To think the doctor could do more regarding my chronic constipation??

[SeiShann]

I went to drs to tell him that my constipation is now so bad that I only go to toilet once a week. This is on a weekend when I take enough laxatives to give myself awful, agonising diarrhea as literally nothing else works. A couple of years ago I ended up in A&E with a bowel inpactation (worse pain than childbirth) so to avoid a repeat of that, the weekend routine is my only option.

His advice?

"Just go to toilet every day and make sure you pass a movement".

???!!!!!!

So after a bit of persistance he gave me prescriptions for laxido, lactalose and told me to drink prune juice and tons of water.

I've been taking two laxido a day, 2 lactalose a day, 2 glasses of prune juice a day and gallons of water. No result.

AIBU to think something more could be done?? even if it was just a colonoscopy to make sure there is no blockage? I can't go on like this.

I had something similar after an operation and was recommended to include linseed in my daily diet - I did, and I've never had the problem again! That's probably not what you were asking though - so YANBU, you should be offered more assistance. Do you take Movicol - it's a sachet of grim tasting granules that you add to water - also does the trick.

Hows your diet?

Hows your diet?

It sounds a unpleasant situation for you.

How many times have you been to the GP about your constipation since the impaction? If you have been a number of times you are right and the advice you have been given does seem inadequate.

However, if this is the first time you have been I guess the GP will start at the beginning of the treatment options. I think all you can do is follow the advice carefully for a week and then return to the GP when it hasn't worked.

If I were you I'd make the appointment now because you know it won't work and at my surgery you can't make appointments for less than a fortnight.

Did you tell the GP about your laxative use?

I went to doctor 3 times for chronic constipation and was told to up and up on movicol (which they prescribed) and at about 6 sachets a day it did the trick.its taken about 5 months to become normal. anyway thd breakthrough for me was getting a nutribullet and I have 2 drinks of blended linseed/flax with kale frozen berries and banana everyday. I've cut back on bread too. Works like a dream. No more pain!
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There's a disimpacting regime with movicol or Laxido. I suspect your gp will build it up for you over time.

Avoid the lactulose if you're getting pain with it though, as can make the bloating worse sometimes.

It takes ages to train your colon to give a full signal at a normal stretch after you've been so constipated though, so you'll find you need much more Laxido for much longer than you think.

I'd advise searching the children's health section for stool withholding as the treatment principles are the same.

He knows about the non prescription laxatives, he recommended i keep on them too! It's just ridiculous. This morning I made myself feel sick trying to down the gross prune juice, movicol, water, lactalose etc etc. along with the ibuprofen for the cramps!! Ridiculous situation. I'm thinking I'll just follow the impactation regime with the laxido

I had lots of bowel issues during my first pregnancy. I second the advice to take the disimpaction dosage of the laxido (the dosage is on the box and it should help even if there is a large blockage). If I recall correctly I think it is an 8 sachet dose, I made it up in a jug and drank it all over a couple of hours but it did work.

It sounds gross but if you are really struggling despite the high doses, sometimes fear of the pain can cause you to retain- I warm bath can help you relax the right muscles, as can a squat position rather than 'sitting' on the toilet.

After that go back to the daily dosage regime.

I agree that your Dr hasn't been fantastic and you should continue to push for an actual cause rather than just the treatment as long term use of laxatives isn't really a great solution and can lead to weakened bowel muscles, sometimes making the issue worse. Chronic constipation is really uncomfortable and miserable so you have all my sympathy.

Hope you feel better soon.

What would you like them to do? There is no magic "cure" that he is hiding from you. I know it is frustrating but I agree with the above- masses of fruit and veg, movicol and loads of water and try to lay off the stimulant laxatives- they can eventually stop your colon working

Ooh, I also mixed some fresh fruit juice in with the movicol/laxido mix to make it a bit more bearable to drink.

YANBU. This should be taken a lot more seriously.

I suffer from chronic constipation and I feel your pain. Sadly, I'm not sure there is much more they can do but offer dietary advice. I know someone who had horrific constipation and she was referred for a specialist who provided some psychological support because she was so distressed and it was making things worse.

Hot bath followed by toilet time seems to help me. I play music so I am not distracted by the noise of the house and it seems to help.

I know it can be frustrating and depressing but sadly, there isn't a lot that can be done. Every now and then I find a food that helps but if I eat it too often, I seem to get used to it and it doesn't work anymore.

SeiShann how is your diet in general? Do you eat beans, lentils, lots of fibrous vegetables? What I've noticed is when I eat lots of those it really keeps things moving! On the rare days I eat more processed food and hardly any of the good stuff I'm shocked at the difference it makes, so really brings it home to me how my guts need all that fibre. Just as well I love bean and veg stew and lentil soup!

How is your diet? How much fibre do you eat? Fresh fruit and veg? Do you know which foods contain lots of fibre?
Do you eat a lot of processed food?

