to think if I take ducolax or similar before bed I'm going to spend the whole night on the toilet? how well do they really work?

[Fairylea]

I'm suffering with awful constipation at the moment (over share right there).

I have tried all the usual natural things. But now I am thinking of giving some sennokot however it's spelt or ducolax a go.

But I'm worried it's going to tip me the other way into violent urgent shitting.

Has anyone taken these? What is likely to happen to me? Am I going to spend the whole night on the toilet or are they really as gentle as they say?

(As history I have suffered from ibs for a long time and have had a colonoscopy at the hospital for which they gave me picolax which is one of the strongest laxatives you can have so I have visions of another laxative being like that....!)

Thanks....

D'you think (sorry) you have a massive hard stool 'caught' up there? If so dulcolax will be fine. But otherwise you will wake at 5 am needing a shit. Laxative farts have a distinct and unpleasant odour as well, be warned.

I've used sennokot with the same concerns but there was no drama. I just started pooing normally again.

Hmm well normally up at 5 am with toddler ds anyway so I guess that could be interesting....

I have no idea what's going on. I normally go every day and this is the 4th day and I'm feeling pretty awful and my stomach is really bloated.

Hate ibs :(

my dd had severe constipation from stool holding , I used dulcolax for her even though she was only 4, think the recomended age is 12+ (doc told us to try it) it works over night so you go in the morning, anyway it wasnt strong enough to overcome stool holding so it wont give you the trots

I have IBS and have taken ducolax before...... The night time is fine. The following day is awful. I have vowed never to take them again! My DH can tolerate them fine, but my IBS is exacerbated by the over stimulation of my bowels and this results in the worst cramps you can imagine. You are better off trying fybogel from the pharmacy... much more gentle!

Whenever I've used sennokot its been fine just normal urge to go.

If you're suffering that badly there are suppositories you can get from the chemist which work quicker and might be better!

Dulcolax will just make you want to gk first thing in the morning. I would just take one though as two can be rather explosive. If I have one and it doesn't work I have another the next morning and make sure I stay in!

Thank you for the replies.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to ask strangers about these things? :)

I'll investigate some different brands etc tomorrow. Maybe I can try a lower dose or something first.

yup, they just make you have the urge to go when you get up in the morning. no explosions or anything if you have other issues may not be the same though. just speaking from my experience.

I took sennkot and lactulose post surgery. Worked well-sennekot made me go (took a couple of days) and the lactulose made sure it didn't hurt!

Glycerin suppositories work more reliably than anything oral, in my experience. Plus they work within 20 mins, which is a bonus.

Take one but not two!

Drink plenty of water (atleast 1 litre daily) & excercise to get things moving in your bowels as well as taking Senokat.

I used to suffer from IBS until my nutritionist put me on a high grade probiotic for 6 months and I haven't had an episode since. It built up my good gut flora so that it was able to process all the food in my system more effectively. It is worth asking the dr for movicol & getting a colonic irrigation done.

www.planetorganic.com/biocare-bio-acidophilus-1.html

Just take one. Should just poo at normal wake up time.

Do not take 20 or more...former bulimic!

Thanks for all the tips and shared experiences....!

20 at a time?! Oh my gosh... poor you. I'd literally never leave the toilet if I took that many. Hope you are okay now.

Thanks everyone. Dh is at home the day after tomorrow so if it all goes belly up (mild pun intended) he will be at home to look after ds.

Ime I have to take dulcolax at about 8pm to go in the morning - if I take it just before bed I tend to get caught short when out somewhere later on the day!

And ime by far the best and quickest solution is a really strong cup of coffee - large double shot Americano always does the trick for me without fail! Back in the old days coffee and a fag always worked wonders!

Fybogel doesn't work if you've got IBS, IME.

I have a suspected irritable bowel picture and they do NOTHING for me.

Water and flaxseed added to your food is much more effective IMO