Severe constipation slow bowel?

[Notthecorner]

I am going through one of the worst episodes of constipation I’ve had in years and I am struggling with it day to day. Any advice to get back on track after a bad bout?

I have seen a GP and they told me to ‘eat more oranges’. They did give me medication and a vague routine for 2 weeks but I feel on my own with this and unsure where to begin. I am keen to prevent this happening again once I can get through this episode.

I eat well and exercise, healthy weight but recently had a very stressful month where I wasn’t in my usual routines at all (wasn’t at home for much of it and travelling) and my body has reacted to change in food/eating times and I think I got a bit dehydrated. This led to some constipation that then got worse and worse, to the point where nothing I did to go to the loo was working so I was severely and painfully impacted.

The GP was considering sending me to A&E for a manual disimpaction if I had not had a bowel movement in the next 24 hours but finally I did go a bit but I am so sore and mentally fed up.

I am doing a movicol routine with prune juice (which is rank!). I tried glycerol suppositories but they didn’t do much. I’ve now got the enema syringes to try. I don’t want to do the spasmodic laxatives as they cause so much stress on your body and are only short term, aka chain you to the loo for the whole day and I have a job to go to!

I have been told by a doctor once I have ‘slow bowel motility’ but nothing was given to me to help with this and I don’t know what plan to follow I am making up my own plan! I also haven’t seen a gastro for their opinion. Helpfully the GP told me my bowel and rectum will all be stretched now so it will probably happen again. Does anyone else have slow bowel motility?

Especially considering we’re all drinking more in this warm weather, absolutely drink plenty of water. More than usual.

Thanks, I do adjust positions if needed! Leaning back is actually easier. I stepped down my laxido a little bit to see if this helps reduce the water but it’s very very loose and TMI but isn’t the best smell 😞. I can’t win! At least I am going regularly. I might have to step laxido down a bit more.

I stopped taking all the medication in the end as I have persistent loose stools and it was making it worse. I haven’t had any normal stools for about 5 months now although my tests were all normal. I am at my wits end

Ask for a referral to gastro maybe? Your bowel habit has changed so they should be able to check it out, or at least speak to you about it.

Yes i have hypomotility and some on off constipation, Gastro appt took a years wait for them to tell me to fart my excess gas out. Yeh cos i don’t try. Not kind or helpful.
They diagnosed IBS gave prucalopride 2mg. I tried linactotide and lost 800g in weight in 6hrs mostly water from my rear. So now i use 1/2 a dulcolax suppository morning& evening which reduces severe build of wind and unbearable pain. Awaiting simithicone on prescription for excess wind. (All mine were brought on by covid then 8mths of stomach infections & antibiotics until guts just stopped working).

5 months of altered bowel habits, this is overdue a gastro referral and an urgent colonoscopy.

I agree but when I go they just test my stool and press my stomach. I’ve had an ultrasound as well and everything was fine. I feel like it started after I had a course of antibiotics back in winter time?

I'm sorry for your troubles. I have read the full thread and I may have missed it but are you in peri/menopause? Sometimes HRT can help stimulate bowels. It's definitely worth looking into, but it does look like the pp and you should maybe get a referral.

I’ve had very similar problems - occasional episodes when suddenly everything seems to go on strike for weeks, with no reason or explanation that I can see. I’d been back to the GP a few times, worrying a lot but with clear results from all tests, before the lightbulb went on that this was a recurrent thing and would eventually sort itself out. In fact I’m having a spell of it right now but not bothering with the docs because I reckon it’s just going to go away in time. It can get quite bad and even laxatives don’t do anything at all, but you just get so worried and my theory is that this reinforces the problem - your gut is like a second brain, after all.

I did however discover Fybocalm - capsules that you take twice a day and that draw water in. They’re quite gentle but I find them effective, you just have to be really patient. Keeping well hydrated is important.

This is only my theory but I had quite severe endometriosis and a lot of internal adhesions from surgery. My suspicion is that my bowels are twisted up in all sorts of weird formations and this is likely, if not to be causing the problems, certainly not helping.

I have had this for years.

My current approach is, having done the unblocking, to have laxido first thing every morning, then gut friendly breakfast of porridge adulterated with plenty of ground flax, kiwi fruit, kefir and tahini. Then a nice warm mug of cacao (which is more bitter than cocoa, but it grows on you.) It is good to include bitter foods as they encourage your stomach to create digestive juices. Warm food also helps.

I have also been trying to help out the reflux with supplements as the reflux/constipation are interrelated and probably make each other worse.

I am also aiming for 30g fibre ( breakfast is over a third of this, then wholegrains, seeds, pulses and plenty fresh vegetables, especially broccoli family). I don't bother with things like bran as they have never helped in the past.

I have also cut right down on sugar.

So far it is going well. It is a slow progress. I am hoping to cut down the laxido around September. I'm in it for the long haul now.

I’ve the same thing! Started about 10 years ago at 15 and had a 2 month bout that ended in March. During this episode the only time I could go was when I took stimulant laxatives, even suppositories yielded no effect!
I was due to have a colonoscopy at the start of April, however as my bowel had improved by then I decided to postpone.
They said they would contact me again in June and if I decline I will be taken off the list but can’t decide what to do as things have been working again since March

I had a bit of an epiphany and I don’t know why I hadn’t connected it but anyway. I’m dumb and feel like I’ve wasted a lot of peoples time on it! I’m sorry!

I had quit vaping in December and started using Nicotine replacement spray. It had given me heartburn but I didn’t connect using this to stomach issues, the other night I was actually crying and miserable because ANOTHER full evening of terrible stomach ache and it never seems to stop, when I thought maybe it’s the nicotine? I googled it and got various results. I really did not want to quit the nicotine, I’ve struggled all my life with this one addiction since a young age and had come far giving up cigarettes, then vaping but not ready to quit the spray.

I did quit it though last Thursday because I am truly done with these stomach issues and in the verge of demanding a colonoscopy and getting really upset and within 12 hours I felt so much better. Loose stools have gone, stomach/gas pains are better (not gone 100% but so much improved)

I am an idiot

You aren't an idiot, you just didn't realise the connection. Hopefully you now get some relief and can move forward. x

Edit: Missed the update

This is a great update! Onwards and upwards OP. Hope this is the end of the pain.

Great news. You're definitely not an idiot.

Get some laxido and take this every day. You can get it over the counter. I take one every day and it keeps the problem at bay (and my piles where they give least discomfort!). It tells you on the packet how much you can take and you may need to start with more than one sachet. But please remember that while you are talking it you need to drink plenty - which in itself will help the constipation.

In fact I use a made-up sachet of laxido to take the heart meds I am on as they cause constipation!

Like a previous poster advises Kiwi fruit, dates and chia seeds work for me. I put them in a smoothie usually.