Can someone recommend me a stool softener?

[Fibrous]

Hi, I'm having haemorrhoid banding next week and I want to take a stool softener for a couple of days beforehand and a few days after, as I want to keep things on the more soft side to increase the chance of a successful treatment (which I'm having to pay for myself as the NHS waiting list is so long, and I've been in pain since November).

I'm not actually constipated, I go every morning, but any disruption to my routine can play havoc and I imagine the required missing meals, enemas, sedation if needed etc will disrupt my routine so I'm anticipating issues.

What can I take over the counter to make my stools softer? I don't want any suppositories as my bum feels like it has a red hot poker shoved up it as it is, I don't want to aggravate it further.

I've taken fybrogel in the past but that just seems to increase my frequency of bowel movements, rather than loosen them.

thanks for the help!

Try fybrogel.chews, they don't work as regular as the drink.

Movicol and laxido are the go-tos. Available OTC and by prescription. You can take as many or as few as you need.

Oh Dulcolax has a softener I've used them before and they worked OK.

Docusate. That's aka dulcoease.
I used it daily as I take codeine. Both prescribed.

But it's the only one that doesn't give me diarrhea and cramps. Just a nice smooth movement.

Definitely recommend. I've tried all the others and they don't agree with me.

Excellent, thanks everyone! I'll pop off to the pharmacy this afternoon.

Fybogel, laxido, movicol etc are likely too powerful for what you need.

I use docusate, brand name Dulcoease which softens but won't give you diarrhoea. You can take one to four a day.

Thanks everyone. Just went out and bought dulcoease and have taken one. Hoping to get the dose worked out before wednesday. Definitely don't want to go too far the other way as that will also result in pain and irritation. Bum trouble is a bloody minefield.