place.

I'm Rootin' for your poopin' OP!!

I am not medically qualified but I got bad constipation from some medicine a few years ago. The only thing that got me cleared out was pure prune juice. If I drank between half and a pint of that it did the job.

Taking solid tablets are no use because they sit on top of all the compacted shit. Pardon the detail.

LOL well I'm in my third glass of Laxido yay!!

I just had some celery and hummus

It sounds horrific. Glad you went this morning as definitely easier than try to go over weekend. I can't believe they did nothing. Good luck op.

Sorry if you've already answered this OP but do you take Laxido or similar regularly? I need to have at least a sachet every other day or I slip back into constipation. Good luck with getting moving- I got very bad a few months ago before I started taking Laxido results it and it was day 3 when everything started moving.

This sounds so tough and uncomfortable. My uncle would swear by hot orange juice and lots of fluids. Im also rooting for your pooping

No, because I was told to only use it as and if needed.

I find it a bit extreme, so it's definitely not my first choice.

I think I would prefer laculose for maintenance

I second the dried fruit - i ate a bag of dried apricots at work once, absolutely not thinking about the effects on my bowels... I'd never moved so fast to thd toilet literally 10 minutes after eating them! 😅

I'm working, but sitting isn't super comfortable TBH.

I WFH so it's not a big deal!

This happened to me the time I put some stewed prunes on my cereal on a breakfast buffet. Didn't think anything of it, scoffed it down with a big cup of coffee. Cue a sprint for the loo!