Severe Constipation tmi

[geordieminx]

I have never had frequent bowel movements - usually every 3 or 4 days.

Over the past few months it seems to be getting worse, 7-8 days sometimes. . I was prescribed Lactulose by the doctor, but tbh it didnt seem to make much difference, and I was having to take it 3 times a day just to go every 5 or 6 days..

Last week I was prescribed Movicol,twice a day but having been taking it for a week now I still havent been to the toilet, and have even tried the Lactulose too, as I'm starting to get desperate.

I feel so uncomfortable and bloated its unreal. I'm getting married in under a fortnight, and this is the last thing I need at the moment.... at this rate I cant even see my dress fitting.

Has anyone got any tips/suggestions/anything at all really. Like I said, I really am desperate now. Am thinking about colonic irrigation, but cant see that making a difference if its further up.

Please help.

have you tried glycerine suppositories - you may have impaction ( a big lump of hard poo near to your bottom) that needs softening before it can be passed easily.

they are available from pharmacies for somthing like 99p for 12 - you pop one in, and STAY IN NEAR THE LOO. might take perhaps half an hour to work but oh my the relief.

of course this is a temporary measure and not a cure for chronic constipation; you might need to see a apecialist to try to unpick the causes.

HTH

Thanks ladies.

Will get my arse to the chemist tomorrow... although I shall head straight home

Any "movement" yet, geordieminx?

Managed to go this morning, not as much as I hoped, certainly not a weeks worth , but its a start.

Havent got the suppositories yet... might save that fun until tomorrow

((((cant believe I am postinbg bowel movements on the www)))))

'Tis a start. Keep going (ahem)

I don't know what dose of lactulose you were on but when my DD was on it years ago I told the Dr it wasn't working.

He looked at the amount she was prescribed, and said in an exasperated fashion "Well that's not enough, that's not going to do anything."

He said that with lactulose, what you are supposed to do is increase the dose until Something Happens (he said, basically, diarrhoea) then reduce it back down until you have got the bowel movement pattern you want.

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but it might be worth asking the Doctor exactly how high you can increase the dose.

Good luck.

I feel like my Mum. When I was a child - and very constipated - she would say whenever I came out of the loo: "Ave you beeeeeen?"

2 tsp's morning and night... didnt really think it was enoug

After my first c-section I was advised to take Andrews Salts and they worked a treat.

Dh has Lactulose in the house, he was prescribed it after a motorbike accident because he was on coedine. I was constipated last week and he was shoving 6 teaspoons down me, morning and night, it did help. Dh swears by Andrews.

I find a daily morning smoothie is great.

I make one which will do two people:

a banana
2/3 tablespoons of natural bio yoghurt
two handfuls of frozen summer fruits (raspberries/blackberries etc) and cover the lot with orange/apple/pineapple juice

I vary it by some days adding only strawberries or some days no berries just a mango and maybe a couple of peaches.

Once you experiment with amounts/flavours, it gets really, really easy and quick to know what you like. To save time in the morning, I make mine at night and blend, pop the blender jug in the fridge and give it a quick blast just before I drink it.

I don't sip it, I just glug it down as fast as possible.

I used to have very sluggish bowel movements but now I'm very regular.

I also can't sip water through the day. But I have built up to glugging down a pint four times a day. I couldn't drink water to save myself but then I just made myself glug down a half pint and built up.

Just to provide you all with an update...

Massive thanks to all those who suggested warm water with lemon first thing... I have been having it every morning since last Tuesday, and..... I have been to the toilet EVERY DAY - INFACT THERE WAS ONE DAY I WENT TWICE!!!!

Looking back at the calender (I had to mark it down before now, just incase it was ever more than a week) - I have been more in the last week than I have ALL month.

Thank you so so so so much.