No bowel movement for two weeks after stopping laxatives, worried

[ArwenUndomniel]

I did post something like this on the dedicated eating disorders forum but it's very quiet on there and I got no answers so trying my luck on here. Please be gentle, I know I've been really stupid.

I am binge/purge subtype anorexic but trying very hard to stop the purging behaviour. I last took laxatives two weeks ago and went cold turkey on them straight after, but I still haven't been to the toilet since then. I don't have any stomach pain or anything, but I'm getting increasingly full and uncomfortable whenever I eat, and I'm always bloated at the end of the day even when I've eaten very little or nothing at all. I've mostly been restricting and keeping my food intake low but I have had a couple of days where I've binged in those two weeks - the bloating is much worse after one of those.

I've got a GP appointment on Friday to discuss the constipation but I'm really panicking about the possibility that I'm impacted. I feel like every mouthful I take is just sitting there in my gut like a rock, not moving and not being processed. It's getting to the point where I'm scared to eat anything at all, which is obviously doing nothing for my recovery.

Is there a way of telling if you've got a bowel obstruction or impaction?

I think you probably need specialist advice because ordinary dietary advice might not be enough and if you have ED you won't be used to normal eating.Your body has probably forgotten how to work on it's own.

I suffer from constipation caused by medication. I try very hard to avoid laxatives but need them occasionally. Once you are constipated it probably needs a laxative. Avoid stimulant laxatives like senna and go for a gentle osmotic one like movicol until things move then wean slowly off it and up your dietary fibre massively.

On a regular basis I eat all bran, oats, prunes and figs for breakfast with hot drinks.
Lots of fresh fruit and veg. Brown rice, wholemeal bread. You need bulk and lots of water throughout the day.

There isn't any way to tell without seeing your GP so you're being sensible. You do need to eat still though and drink plenty of water. Don't go too high fibre all at once though. A few prunes daily may help shift it along. Laxatives aren't meant to be used long term but you probably already know this. Try not to worry. Maybe ask if there's an earlier appt available-people often cancel.

I think there are too many unusual factors for anyone on here to sensibly advise. I think you are absolutely right to see your doctor, and will need to be honest with them. This will be sortable.

Does the GP know about your ED? It's very important that they do.

@NeverDropYourMooncup yes, they know. I'll give them the relevant history and details.

@TheOcelot I know that eating normally is probably what would ultimately help, but I just can't. Not at the moment. When I do eat I try to prioritise fresh fruit and vegetables but I'm not going to be having rice or cereal just now.

I suppose I'm worried the GP will essentially say "Just eat" and I'll feel like going back to the laxatives is the only option I'm left with.

If you aren't eating, there's nothing to move through the system. If you aren't eating, aren't drinking or having sufficient in the way of electrolytes, there's not enough liquid to make it possible to move through your system and you are also putting your cardiac health at risk.

Please do start with explaining your ED, your use of laxatives and that you aren't eating. It really sounds that aside from the obvious discomfort that you've made the appointment for, you're in the process of falling into extreme restriction.

Gentle walking and enough to drink?
Soluble fibre like apple juice might work without adding to your bulk, so to speak.
Coffee? I’ve had to stop using caffeine as a morning stimulant, and I’m missing the action.

Try psyllium husk?

I am eating - not much, but still something. Most days I have some fruit, veg or soup, or a ready meal of some sort. I'm not pretending it's ideal but there is definitely food going in that isn't coming out again. On top of that I had two big binges over the last two weeks.

I am also drinking a lot of fluids. Water makes me more bloated than squash or flavoured water for some reason but I do have plenty of those and herbal tea, coffee etc.

Anyway - I called my GP surgery this morning and told them I was getting increasingly uncomfortable and there was an appointment available this afternoon, so I'll hold out until then and see what they say.

You shouldn’t stop laxatives cold turkey. I was advised to reduce by one tablet a day by the ED psychiatrist. I couldn’t do it, it was ingrained. Your body has been relying on them instead of your bowels working. Be honest with the doctor, but you can do this.

I hope your doctor can help you. It sounds very uncomfortable.

I hope your appointment goes well, and you get the support that you need.