To ask for constipation remedies? Urgent!

[BelloItalia]

its getting me down, I’m completely unable to go to toilet. The only thing that works is dulcolax but that gives me a day of agonising diarrhoea.

I went to pharmacy, they suggested lactose- I’ve been taking it all week and nothing - I feel like I need to go but nothing is happening and I’ve been taking 30mls daily

Trying to avoid laxido as the taste makes me gag but is that literally the only thing left to try?

Prune juice used to work but not anymore 😭

30ml of lactolose daily is not enough. When I was pregnant I would take a big swolig from the the bottle 3x a day (don't recommend that obviously but desperately times!)
Also real, strong coffee.

Psyllium husk and a ton of water.

Boots multivitamin with live friendly bacteria was a lifechanger for me. Went from passing stool once a fortnight (using laxatives) to going 3+ times a day.

Definitely see a doctor in case there's an underlying cause though. Mine turned out to be an underactive thyroid which I only found out about nearly a year after solving the constipation issue.

Are people reading the OPs post properly? She says:

I’ve been taking it all week and nothing -

so it sounds like it's been at least a week. It's not clear but if that is right and you haven't had your bowels open at all for 7 days or longer (guessing you didn't start with the laxative on day 1) This is now approaching a potential medical emergency situation.

It depends on how long it is has been but seriously, speak to your GP. Even if it's nothing more serious like an obstruction, you need to get it dealt with before you get faecal impaction and need a manual evacuation.

I end up dosing with some over the counter laxatives, a Big Mac and vodka if that hasn’t shifted it a Carolina reaper pizza.

Fresh prune juice.
kiwis with skin on

Absolute last resort and not medically recommended but I found a salt water flush extremely effective. Explosive results, do not plan to leave the house for a few hours after drinking it! Obviously don't do this if you have any gut health issus or other medical stuff going on etc etc. And you have to drink LOADS of water for the rest of the day to rehydrate so I'd only do it in the morning.

Glycerine suppositories. They’ll work within minutes. You may need to repeat after about an hour though if v constipated xxx

Cook a whole bag of spinach and eat it.

Also seriously, is this a regular occurrence? Are you under the care of a doctor?

Glycerin suppositories
Laxido/movicol
2x kiwi fruit each morning for 2 weeks, gradually moving onto 30g soaked, ground flaxseed with breakfast. You can make these into smoothies.

Another glycerine suppositories vote, they’re miraculous for acute constipation then stick with the daily sachets to get back on track

Kiwi fruit, or dried apricots are good. Syrup of figs? Glycerin suppositories do work too.

If you've not been for a week, what's in your lower rectum is likely to have seriously hardened so it's fuck all good softening what's coming behind it!! I would try something like a Microlax enema and if that doesn't start things you need medical attention.

Movicol is the same stuff as laxido but there is an unflavoured Movicol. Once you have mixed it up with the right amount of water you can add squash/juice etc to make it taste better.

A bottle of cloudy apple juice usually works for me!

Movicol comes flavour free, or lemon & lime (mixes nice with fresh orange). You can increase or decrease the dosing on this to clear blockages. It’s very gentle, but it works, no stomach cramps.

Thanks everyone. I should have said I’ve suffered with constipation for years and I’m also on iron tablets. Dr isn’t interested, just tells me to eat more fibre. I did have a bowel camera a few years back, nothing remarkable seen on that.

The last time I went to toilet was last Thursday and that was with dulcolax. I’ve been taking 30ml lactolose ever since yet no bowel movement since. I know if I take dulcolax again I’ll completely empty my bowels! But im trying to stop the reliance on them 😕 if they stop working ill be totally knackered!!

All-bran.

These are great. Natural, gentle and work. https://amzn.eu/d/9Rb5wE5

I was prescribed Metamucil powder by a doctor overseas when I had a nasty bowel blockage requiring hospital intervention. You can buy it on Amazon - it's expensive but it works if you start to get bunged up.

Macrogol or dried prunes. Lots of water. If it's really bad a laxative (that you put in your anus).

Magnesium supplement. Works surprisingly well. I get mine from Nutrition Geeks on line.

Won’t do you any harm and might be helpful.

Dried apple with plenty of non-alcoholic fluids

Enema

Glycerine suppositories

Trip to the GP to investigate the causes of 'slow transit'

Certain medications, like antidepressants, can cause dreadful constipation

Don't be fobbed off with 'just one of those things', ask for a full investigation and be prepared to radically change your diet

I have to take macrogol every day because like you I take an iron supplement that constipates. Better to stick to that then being constipated...

Sugar free gummies, licorice and fresh coffee often have a laxative effect!
I know people with severe problems that swear by movicol - it's fine to keep upping the dose untill it is working for you.