Suggestions for getting bowels moving (may be TMI)

[lilygirl81]

I'm 6+2 today, and for about the last 10 days I have not had a proper bowel movement. I've managed to do a couple of tiny poops (sorry TMI), but that's it.

I spoke to a pharmacist today who gave me fybogel sachets, but I just tried to take one and the texture made me sick (also have constant nausea anyway). I've a big bottle of prune juice beside me, but does anyone have any other tricks that they use? I've mostly been eating fruit and veg as that's all I've really felt like. I think I'll try and see a doctor on Monday, but I feel so rotten I'd love to know if there are any other things I can try.

Can you buy Movicol OTC? Am getting desperate. Am currently 9+3 and it's been a problem the whole time other than beautiful s[ell of normality last week for 4 days thanks to Fybogel. These are now not working, just make me bloated. Lactulose is usually great but it's just making me do very smelly farts. I am mainlining prune juice, dried apricots and figs, celery by the bunch, loads of other fruit and veg, lots of water and am just fed up and quite uncomfortable TBH.

You can but its about £12 a box. Cheaper on prescription and free when pregnant, obviously.

Don't think movicol is OTC, but a nurse practitioner gave me mine and then I had phone call with doctor to make it available on repeat. (It's way easier to get nurse appointment here than a doctor). You could try asking your pharmacist, you'd be surprised what they can do sometimes.

Thanks. I'l try pharmacist tomorrow and failing that I'll fight for a GP appointment

The problem is that the pharmacist might refuse to give you anything other than lactulose - I was told that that's the only thing they are allowed to give to pregnant women without a prescription.

You could, ahem, not say that you're pregnant. In your shoes I would, then try to get a prescription later.

Just to add, I bought movicol from boots OTC at the weekend, it was just under £5 for 8 sachets, I'm 8 months pregnant so obviously pregnant, also had a discussion with the woman about being due in a month so she definitely knew, and there was no issues with her selling it to me.

Ohh, good to know, I stand corrected! That is good news, no more time wasting doctors appointments when I can just get it myself!

Well, there is now such a thing as the poopy dance in our household! Thanks to everyone, 4 sachets a day for 4 days has everything working again!

Thanks all. Pharmacist already knew I was pregnant in fact, and happily let me have Movicol OTC - was £13 for 30 sachets. It's one of the pharmacies ARGC patients use all the time so confident it's absolutely fine, they're brilliant. One sachet down, will see what happens!

I find fybogel does help me but have to take it 2 times a day for a couple of days to get things moving.it is minging but I find the Orange ones mixed in orange squash bearable. The plain ones are minging and make me sick so if you haven't tried the Orange ones then maybe give them a try

Oh hello Movicol! Two successful (if small and rather hard work, but I'll take anything ATM) bowel movements already after only 1 sachet. Relief is already immense, was getting very uncomfortable. Now just have to try to time it right with not clashing pooing with 3 Cyclogest a day!

Thank you SO much for the recommendation, very grateful

It won't do you any harm to up the dose to 2 or 3 sachets. Movicol is a stool softener so if you're having to strain (which you should avoid doing when pregnant especially) then you need more.

Thanks Vague, the straining wasn't really bad, but yes def more than ideal. I've had another sachet this morning and I'll probably have another 1 or 2 later