To ask what helps you with long term constipation?

[orangeleopard]

I know it’s a bit of a weird one, but I have a chronic illness which causes me to have agonising joint pain. I’ve been on a pain management plan of different forms of codeine every day for years now and constipation is obviously something I struggle with. I get prescribed senna along with my pain medication, but it’s got to the point where it does nothing anymore and I’m constantly bloated, constipated and uncomfortable.

so can I ask, what foods or alternate medication do you use to help regular bowel movements? (Ps please don’t say dulcolax, that stuff is foul and should be banned)

There is a really nice prune juice at Waitrose that I’ve found a small glass of every morning has helped. It’s in a cardboard carton.

Glycerin suppositories.

I had a bad case of piles and constipation and got these from the doctor.

They are amazing and work a treat lol.

I ordered some off Amazon and use them when I have a flare up of piles and can't poo.

This is a very unsexy post 🤣🤣

A Chinese friend told me drinking a mug of hot water (plain water, not even herbal tea) can get things moving.

Yabu.

Relevance of friend being Chinese?

Laxido, get it prescribed. Game changer for me.

Lactulose if you can manage it and suppositories or movicol/laxido.

My DH used to have terrible issues and dulcolax and glycerin suppositories were the only thing that worked for him.

However he has been eating an avocado daily as part of a low carb diet we were doing and has been going daily ever since. I mean it might be something else he's now eating as we are eating more nuts and seeds and dark chocolate, but he's pretty convinced it's the avocado.

Certainly worth a try as it won't do you any harm regardless.

Can I ask why you think dulcolax should be banned? (Honest genuine question as someone who takes it occasionally and may regret it based on your answer?!)

Other than that, prunes of course. Water. Stomach and abdominal massages.

Along with psyllium Husk (fiber), use Optibac probiotics. It worked for me.

All bran cereal, whole linseeds.

Eat lots of carrots and drink soluble magnesium.

Homemade kefir with flax and chia seeds. Totally cured my constipation and done wonders for my psoriasis as well.

Sorry to hear that you have been in pain and have been experiencing bowel problems.

As someone who has IBS, I have the opposite problem, unless I take codeine!

Keeping well hydrated with fluids helps with constipation, movement, walking helps, increasing your fruit and veg intake, orange juice, things like prunes grapes, increasing your fibre intake....ie bran flakes, all bran etc.

Lactulose is a stool softener and you might be able to find a laxative that you don't mind taking i.e senna, Laxido.

I hope this helps, and get well soon

Lepicol. Like drinking sawdust but does the job.

Psyllium Husk, I have to take 2 tablets every morning with a strong coffee which is the only thing that works every morning.

Psyllium husk once you have cleared the blockage is good as a preventable measure. DO NOT take it if you are constipated.

Psyllium husk you can get from Amazon. Two teaspoons mixed in water works perfectly. I am on long term opiates and this is the only thing that has helped x

Fybogel, 2 sachets a day plus 2 senna at night

Magnesium helps.

I take 2 tablets every night just before bed.

Absolutely psyllium. Mix it into a glass of warm water and then drink another big glass of water. It's such good stuff.

This will last you for months, and mixes really easily:

amzn.eu/d/6maIxUH

If you’ve got to take codeine then you need something long term. As people have said, taking something like lactulose (for a few months at least) and using glycerin suppositories will help. Once you start to feel things are more normal, eating an orange a day, adding (more?) beans to your diet and drinking plenty of water will help.

Another vote for linseed. Tablespoon with all bran every day. It softens everything up. Magnesium before bed. Going to the loo at the same time every day. Even if you don’t feel like it. Do stomach exercises while trying to go. Hold stomach in and push out. This was advice from specialist at Addenbrooks.

If you are desperate the Micralax Micro enemas are a life saver. Available on Amazon.

Oh and don’t forget to use a stool for your stool! Raising your feet up off the ground really helps with the evacuation procedure.