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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to see or dr?

44 replies

Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 16:41

Fully appreciate my health anxiety may be fogging my mind here which is why I am reaching out.

I have had some bowel disruption for about three weeks, whilst on holiday (admittedly eating lots of greasy food, and drinking lots of alcohol) I had a day of diarrhoea. That I would cope with. I have since come home and been exceptionally constipated. Used over the counter laxitive to deal with the initial build up, and I am now going daily but very hard balls. Not my usual.

GP has told me to drink more. They don’t need to see me as a I had a clear colonoscopy last year.

happy to be told I need to get a grip!

OP posts:
IfHeWantedToHeWould · 04/09/2025 16:45

What laxatives have you taken and how long for?

Octavia64 · 04/09/2025 16:46

Not really doctor worthy.

Edenmum2 · 04/09/2025 16:47

If you are going daily I think it’s fine, try a stool softener for a while until you are back to normal.

Assuming no blood or anything?

MidnightPatrol · 04/09/2025 16:47

What are you hoping the GP is going to do when you see them?

chunkybear · 04/09/2025 16:57

Does sound like dehydration TBH, do what the Dr said and see how that goes, I’d give it a good 5 ish days before seeing the GP unless it gets worse

Original poster
Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 17:00

No blood, I don’t even feel uncomfortable to be honest. No bloating just finding it very difficult to actually do it and when I do it is a series of small and medium balls.

I only took one Dulcolax and I felt like I had a semi good clear out after that which was 10 days ago. After taken it it took me 5 days to go again, and I have gone daily since (as per above). I don’t know what I want dr do - logically I know I have probably just messed my bowel up a bit and need to reset it by eating more fibre and drinking more water but the panicked part of me thinks I have bowel cancer and it’s going to get worse and worse

OP posts:
Novs · 04/09/2025 17:02

I'd give it a few weeks and try lots of OTC stuff before seeing a GP or nurse practitioner.
Massively increase fibre and water intake.
Big bowl of all bran for breakfast
Dulcoease 3 or 4 a day.
Senna if needed as well.

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 04/09/2025 17:03

You need to try laxido sachets - two a day to start and drink lots of fluid as they draw water from the colon. Adjust as needed - you can take more or less or infrequently as required.

Tummytroubles22 · 04/09/2025 17:06

You’ve taken one laxitive and want a GP to refer you for a colonoscopy? Please take some responsibility for your health, no wonder GPs are absolutely swamped.

Original poster
Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 17:08

Tummytroubles22 · 04/09/2025 17:06

You’ve taken one laxitive and want a GP to refer you for a colonoscopy? Please take some responsibility for your health, no wonder GPs are absolutely swamped.

Not once did I say I wanted to be referred for a colonoscopy.

OP posts:
Tekknonan · 04/09/2025 17:13

Add seeds, beans and pulses to your diet, lots of veg. But when you up your fibre, always drink plenty of water. My go to is stewed, dried figs. Take over-the-counter stuff for a few days if you're worried, but upping your fibre and drining more (water) should do the trick.

Don't worry about worrying about bowel cancer. Loads of people do. But it doesn't sound like anything to worry about.

Original poster
Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 17:15

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 04/09/2025 17:03

You need to try laxido sachets - two a day to start and drink lots of fluid as they draw water from the colon. Adjust as needed - you can take more or less or infrequently as required.

Would I buy these over the counter? I have never had constipation before, even in a mild form.

OP posts:
IfHeWantedToHeWould · 04/09/2025 17:17

Agree you need Laxido or movicol sachets, you can buy them. They’re considered the gold standard for disimpaction.

cinnamonbunlover · 04/09/2025 17:22

Yes yabu. Self care. there’s about 6 types of laxatives over the counter. Go and speak with a pharmacist. Or you could ask here or you could google. Take dulcolax for a few days. Why did you stop taking it?

isitmytime · 04/09/2025 17:23

movicol and lots of water along with a good diet should sort you out. If you’re still having issues after another few weeks I’d check back with the dr as it’s not usual for you.

you can get Movicol from Amazon. I was having similar symptoms from painkillers and they sorted me out after 2 sachets for 2 days. They don’t taste amazing but I gulp them down and make sure to drink lots and lots of water after.

IfHeWantedToHeWould · 04/09/2025 17:24

Once you’ve made movicol up with the correct amount of water you can hide the taste with juice or squash or something.

Original poster
Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 17:24

cinnamonbunlover · 04/09/2025 17:22

Yes yabu. Self care. there’s about 6 types of laxatives over the counter. Go and speak with a pharmacist. Or you could ask here or you could google. Take dulcolax for a few days. Why did you stop taking it?

I just assumed you took one to clear things out to be honest and then after the clear out your body would start doing its thing as normal. After I took the initial one and seemed to have quite a bit clear out I assumed my body would naturally reset itself as I went back to my normal high fibre diet.

OP posts:
Blanketenvy · 04/09/2025 17:24

Really doesn't sound like anything to worry about at all. Lots of fibre and lots of water.

GlastoNinja · 04/09/2025 17:25

Buy some prune juice, it’s incredible stuff. Tastes disgusting though.

Dulcolax doesn’t really work for me, I get results as you’ve described. Senna is better. Two at night for as long as you need them

cestlavielife · 04/09/2025 17:26

Try a high dose of probiotics daily. Ask in a good health shop

gamerchick · 04/09/2025 17:28

Rabbit pellets can be a sign of a stressed liver. I think all you can do really is look after it, drink loads and let it sort itself out. I'd probably eat and drink clean for a bit.

Blushingm · 04/09/2025 17:28

What exactly would you expect gp to do?

you went away and ate rubbish food which understandably affected your bowel habits.

you too one dulcolax

honestly????

ComfortFoodCafe · 04/09/2025 17:28

Your body is adjusting to the food differences. You really dont need to see a doctor about this, youd be wasting their time sorry.

Hairshare · 04/09/2025 17:28

Tunnocks34 · 04/09/2025 17:00

No blood, I don’t even feel uncomfortable to be honest. No bloating just finding it very difficult to actually do it and when I do it is a series of small and medium balls.

I only took one Dulcolax and I felt like I had a semi good clear out after that which was 10 days ago. After taken it it took me 5 days to go again, and I have gone daily since (as per above). I don’t know what I want dr do - logically I know I have probably just messed my bowel up a bit and need to reset it by eating more fibre and drinking more water but the panicked part of me thinks I have bowel cancer and it’s going to get worse and worse

You've said it OP; you need more fluids and fibre (digestible gentle fibre like apples, nothing scratchy like bran) for a few days to reset things. I usually get that after-effect from a bout of diarrhoea and feel that I've chucked out such a lot of waste that it takes a while to build up again. Give it a couple of weeks before panicking.

mamamamamabear · 04/09/2025 17:30

Drinking lots and lots of water and eating lots of roughage really will help you

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