Chronic Constipation

[tonystarksrighthand]

Sigh ....

Has anyone come back from this?

I've suffered with chronic constipation my whole life. Doctor not interested.

I do the following:

Daily 1hr Walk
Run 5K 3x a week
2x Movicol a day (I'm allergic to fybogel)
Handful of prunes, tablespoon of flaxseed and oats for breakfast
1.5-2 litres of fluid a day - not always plain water

I'm still lucky if I go once a fortnight. I'm literally sick of this, sick of the bloating, pain, and pure feeling of uncomfortable constantly.

Sounds horrible. Have you tried eating plenty of pineapple - can really help. It might be worth seeing a nutritional therapist. This is something they will regularly help people with.

Prunes and seeds won’t be enough if you’re endlessly constipated. Eat oats and nuts for breakfast and a raw carrot and a glass of water in between every meal. Get a foot stool for your toilet and drink at least 2 litres of water every day.

I suggest you look at the Bowel Bladder UK website for help.

Doesn't sound as though the movicol dose is high enough and you can have other meds with movicol - either sodium picosulfate (dulcolax) which is a softener and stimulant or something else (sorry I can't remember the name) which is just a stimulant.

It's an area gp's are often not very good with so you do need to be quite firm with them or find a different GP.

Genuinely think you should be referred to a specialist gastroenterologist. Push your gp for a referral or go to a different GP x

What tests have you had done at the hospital OP?

I had to go private in the end as the NHS was moving too slow. Gold standard for investigating chronic constipation is a sitz marker test. Ask (demand!) your consultant. This will highlight where in the digestive track you are slowing down.

Also, nerve stimulation could help. Although again I'm not sure if the NHS would offer this.

Good luck

This worked for me when nothing else did and now I take it daily. I am aware that it gained some TikTok fame as the ‘internal shower’ however it’s just natural stuff from the supermarket and in my view worth a try.

-2 tablespoons chia seeds in
-a big glass of water
-top up with a good squeeze of lemon or lime
-Wait for 20 mins until it goes gloopy- don’t drink whilst the seeds are still dry

Maybe twice a day if it’s acute

Good luck xx

Your laxative regime has good scope for increase or to have other treatments added. The movicol dose can be increased further or you can add in other laxatives if that on its own is not effective. Have you had any bowel investigations or referral to gastroenterology? If the gp isn’t able to manage the problem perhaps you should request a referral.

Milk of magnesia. Very strong and effective.

I've tried various things over the years and I saw on here some time ago Ortis fruits and fibre cubes. They seem to work really well for me and are gentle but very effective. I feel better using them as they are full of natural things. If you don't mind the taste of dried fruit ( figs, dates, rhubarb and tamarind) then they are easily used. Good luck, hope you find something that works for you. 💐

I sympathise with you. Being bunged up effects all of you,body and mind.Things to try...syrup of figs, brilliant,Lactulose,pessaries.

Probiotics and pears, every day! They really help me.

You don't mention what your diet is like otherwise. It is not about a dose in the morning, but ensuring sufficient fibre in all meals. What does your average lunch and dinner comprise? Are you regularly eating fruit and vegetables?

I take magnesium for constipation and it works every day. One at night and I'm good to go in the morning

I suffer too. The only thing that helps me is oranges or tangerines. 3 a day!

Too much fibre can also make you constipated. Try warm to mildly hot water first thing in morning.

Magnesium has helped me massively. I notice a big difference when I don’t take it, I also had chronic constipation, doctors weren’t much help either - ‘some people just don’t go much’ apparently 🙄

My lifestyle sounds the same as yours and I've been exactly the same lately. My doctor told me I basically needed to have a clear out and suggested I do 4 sachets of movicol on day 1, 6 on day 2 then 8 on day 3 if that doesn't work.. that should prompt a thorough evacuation shall we say then they said I should find my maintenance dose and do this for 2 weeks then go back to them to see. I've had 2 colonoscopies in the past couple years as well as samples and bloods taken etc. Its basically just ibs but it is shit (mind the pun) so I feel for you and I hope something works soon x

It's just fibre