My absolute number one tip ( from someone who used go once a week or sometimes once every ten days ) is to eat two or three kiwis every morning . Takes a few days to work but has been a life changer for me . I literally read it in a magazine two months ago . I hadn't been buying kiwis for years as my dh is allergic to them and thought it would be very unfair on him . However it really really works and is pain free , unlike some horrific laxatives I have used . I eat two a day and keep them away from dh

Oh and be very careful about adding too many seeds etc to your diet - can cause impaction ( I think I have a narrow colon ), google kiwis and constipation . I have had constipation for maybe 15 years or more and this is the first time it is clear .

Movical we found good,but it was four sachets a day.
I think you need a clear out first though and then stay on something like movical for a few months or longer if needed.
My D's has had it for years,its bloody awful to watch and I know its so hard when Drs don't take it seriously, could you see someone else.
D's got so bad I he was admitted to hospital had enemas to clear him out and then movical.

Constipation can be due to diet but a lot of time it isn't,the hospital Dr said that to us as DS diet was very high in fiber,lots of fluids etc .

DO NOT increase fibre intake without medical advice. It caused huge problems with my MIL - she was eventually diagnosed with slow transit constipation and IBS - advice given by her doctor - from a leaflet she was emailed..
^‘For constipation, there’s a belief that eating fibre always helps,’

‘But with slow transit constipation (STC) — a nerve and muscle problem that causes the slow passage of waste through the large intestine — it can cause bloating and excessive gas.’

And for five million of the 12??million people suffering IBS in this country, fibre is one of the worst things, ( says Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at University Hospital of South Manchester.)

‘Adding a bulking agent in the form of fibre such as bran gives the bowel even more work to do,’

‘A significant number of IBS patients can be hyper-reactive to agents that stimulate or irritate the gut, particularly when it comes to bran.

Once assessed that this is the problem, switch to white bread, white pasta anything made from refined white flour, as these don’t contain as much rough fibre^

MIL did this and her symptoms are much relieved. Soluble fibre was advised, but non soluble fibre absolutely not advised. So obviously you need a diagnosis FIRST - as the advice can be completely opposite depending on the condition.

Glycerine suppositories are another alternative to OTC laxatives.

You haven't mentioned your diet. Do you eat plenty of fibre filled foods like vegetables? Are you taking a lot of medication

We should all pay more attention to our gut and it's health . I've had to educate myself I'm afraid.

Three and a half years ago I gave up wheat and gluten. That helped with inflammation in my gut and swelling . I'd given dairy up years before.

Two years ago I gave up all painkillers. I was taking ibuprofen regularly. If I have a headache I know there is a reason for it and I'm not masking symptoms.

I eat vegetables with every meal. Fruit is one or maybe occasionally two pieces of whole fruit a day. Usually an apple as pectin is good for the bowels.

To help move things along on an evening take 2 soft dried figs. You probably could do to take some probiotics . These put in good gut flora. I make my own kefir. See Donna Schwenk. You can buy capsules. Mine are probio 10. Making your own sauerkraut with cabbage, peppers etc is another way to get other strains of gut flora into you. Donna will tell you how.

I also drink a cleansing tea on a night. Tiger do a good one called ginger tea but it has nettle and lots of other good things in it.

I take linseeds, you need to chew them or soak them or take flax seed oil. You can mix this with quark. It's called Budwig creme. Dr Joanna Budwig used this as part of her cancer protocol but it also gets those stuck bowels moving.

I also take bio triphala. This is Ayurvedic medecine and is made from fruit. I use the powder and fill gelatine capsules with it. I've found this excellent and it was recommended to me by my Russian therapist. I gave him some kefir grains and he was delighted, it was just what they drank at home.

Lots of water or fruit infusions and yes it all works. Luckily I have drank little alcohol in my life and never smoked.

You have to educate yourself I'm afraid and there are lots of good books out there.
Seven weeks ago I cut out sugar from my diet as I was having terrible pains and cramps. That has gone now. The only sugar I have now is what occurs naturally in food.

You might want to do a parasite cleanse. Harmonikireland is good for this. I do one 2-3 times a year.

You can also learn abdominal massage on YouTube.

you can sort this out. It takes time and patience and committment to good health but it is so worth it.

I was feeling really tired over the winter so I've had blood tests done and when I went for the results my doctor said I had extremely healthy blood. He was delighted and so was I .

Good luck Op. its all about investing in yourself.

Dowser can I ask about the parasite cleanse? Sorry to derail OP...where do you buy it from? My DH has I've just realised the symptoms of a parasite infection.

Harmonikireland. When I bought it was £17 and lasts ages. You build up the dose from a few drops a day to full dose..

I've done them before taking clove tablets, wormwood and black walnut but this is more convenient.