Urgent! What works for chronic constipation to the point I simply can't go?

[Pixiedust1973]

Not been to the toilet for over a week now. Got to the stage where I cannot eat. Nothing is working I have tried exlax chocolate, suppositories, laxido (8 sachets) & dulcalax pico pearles plus lots of water. The out of hours GP prescribed the pico pearles last night & I took them about 10 1/2 hours ago as well as the max dose of laxiod again & suppositories. Supposed to work within 6 to 12 hours, still nothing.. What else can I try? I don't want to spend Christmas day on the toilet or unable to eat. :(

No, you can't go visiting. I think you should go back to A&E.

They want your GP to refer you for ultrasound?! FFS. They could have arranged an ultrasound themselves, although with a skeleton staff I expect that's next to impossible. So typical of out-of-hours NHS care. I am fizzing with rage for you.

What do they want to happen to you? Vomiting faecal matter? Serious bowel damage?

They should not have discharged you in such a poor condition. Negligent and dangerous. Please don't hesitate to go back to A&E today.

They gave my some lactulose & fibogel which never help me. Not going to take anything else today. Thrown in the towel & started on the Person I instead. Not had a drink in almost a year but sod it lol.

Will start on the senna tomorrow. Thanks. :)

Senna and all the other things won't help. Not by this point. You need proper hospital care, I think.

Apparently the various things can take a few days to work. If that's the case why keep me in at all? Think I will make a complaint to pals when I am better.

That's bollocks. You've had enough meds to fell an elephant and they haven't worked.

Don't even bother with Fybogel and Lactulose. Those are treatments for mild constipation. Complete waste of time.

I agree that senna won't work at this stage either.

In fact, the only thing I'd continue with is Movicol/Laxido at the maximum dose (is that 8 sachets a day). IIRC that's the only thing that can treat faecal impaction, which is essentially what you have. Do you have any left?

Not top of your priority list today but you can also make a complaint via @patientopinion. Naming and shaming on Twitter can be surprisingly effective.

Will continue with the laxido & pico pearles tomorrow. Had movicol today already but not sure how much. Only the 2 sachets I think. Not taken any pico today. Will try again tomorrow. Dinner soon.. Hopefully I can eat something at least. Been ages since I had a proper meal.

Got loads of laxido at home. Gp prescribed me another 2 boxes. :)

You're a similar area to me if ESH is your A&E.
I'd suggest if they're not too far you either try going to A&E at Princess Royal or Worthing, even the Royal Surrey.

You need far more than what they've given you.

Sorry to hear you are still suffering. I read earlier that you had taken codeine and I believe this causes constipation by slowing down the natural movement of the bowel, so maybe you should keep taking something that helps with this plus a softener. So either movicol or lactulose plus senna. The senna is the one that helps to move things along. I think movicol does both. I agree this is not ideal, but as you are not getting treated you need something to keep things soft until you do see the doctor. Plus some booze to cheer you up of course.
Also if you are sore, someone mentioned to try preparation H which is really for piles, but has a local anaesthetic in it.

Hi pixie

Now you might think this sounds disgusting. But one time when my sister hadn't been to the loo for days the doctor told her to put some thin plastic gloves on and put some lubricant on finger put it up bum and see if she could move the impact at the bottom of her bowel.

It moved the impact that was there, try it

Pixie, my sis (nurse) said not to take the fibogel (makes it worse?) but continue the movicol/ laxido at maximum dose per day. And ideally, have a colonic irrigation soon. Can be done privately as well.

Hope you're better soon. If you get bad pain, please go to a & e !

You poor woman. I really hope you get some relief soon.

I have never been so emotionally invested In a stranger's bowel movement before. Please go back to hospital

Pixie that sounds awful.
Hkping things improve for you and if not seconding going to a different hospital

If you've only had 2 sachets so far that won't make an enormous difference. Take another six today - don't leave it until tomorrow. I know it tastes foul, but you can mix it into a smaller amount of water than directed to get it over with quicker. Then follow it up with some plain water.

You really must take as much of the movicol/movicol equivalent as you can and drink lots of fluid.

Yes, keep taking the movicol/laxido at maximum dose. It might take a few days to work. It might cause diarrhea later on but the problem is to solve the constipation for now, later on will take care of itself later on.

What a waste of time admitting you to hospital to just discharge you again. However, I think if they had been really concerned they would have kept you in.

Oh no-still no poo

I can't believe the hospital didn't sort you out.

They way they "treated" you is disgusting, hospital should not have sent you home. Def make a complaint.
I urge you to go to a different A&E and refuse to leave until you are better.Maybe going to MIL is not a good idea as you won't be able to relax and if suddenly you need a loo...well you don't want others to witness it.
Write down all the meds you have taken and shove the list under their face. You need urgent solution not a fucking referral. I really feel for you. I am not trying to be Miss Know it all but this can damage your intestines. And you could be vomiting poo very soon...
Buy tomorrow a bottle of sunsweet californian prune juice, it ran through me in 1 hour. Might work for you.
Get well soon xx

i am not surprised they sent you home, they probably thought you didnt want to be in for chirstmas.

how are you doing today op?

pehraps the food you ate will help shift things.