Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dulcolax are the work of the devil?

155 replies

Salamamca · 29/08/2022 08:02

So I’ve been a bit constipated lately so on Saturday night I took a couple of dulcolax before bed.

Woke up Sunday morning with the most horrendous stomach cramps, I was sweating, nauseous, in absolute agony and felt like I was about to give birth. It was that bad I could literally see my lower abdomen moving around as though it was a baby kicking. I went to sit on toilet - nothing happened, just more pain and hot flushes. I splashed cold water on my face and went to try and make a coffee … doubled over in the kitchen, sweat pouring off my face I actually considered that I might need to go to A&E the pain was that bad. Suddenly felt the need to go to toilet, rushed there, sat down, had a normal poo and then OMG … I had a fart which I swear lasted about 15 seconds and then horrendous diarrhoea that was like water, it went on for ages. The cramping and diarrhoea went on all day and by the night time I was seeing bright red blood on the toilet paper. Started getting really concerned … googled … saw blood was a rare side effect … went to bed.

Woke up this morning feeling ok - had a coffee and the cramping has started up again.

Anyone else had such a horrible experience with these pills?? The rest are going in the bin!

AIBU to think this shouldn’t happen with over the counter medication??

OP posts:
WelshMoth · 30/08/2022 12:22

That post was to @NeverDropYourMooncup

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/08/2022 12:50

WelshMoth · 30/08/2022 12:07

Sorry! Wasn't being snarky towards you. More to DH and folk me that don't eat carefully enough.

Show quote history

Didn't take it as snarky at all, so no worries there.

I'm just the person who is slightly baffled at all these dramatic stories when I have taken six without any effect, along with multiple other things including prescription items over the course of days. I thought they were placebo/snake oil.

Hopefully if I ever need a colonoscopy, they'll have something that actually does work.

thatsjusttheticket · 30/08/2022 13:02

God this happened to me too! It was literally as close to death as I have ever felt. I thought this is it, I'm going to die shitting the waters of hell into my toilet. It was like giving birth to the devil himself. I was sat on the toilet just passing burning hot water and being sick in the bath at the same time. The cramps were worse than labour. I've never known anything like it. They should really carry a health warning because I'm young and healthy, but surely that could be dangerous for someone with a heart condition! I only took one tablet thank god.
Sorry if TMI but it's seared in my memory.

DonnaBanana · 30/08/2022 13:15

Why are you complaining about medication that actually worked? You were constipated and then you weren’t. If you hadn’t taken them you might have ended up impacted.. don’t blame the medication

LBFseBrom · 30/08/2022 13:20

You're not unreasonable but laxatives are like that I used to take Senokot when I was young and was often 'in labour' the next day :-) (mind you, one advantage was when I did eventually have a baby, when in labour I did feel as though I'd done it all before and it was easy).

I think the secret is to not take a large dose in one go.

Sideorderofchips · 31/08/2022 23:53

I never trust anything that says 'gentle relief'

Because half the time their version of gentle makes a teddy bear look like 5 nights at Freddies

LemonSwan · 01/09/2022 00:07

Must be something in the water!

I was feeling really shitty 🤣 and thankfully found a MN thread that said no to the dulcolax. Sent DP to get the lactolose and that alongside some abdominal massaging and a hot water bottle overnight has really eased everything along and got rid of the stomach pains. I don’t think it’s cleared me out 100% so going to have another go tomorrow.

Anxiousmummy1187 · 25/10/2022 22:42

I just came across this as I’ve experienced this too and I often think now whe I use them I don’t think I want another baby cos of this cos I legit think it’s same feeling. I always describe my daughter being born like taking a laxative 😂😂😂😂

Cruisebabe1 · 25/10/2022 23:10

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/08/2022 12:50

Didn't take it as snarky at all, so no worries there.

I'm just the person who is slightly baffled at all these dramatic stories when I have taken six without any effect, along with multiple other things including prescription items over the course of days. I thought they were placebo/snake oil.

Hopefully if I ever need a colonoscopy, they'll have something that actually does work.

Show quote history

With colonoscopies they give you something called picolax- they are really strong!

Motherland2624 · 25/10/2022 23:13

I used the to have to take 6 biscodyl to get anything moving
nowadays picolax brutal

tinx · 25/10/2022 23:14

Salamamca · 29/08/2022 08:02

So I’ve been a bit constipated lately so on Saturday night I took a couple of dulcolax before bed.

