Constipation problems - please come and talk to me if you are also a sufferer!

[dinosaurus]

I am absolutely fed up of being constipated.

I am even more fed up because for the last week it has also been extremely painful and uncomfortable. I won't bore you with all the details, but am interested to hear if anybody else out there suffers and if so, if you have any helpful suggestions.

I suffer from IBS (mainly constipation) and have done so for years. Due to a healthy diet, eating plenty of the right things, exercising every day and drinking lots of fluid, I tend to keep it more or less under control, although wouldn't say things were fantastic - even though I then go fairly regularly, it still feels like I'm not completely 'empty', and, it does take me a while to relax and go whereas I guess a 'normal' person shouldn't have to sit on the loo every night for half an hour waiting!

I recently had a couple of days away which seemed to trigger a bout of constipation. My tummy just felt very uncomfortable and for the last few days I've gone only a little. This gives a bit of relief until I eat a meal and then I just feel so bloated and uncomfortable. I've been taking laxatives for several days (something I rarely do, being active and eating a balanced diet like I normally do. Why on why can't I go to the toilet properly? Has anyone else suffered from this (either ongoing IBS with constipation or a severely painful bout) and what did you do to relieve it?

I have hyper and hypo-peristaltic bowel - bits work to quick/very slow - and i use Movicol/Laxadoo sachets, i take 1 most days and it helps, if i don't feel 'empty' i take another sachet.

Movicol fan here too.. that and glycerine suppositories, as I have a bowel that very rarely moves by itself

I've been on supps and meds for over 20 years since I was a teen.. and I eat a ridiculously healthy diet but nothing seems to help. I think tho ideally diet should help IBS for quite a lot of people it does need a medication regime

I suffer from IBS, gluten makes my IBS worse, i have started having bran for breakfast and drinking fruit smoothies every day has helped.

Just wish it didn't have the taste

I second movicol and glycerin suppositories. I think lactulose is supposed to be good too. It sounds as if you need a stool softener rather than laxative. I find laxatives give me really bad stomach cramps, and also that not empty feeling you describe.

A cup of hot water every morning is supposed to be a good remedy too. Hope you feel better soon.

Have you tried Oatbran sprinkled on cereals etc it worked for me.Although I do sometimes have to resort to taking Movacol sachets prescribed by the Dr.

I share your pain Dinosaurus! Prune juice, although foul to drink, works more efficiently for me than laxatives.

Poor you I use lactulose, it is good esp when iron tablets complete the shutting down of my system but I always drink complan when IBS acts up instead of having large/proper meals. I also use linseed when I can as it is like corn so not digested and acts as a kind of sweeping brush through the system.
I also have used acupuncture can be as good as colonic irrigation without the embarrassment issue.
Also lie flat and massage your tummy anti clock wise as that seems to help.
I also eat old fashioned licorice [sp] when i think i need something mild as it is easier on the stomach but vile to taste
Feel better soon