Time for movicol to work?

[LakeFlyPie]

I became constipated (just stopped pooing) for no apparent reason about 6 weeks ago. Saw GP last week who prescribed 2 weeks of movicol (1 sachet am and pm). On day 4 now and it has produced some very soft 'thin' results but I still don't feel like my bowel is actually working like it used to. Just doesn't feel like there's any peristalsis going on if that makes sense. Will movicol have reached it's peak effect by now or can I expect more? Planning to go back to GP if not back to normal by next week. TIA

Sometimes the thin bits can come out around the end of a bigger blockage. If you haven't been for 6 weeks there must be a lot to come out . You could try increasing the dose by half or one sachet a day - call your doc and ask if you don't want to do it without asking. I have found that it can take a several days to work sometimes if there's a bad blockage. I use it regularly because of constipation due to medication so I have some experience. Other things that have helped alongside the movicol include magnesium citrate and fizzy vitamin C (I think ascorbic acid is a mild irritant to the bowel, and the artificial sweeteners also have a laxative effect). I found out by accident that if I kept up the magnesium and vitamin C I hardly ever need the movicol! I hope you feel better soon.

Forgot to add, you could try taking both sachets at once in the evening, I found one big dose better than two small ones. Often it's advised to take it in the morning but I find if I take with evening meal it works overnight for a predictable morning poo

Have you had a big glass of prune juice?

First of all, I would want such a sudden and extreme change in bowel habit to be investigated properly, because to stop working suddenly like that is quite unusual.

Secondly, Movicol is just a stool softener and not a stimulant. So if, as you suspect, your bowel isn’t moving like it should, then Movicol just results in your body retaining a vast amount of soft stool that has no reason not to come out, as it were (I have incredibly sluggish bowels that do this a lot).

You can safely increase the Movicol dose though. One sachet in the morning and one at night really isn’t going to blast out an impaction. This could also be why you aren’t getting much relief. As long as you don’t have to go to work (you really need to stay home for this) you can massively increase the dose. I would take four sachets in the morning and another four at night if that didn’t work.

Thanks for replies. Previous 6 weeks weren't complete bowel strike but a definite abrupt change. Will persevere with movicol and high fibre / high fluid intake and back to GP in a week or so.
Didn't think I could miss normal poo-big this much, simple pleasures and all that!

Not high fibre, that will add to your problem if things still aren't running smoothly. No additional fibre. Get some milk of magnesia and prune juice to take alongside your movicol. You'll have a good clear out and then can work on keeping things moving normally. Trust me on the fibre.

Movicol works by helping absorption of fluid in the bowel. As long as there's no other problem going on, drink twice as much as you are already drinking.

Oh no funnyface have really gone for it fibre wise today 😮
Will triple the fluid intake and hope for the best

Maybe a glycerin suppository might help? I didn't go for a week after being hospitalised and being on strong painkillers and a suppository shifted it!

You can take up to 10 sachets for a blockage (I sometimes need to do this twice but I am very strange indeed). I agree sounds like blockage - you may need to attack from both ends (glycerine suppository or enema up the other end). Tin of beans, prunes and branflakes sometimes help me too. Good luck!

I would also use a supository to attack from both ends. Apple juice can help you go.