Woke up Sunday morning with the most horrendous stomach cramps, I was sweating, nauseous, in absolute agony and felt like I was about to give birth. It was that bad I could literally see my lower abdomen moving around as though it was a baby kicking. I went to sit on toilet - nothing happened, just more pain and hot flushes. I splashed cold water on my face and went to try and make a coffee … doubled over in the kitchen, sweat pouring off my face I actually considered that I might need to go to A&E the pain was that bad. Suddenly felt the need to go to toilet, rushed there, sat down, had a normal poo and then OMG … I had a fart which I swear lasted about 15 seconds and then horrendous diarrhoea that was like water, it went on for ages. The cramping and diarrhoea went on all day and by the night time I was seeing bright red blood on the toilet paper. Started getting really concerned … googled … saw blood was a rare side effect … went to bed.

Woke up this morning feeling ok - had a coffee and the cramping has started up again.

Anyone else had such a horrible experience with these pills?? The rest are going in the bin!

AIBU to think this shouldn’t happen with over the counter medication??

OMFG ! The same thing happened to me after taking dulcolax back a few years ago ended up in A&E it was awful

they are the work of Satan for sure

CaroleFuckingBaskin · 10/11/2022 03:10

Well....I like a fool took 2 yesterday about 5pm. At 9pm I had my first poo. Not too bad, and off I went to bed. 45 mins ago I woke to stomach pains and the loudest gurgling stomach. Dashed into the toilet and my god the explosion. I was shaking with the rectal fire that followed. Tiny steps back to bed. 5 mins later raced to the toilet again, pure liquid acid. Arse cream patted on gently. Came straight on here to do some research, and as I started to read the thread I was howling with laughter at everyone's experience, and nearly shit the bed. The cat litter post had me in stitches and straight back on the bog. Thank god for mn though, put my mind at ease as I thought I was going to be found dead in a pool of shit.
I hope this is over by morning. I am a dog walker and out for 2 hours at a time. This does not bode well.

BastardtheCat · 10/11/2022 15:31

Sorry, but Halloween GrinHalloween GrinHalloween GrinHalloween GrinHalloween GrinHalloween Grin

columbo83 · 10/11/2022 15:33

How's it going @CaroleFuckingBaskin

thereisonlyoneofme · 10/11/2022 15:39

Sorry Carolefuckingbaskin I cant stop laughing.
I swear by Dulcolax,1 take ONE every other day and they take a good 8 - 10 hours to work. I have no fear of pebbledashing the loo or anywhere else.

Oblomov22 · 10/11/2022 15:48

I had all of that. Almost identical. I have the digestion of an ox, never a problem, I sit down to go every morning, easily.

Both times after a hospital operation, GA which is well known for constipation. I took that tablets for days. Nothing. I was in so much discomfort. Took 2. Then I had what you describe. I actually hurt myself more, strained myself, because of the diarrhoea, on the toilet itself. Felt bad for days.

CaroleFuckingBaskin · 11/11/2022 17:37

Update
It took 36 hours for the nightmare to end. Trying to walk dogs when you have the shits is no mean feat.
Never ever again will I take 2 .probably not even one tablet!

You have been warned ⚠️ 😆

Chloefairydust · 11/11/2022 18:06

Maybe you took too many… I would just take 1 in future lol powerful stuff!

mumda · 11/11/2022 18:09

Sideorderofchips · 29/08/2022 08:30

Don't ever take 3

I thought someone had shoved a nuke up my arse, exploded it and the shit was the fall out.

I honestly thought I was dying

I'm sorry I've just laughed far too much at this.

Much arse sympathy to all.

HansSolo22 · 11/11/2022 18:16

I've had very similar to you after taking these. I mean they work, but my God its a horrific way to clear yourself out. I find senokot much more gentle, but they don't always work straight away (might be a day or so later). So not as effective immediately, but no where near as severe in terms of cramps.

dragonbreaths · 11/11/2022 18:34

I fainted off the toilet and knocked myself out on the bath, trying to have a post-baby poo. Was lovely for DH to find me unconscious on the floor with knickers around ankles 🤣

CaroleFuckingBaskin · 11/11/2022 22:24

@dragonbreaths

😂

EmilyGilmoresSass · 11/11/2022 22:27

I love this thread. Just watch the troll hunters don't come along making accusations about trolling older threads 😅

Redwineandroses · 11/11/2022 22:37

Taking two if you aren't used to them will make you feel like you're in labour!

I love them because I suffer from chronic constipation and these are the only thing I have ever found that will make me "go." Otherwise I just don't.

F3rnxy95 · 04/04/2024 06:26

My 10 year old takes dulcolax because she has a rare bowel disease.. she is meant to take it every day!! 15ml!!! Luckily i only give her 5ml but there’s been a few times she’s been severely constipated and has had to take 15ml and she is so so sick from it!!! Although it works! (Shes been on all the other laxetives seno, lactulose, movicol), none of them worked and she ended up in Southampton hospital needing an enema and now she’s on dulcolax! She has had an operation on her bowel but she will be on laxetives for life! But it bloody works !