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Original poster

Constipation- someone PLEASE help me

600 replies

HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 20:12

I have been constipated for 7 days. That may not sound like a lot but I usually go 2/3 times a day without issue. I was away on holiday and ate crap food and basically survived on crisps and pizza as I was so hot I had no appetite.

I am currently lying on the bed in tears, I have tried:
orange juice
4 suppositories
3 x enemas
putting my feet up
relaxing
black coffee
a special vitamin tablet which DP says always makes him go
Drinking loads of water
pushing from inside my vagina
actually trying to manually remove the stool (sorry for the way TMI)
sitting in a warm bath
massaging my stomach
dulcolex

ill be ringing my GP first thing in the morning but can ANYONE suggest anything else. I’m in a total panic, I can just feel the rock hard stool, I’m in agony, shaking and it hurts to walk. To top it off I’m on my period which I hoped would get things going but nothing. Someone please help I am desperate and I’m worried my gp will just prescribe everything I’ve already tried. I’m a nurse and working all weekend and at this point I can’t see how I can go into work which would leave my team in the absolute shit (pardon the pun). I don’t know what to do 🫨🫨

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 14/08/2025 20:16

Can you get to a late night pharmacy today and ask for an over-the-counter prescription for an osmotic laxative?

AppleSlag · 14/08/2025 20:36

Only thing that’s ever properly worked for me was psyllium husks. Got them from Holland & Barrett.

MessageMystery · 14/08/2025 20:37

Go to a pharmacy and ask for a glycerol suppository, that should do the job x

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MiloMinderbinder925 · 14/08/2025 20:38

Senna

Jooleshop · 14/08/2025 20:43

Prune juice or prunes in a tin with juice may help.

user1476613140 · 14/08/2025 20:46

Laxido sachets.

user1476613140 · 14/08/2025 20:46

But lactulose always works for me.

user1476613140 · 14/08/2025 20:46

Good luck!!

LemonLemon25 · 14/08/2025 20:49

Movicol .....may take a while to filter down to the hard stuff though. Can buy it November counter.

Movement..a long brisk walk if you can manage it.

3 enemas??

I was admitted once with severe constipation after surgery. After 2 failed enemas and alot of other intervention (its a a bit vague now as this was 20 years ago) they gave me Picolax. I was accused of not drinking the first dose because nothing happened. After the 2nd dose ...it moved but I did faint on the loo!!

Picolax is a bowel/colon emptier given prior to colon surgery...so I was told!!

Good luck! It's not funny or pleasant.

Original poster
HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 20:50

I’ve already had 4 glycerin suppositories over the last week and nothing. Plus the enemas. I’ve just been sat on the toilet for half hour, there’s been a teeny bit very loose movement which now I’m worried is overflow. I won’t be able to go to the pharmacy tonight, absolutely typically my car is in the garage overnight, DP has a broken foot so can’t drive and there’s no one really I could ask… I’m hoping this pressure eases, I’m not sure if it’s because I need to go (and I’ve tried and tried) or I’ve actually done some damage to myself 😭 I am aching, feel sick, shaking and feel dizzy although that’s probably from not eating

OP posts:
jamieleebrown · 14/08/2025 20:51

HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 20:50

I’ve already had 4 glycerin suppositories over the last week and nothing. Plus the enemas. I’ve just been sat on the toilet for half hour, there’s been a teeny bit very loose movement which now I’m worried is overflow. I won’t be able to go to the pharmacy tonight, absolutely typically my car is in the garage overnight, DP has a broken foot so can’t drive and there’s no one really I could ask… I’m hoping this pressure eases, I’m not sure if it’s because I need to go (and I’ve tried and tried) or I’ve actually done some damage to myself 😭 I am aching, feel sick, shaking and feel dizzy although that’s probably from not eating

Are you farting?

ohyesido · 14/08/2025 20:51

Milk of magnesia

OpalFruitsYay · 14/08/2025 20:51

Lots of water and magnesium citrate

AgnesX · 14/08/2025 20:52

Laxido or Movicol. Take 2 sachets. You could be brave and take 3 but given everything else you've done that should be enough.

You can buy it OTC ( late night supermarket that has a pharmacy maybe)

dogsflying · 14/08/2025 20:53

F

Parksinyork · 14/08/2025 20:53

Are you farting?
Have you checked your temperature?

Ohmygodthepain · 14/08/2025 20:54

user1476613140 · 14/08/2025 20:46

Laxido sachets.

This. Times 8, literally.

By the time it's got to this stage you need something to draw moisture into your bowel, not add extra fibre.

Get dh to go to ooh pharmacy, take all 8 sachets in as little water as they will dilute in, then drink the rest of the water it says to. And stand by...

Zov · 14/08/2025 20:55

Echoing Laxido here. Take 3 sachets when you get it. Take 3 more 6 hours later. Only problem is, it can take 36-48 hours to work. Sorry you're suffering. I hope you can manage to have a 💩soon!

Original poster
HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 20:59

Thank you! My concern (not that I won’t take them, I’ll take them as soon as I get them) is
taking them, and them kicking in when I am in a patients house (I’m a community nurse), I have no idea what I’d do if I suddenly had the urge to go but at the same time obviously don’t want to hold anything in. I shouldn’t have let it get this bad but I’ve been at work all week, and just kept thinking today will be the day but right now, I feel like I’m in labour

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 14/08/2025 20:59

Short term you will probably need laxido etc as everyone has mentioned longer term magnesium supplements because as soon as you clear out your bowel can go into a funk and refuse to move properly for a few days so get done magnesium in to support you for a week or two

Original poster
HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 21:00

no barely farting, although I don’t fart that often anyway… a little bit this morning, nothing since unless I’m sat on the toilet ( so sorry for this TMI!). No audible bowel sounds

OP posts:
HornyHornersPinger · 14/08/2025 21:03

You need a bottle of Lactulose from a pharmacy and quickly by the sounds of it.

Original poster
HelpMeMelpHe · 14/08/2025 21:04

I’ve just googled and looked on the NHS website and the closest late night pharmacy that’s still open is 25.1 miles away 😭 all the others in my city closed at 9

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 14/08/2025 21:05

Sodium picosulphate is good for overnight relief. Movicol is gentler but can take longer to kick in.

Mary46 · 14/08/2025 21:09

God op feel for you. I think holidays and heat dont help either. A bowel prep might help. Im bad on hols too but senokots moved it on! Took two half tablets