Does anyone else's bowels seize up with constipation when away?

[highashormones]

I have a pretty lazy bowel (abuse of laxitives in my youth) which I manage on a day to day basis with fybogel, flaxseed capsules and a strong coffee in the morning. However everything seems to seize up when I am away.

Normally I would take a strong senna laxative and that would get things moving by day 2/3 of the break but this Christmas I was away for 5 days and didn't go once!! Ducolax, prunes on top of the laxative didn't work.

Any tips would be welcome...

Welcome to my world! I don't go no matter how long we are away and it takes me weeks to get back to normal. Any change affects me - stress, etc. If anyone has a solution I'd love to hear it as I am down to only going away for a few days for this reason. Imagine if I went for a fortnight - ouch! Normal drugs I take don't help and neither does a laxative or anything I eat.

It's a nightmare isn't it? Totally puts me off going away. I can understand it a bit more when I have flown somewhere but can't work it out when I'm only in the UK...sigh

Yes!! Can make me feel really miserable.

Lots of prunes, fruit and water works for me but I do have to work really hard at it

At least with the UK breaks we can come home when I can't take it anymore. Mind the latest drone/airport thing might put me off flying for life now anyway lol!

Haha...we won't be able to afford to go abroad after BREXIT anyway!

It's due to a combination of any of these factors:

• Time difference between home and holiday destination
• Getting up early esp. on travel days
• Going to bed late
• Dehydration esp. if flying
• Reduced oxygen to internal organs if flying
• Different food and drink
• Days when you're sedentary because you're sitting in car/on train/plane
• 'That's not my toilet' syndrome

Work out which of the above could be contributing to the constipation and see if there are any you can change.

Good luck!

Same for me. Then thanks to mumsnet idiscovered Slimatee. It worked on holiday for the first time ever

Used to be like this, my record was 10 days on holiday, not fun! Now I have some sort of bowel condition, awaiting colonoscopy and quite the opposite, which isn't a barrel of laughs either

I tried all sorts but suspect mine was just needing my own loo to be able to poo which is bonkers really, especially when you've been days without going and are in pain and miserable!

I totally know what you mean OP. I just got back from visiting my dad in another country and am experiencing this! I've noticed it happens when I stay at other people's houses but not friends who I feel very comfortable with and have known a long time. I think it's something to do with change in routine and a very subtle anxiousness about being in a different environment

I’ve found my people! Yep, I’ve always had this, it’s just the way I am.
I recognise everything on your list MollyHuaCha
I like my own loo and preferably DH to be in a different postcode.

It’s like the line in Dinnerladies when Dolly says....’Bob can’t go to the toilet if we have guests...that’s why I can never have an all day buffet’

yes this is me too. It's very much a that's not my toilet syndrome for me. I always end up coming home from a weekend away feeling bloated and with tummy ache. As soon as we pull onto the drive I am desperate to go. Going away on holiday is a nightmare.

Glad to hear I am not alone

I too recognise everything on you list MollyHuaCha! I think flying and not feeling comfortable (proximity of the toilet to other people) are the main factors for me.

wishiwasacollie was Slimatee recommended as a solution to constipation or was it just the outcome of you trying a new product?

After doing some research I am also going to try Kiwi fruit there is some evidence that they work to relieve constipation

(grin) at augustgloop

I too want my DH to be in another postcode. Fortunately he goes to work early leaving me and my poos in peace in the morning. This break we were in a tiny hotel room with an even tinier bathroom on a very tight schedule. Most un-relaxing.

Hi. Sorry didn't realise I was asked a question. Re slimatee. I read on here that it ahem got things moving. I've gone from looking pregnant with quads at the end of every holiday to being quite regular.

Worked out some time ago it happens to me when we're somewhere with harder water than we have at home, so week in London, suffer from constipation, week in the Highlands, fine and dandy!

This is me. I take slimatee away with me but I sometimes have to use it at home. It’s not helped by taking meds which cause dehydration though. I now drink 2 litres of water most days and have given up coffee. Running helps and a careful diet with few carbs. It sucks and whenever I’m away I’m really grumpy.

Yep. I have bowel issues anyway (various prolpases haven't helped!) but holidays..everything grinds to a halt.
I take suppositories, and microlax enemas with me!