Fellow Movicol users...can I ask you a personal question?

[thegingerwhinger]

I became constipated quite suddenly recently and, amongst other things the Dr suggested Movicol. I've been using it for a few weeks now (2-4 sachets a day) and it certainly works! But I find that my poos are still very thin and small; they're not proper poos like I used to do before the constipation.

Is this a side-affect of Movicol? Does it affect how your stools come out?

I've got an appointment with a gastroentorologist soon, but I'll feel rather silly if I get there and he says it's no wonder I'm having small thin poos when I'm taking Movicol every day.

What's your experience of it?

Thanks, and sorry for the personal nature of my question. I don't usually ask people what their poos are like

my dd has to take 10 sachets a day for the next fortnight to unblock her bowels!

My Ds had half to one sachets daily to keep him regular. I find his poos are quite thin and soft and take a bit more wiping (sorry tmi I know) but if he has less movicol or none constipation starts again. This is preferable to the constipation for sure.

I would ask your specialist, don't feel silly. They will be able to advise you. (and they Wong think its a silly question either!)

Won't, not Wong. Damn phone!

Completely normal for movicol to cause thin weedy looking stools. Did for me too and as was about to undergo delicate surgery discussed with my colorectal surgeon. He suggested a switch to Fibrogel which is a bulking agent. Did the trick! :)

you might need to reduce your dose a bit - I'm on one a day, but if mine go too thin I miss one and all goes back to normal. 2-4 would be waaaaaaay too much for me - but depends how your bowel is. A bit of a black art, dosing...

2-4 is an incredible amount - I have been on one a day for a long time and yes that is the effect it will have on your poos - a lot more toilet paper is needed ahem.

2-4 sachets sounds to me as if your diet needs altering - did he suggest that as well?

Hi, I've been on multiple laxatives and all sorts every day since 2007.
I take 6-8 movicles a day, prucalopride and use a peristeen (a type of bowel irrigation catheter)
My bowel problems started when I was in an accident breaking my spine in several places , broke both feet, and damaging spinal cord. I now have problems with both bladder and bowels.
My bowels don't work because of nerve damage, and strong painkillers don't help either.

Movicle, a laxative, will alter what your poo looks like. Well all sorts of factors can affect, shape, texture etc.

Thin and small is a start. It's probably because there's a bit of a backlog (iyswim).

The movicol's doing it's stuff. Keep taking it, doses are easy to adjust.DS takes dulcolax sometimes too.

And don't worry about asking your Dr 'daft' questions. He'd rather you did that than research dodgy health websites.

pssst...

According to what you describe, Bristol stool chart says your type 4 to type 5.
Have a look.
www.continence.org.au/pages/bristol-stool-chart.html

Type 1 indicating constipation
Through to type 7 indication diarrhoea.
So from what you describe is normal and would say about right being slightly on soft side from laxative.