movicol and pencil thin stools- is this right?

[sunglasses]

Have been prescribed movicol for long term constipation problems which started after 2nd c-section 3 years ago. I go almost every day normally but often had hard dry stools difficult to pass and a feeling of incomplete emptying. Also inflated painful tummy and sometimes a really achey lower back. At first movicol made me have no bowel movements for 3 days but I did feel a bit more comfortable in the tummy area. Then had a day or two of frequent soft pencil thin poo. I eased up on the movicol for a day and returned to constipated symptoms so upped dose to two a day( although yesterday had 3 as sooo uncomfortable!) Now once again the pencil poos have returned but I still have a big swollen tummy. could there be a blockage? is this normal? How quickly should I return to the doctor? Only been taking them for about 10 days so want to give them time to work properly but not sure if this is right- was expecting to have a good clear out! and feel all empty and flat tummy but still feel a bit bunged up. Please give me your experienced opinions

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Hi sunglases
I only know about movicol in children..
DD was born with an Imperforate anus, had various surgeries and has been on movicol for all her life..
Before the last op her poos were also pencil thin and this was because only some of the stool had softened..with chronic constipation it can get very much like clay and stick to the walls of things..and the soft stool passes through it. She had a bowel wash (clinical enema) and cleared the bowel..and started movicol again without the blockage..I now have some at home to give her if she seems blocked again. Maybe something you want to think about.

Hope it helps x

Hi sunglasses,
I'm on it as well, long term, for chronic constipation after bowel surgery.

I also have pencil thin stools, but without the discomfort that you seem to be experiencing. If I were you, I'd go back to your GP and discuss it. If you haven't already been referred on (gastroenterology or to specialist nurse) you should ask for it.

3 sachets per day isn't anywhere near the maximum dose, so you could up it a bit more and see what happens - but if it hasn't already been agreed with your specialist that you can adjust the dose yourself, I would go back and discuss it with the GP first/ask for the referral.

I know you can feel like you're being over anxious, and the chances are you don't have a blockage - but it can happen, and it's better to be safe than sorry, and talking it over with a specialist, or having a course of biofeedback and proper advice on how to use it and what to look out for could set your mind at rest.

hope that helps.

Thanks for the feedback. Vig..- Do you know why you have pencil thin poos? Is it a normal thing when trying to clear constipation? I will go back to doctor and in the meantime I am trying to stick to two sachets a day as recommended. Sugarbea- I think that only some of the poo softening could be an explanation for what is going on with me and why I am going little and often while it is slowly clearing out. What was the bowel wash procedure? sounds a bit scary but also strangely appealing to me at the moment!

They put a rubber tube in dd's bottom....syringed water into the other end of the tube and wiggles it about a bit...They put a little bit of olive oil in too to soften it up, the nurses rubbed her belly to help the water work its way round and it all came out...Its basically an enema.
dd's belly was completely flat after. I find tthat its best to keep the movicol levels up aas i became a bit confused about whether there was a blockage or not as it makes the stools very soft anyway. I now have micro enemas that i can do at home with her if i think she's blocked...Literally a small tube ( a kind of pessary) that goes in. But those ones take a few hours to work...I don't know if it's different in adults as shes still only 10 months old and doesn't have control over her bowel movements yet..But i'm sure there is an adult verson.

I don't know, I'm afraid - but I didn't think it's linked to the movicol, because there are several physical reasons in my case iyswim.
Sorry not to be more helpful!

Hi i know this was a long time back this message but did it ever resolve as i have same problem and im worried. Thanks

Ah my specialist subject! When I have a blockage my stomach is big and hard and obviously you are already suspicious after a few rabbit dropping days. The solution actually is the Movical (now Laxidose) and it usually takes 10 sachets and 2 days (10 each) to shift it. The soft pencil thin ones are quite normal for me (also on this for life due to chronic constipation, operation fails, etc). I don't think I ever feel empty but then I have numerous issues going on. Your GP can tell you with just a feel round your tummy if you have a blockage and it also perfectly possible to have a blockage and diarrhoea at the same time (holidays for me yay!)

Alipali999- Do you still have problems with constipation? I know this was an old post !