Constipation... Nothing is working!

[Bluestar23]

Hi,

I've been constipated for 3 weeks which is new for me and in my 40s.
I've hardly been to the toilet at all in this time.
It took me a few days to realise introduced more porridge etc then tried some paediatric movicol. Ended up with a gastro bug as did hubby but only had the cramps and nausea.
When I'd recovered still nothing so had 3 days on adult movicol. Thought I'd overdosed and had diarrhoea but realised it was overflow (sorry tmi!).
Gave it a few days then this weekend thought I just need to get things moving.
Friday I had 4 movicol
Saturday 4 movicol, prunes, porridge with chia seeds, lentil soup, all bran, fruit and veg, lots of water etc barely anything happened.
Sunday carried on with the same but had a dulcolax tablet. Monday morning 2 small bm.
Went to speak to a pharmacist they said tried senna. This morning again 2 small bm.
Spoke to Dr today who didn't seem bothered and said try more senna so I'm trying more tonight.
For the last week and a bit my meals have been light, trying to get fibre, water, veg, lentils, beans etc.
Any other tips please!
It just feels ridiculous now!!
I'm not in pain which is really strange but I do have bad back ache and I'm bloated.
Thanks!

Try a chair with a gap around the base of your spine... sounds crazy but I have one of those coccyx support cushions with a cut out for a bad spine... and too much codiene can result in your problem... 30mins sat on that works a treat!

Are you keeping up with the Movicol daily? There’s no point stopping and starting, chopping and changing. You can take up to eight sachets of Movicol per day if you want to do a full clear out, which would probably be wise at this point.

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Like this one..

Really strong coffee. Like four shots of espresso at once. Ground coffee, not the instant type. Always works for me!

Sodium picosulphate always works for me- you can get it OTC

Cigarette and strong coffee works for me!!

Strong coffee - cafetière or similar, not the instant stuff. Repeat throughout the day. Caffeine is a stimulant so it works on your bowels too💩

You need to see a doctor asap! it is very possible you have an obstructed bowel which will explain why all those things arent working and you have bloatedness. Is your stomach nosiy? are you burping at all?. If you do have a blocked bowel you need to stop consuming everything food/water/laxatives etc because it will make your bloatedness worse, go on a fast. If you haven't had bowel movement for 3 weeks and (I'm not sure what you're regular pattern is) you run the risk of bowel perforation. Pls see you GP or go to A&E. Only an x-ray or CT scan can diagnose it properly.

4 senna tablets three times a day.

2 Dulcolax and lots and lots of hot water tonight. Then tomorrow more hot water plus 2 strong coffees and some Weetabix. Also go for a run or at least a very brisk walk to get things moving.

Dulcolax - liquid is better than the tablets.

Sit ups can help, do ten an hour.

You need to see a GP. Is you tummy soft or hard?

This.

Are you passing any wind or burping? I too would be extremely concerned with the abdo bloating and passing next to nothing in 3 weeks- that it might be an obstruction!!!
Use something like a squatty potty to lift your feet up. Bricks, small steps, large tins or anything to raise your feet up to open the sphincter and ease defecation. If this doesn't work, please get seen again.

Dulcoease (sodium docusate), lots of milky coffee and walking around!!

The only thing to help DD after spinal surgery - the doctors had tried absolutely everything else but in the end the magic cure was a few trips to the hospital Starbucks…! Don’t eat loads of fibre, you’re too far gone for that and it will only block you up more

@OP please do not consume anything again until you've been checked. DO NOT increase movicol, laxatives etc if it is not ordinary constipation you could be endagering your life.

Have had issues with this my whole life because of Colitis/IBS and I've found all the suggested fibre foods make it worse. What actually helps is fatty foods (not healthy but greasy stuff like McDonald's), warm milky drinks, hot water (coffee or tea probably also work), and rich sweet foods (like a warm chocolate brownie).

Don't keep piling up the high fibre stuff because it's adding more difficult to digest bulk. Lactulose is also very helpful.

Stop eating fibre and seek medical advice. If you have an obstruction adding to it won't help.

I would go back to GP. Being bunged up like that for weeks is not normal is it? You must be feeling quite unwell.

If and when you get sorted medically, I find (having had similar but only for a couple of days), that porridge with chia and flaxseed and a strong coffee every day is amazing for regularity in that department!

Hot water first thing in the morning is supposed to be good too, although I've never tried it myself.

Hope things improve.

Get yourself to the drs woman, it's been 3 weeks, you need checking.

A strong coffee on an empty stomach works miracles. Good luck and hope you feel better very soon x

Are u able to pass wind? If yes GP if no I'd ring 111 tonight.

I once didn’t go for three weeks. GP advised senna overnight and two glycerine suppositories in the morning, and that worked.

Lactulose will work but it's very quick and quite scary. You will need to stay home for a few days. Drink lots of fluids hot or cold. But stay near a toilet and stay calm