Looking for a more gentle poo softner - IBS Network

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Looking for a more gentle poo softner

OldTimer74 profile image
27 Replies

I have been using cosmocol for a number of years, it now has quite a severe effect on me and I have to stay close to home or a toilet. I`m waiting for an inguinal hernia to be fixed and need to keep things soft and moving without turning everything to water and feeling ill. Any suggestions of something I can go out and purchase over the counter in a chemist today that will just keep things soft and moving please. ( UK BTW) and thanks for a speedy reply.

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OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74
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27 Replies
Meleber profile image
Meleber

Maybe a product with senna is an option for you. Although I don't know if you may use it with your medical condition.

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toMeleber

Thanks, my wife just phoned the chemist and they suggested Lactulose so I will give it a try. I ordered some dulcasoft for delivery by Amazon in the morning as well. Thanks

Meleber profile image
Meleber in reply toOldTimer74

👍

EOLHPC profile image
EOLHPC in reply toOldTimer74

Glad you posted & hope the trials of these 2 products go ok for you

Hope you’ll let us know how you get on...my colorectal surgeon prescribed me Celevac ( methylcellulose) years ago due to my increasing hypersensitivity, & it’s been helping me a lot daily ever since...but production has stopped in the U.K., so my sister sends me the USA version Citrucell instead. I’d be very glad to find a U.K. alternative...but I’m hyperreactive to all plant residue/fibre...

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toEOLHPC

The Lactulose taken yesterday has started the movement, very tight at first but then it flowed, I`m in some pain but that is from pushing the thick dry poo out first but the pain has eased after taking pain killers. I know that I will have some pain till I get the op to bring the bowel back in where it should be but at least things are moving again. Tummy is rumbling and no doubt another visit to the loo will be needed. Thanks

EOLHPC profile image
EOLHPC in reply toOldTimer74

Good news!

What pain killers do you take?

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toEOLHPC

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen . Thanks

EOLHPC profile image
EOLHPC in reply toOldTimer74

👍 Me too, but only paracetamol...+ low dose Amitriptyline. I’ve always lived with terrible chronic pain, but avoided all other types of analgesics because they’d make my slow transit dysmotility even slower....

Boxroad profile image
Boxroad in reply toOldTimer74

Lactulose is the best, do you follow a good fibre diet with the right mixture of soluble and in soluble fibre? If the balance is correct it should be soft without the use of loctulose.

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toBoxroad

If I can get this new drug to work I`ll do some more testing with different foods.

Boxroad profile image
Boxroad in reply toOldTimer74

Look up fibre on nhs web site regarding soluble and insoluble fibre it’s very helpful, all fibre come from fruit and veg but there needs to be a balance

Antiques72 profile image
Antiques72 in reply toOldTimer74

Lactulose or movicol are gentle ... the others tend to give u cramps I use movicol every day if I am in trouble

Edgar77 profile image
Edgar77 in reply toOldTimer74

I take lactose my doc said it softens stools and is very mild. You work out for yourself how mutch you need.

doris22 profile image
doris22 in reply toOldTimer74

Hi there. I find just a tin of pitted prunes in natural juice helps. I tranfer contents into empty jam jar and keep in the fridge and just have about 3 a day with a bit of juice. Alter to your own needs. Also making sure you are drinking enough water. All the best

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply todoris22

I purchased some Laculose and have had severe belly ache for two days now, now and again a very light fart but nothing that helps the pain. It`s driving me mad.

xjrs profile image
xjrs

If you need a longer term solution for constipation, I can pm you some tips?

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toxjrs

yes please

casares8 profile image
casares8

Dulcoease is quite a gentle softener, bought over the counter. Capsules or liquid

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply tocasares8

I started on it last night and things are moving.

Brooking profile image
Brooking

Good morning l use Fruits & Fibres regular from Holland and Barratt which l find help with the constipation. I tried lactulose but found that it gave me stomach cramps but we are all different and it's trial and error. Good luck l know how you feel. Regards Janet

Also consider a footstool, raising your legs towards your center point on the throne will make it easier to push and lessen the load on the hernia...dont ask how i found that out!

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply to

I have to sit back, when I sit forward it is worse because it feels like it is adding to the trapped bowel that has popped out of the muscle wall, thanks.

Robertabs profile image
Robertabs

I find dulcoease really good - not a laxative, just makes more water stay in the stool, so it all moves smoothly. Don’t get dulcolax by mistake though.

Krisbetty profile image
Krisbetty

I use laxido once a day but I have now found if I have 2 tablespoons of ground gold flaxseeds I don't need the ladies .

Keefer1955 profile image
Keefer1955

Hi we are all different.,but I find dulcese helpful. However I would follow the advice of the pharmacist, but tailor it to suit your body (dosage, time of day etc) which but do not exceed quantity recommended by manufacturer. Important things is to talk to a medical professional. That's what they trained for

Snilesworth profile image
Snilesworth

i take Laxido 1 sachet at night and 2 spoonfull first thing in the morning . used take cosmogol i find it agressive and when i had my last Impaction the hospital give me Laxido they thinks its milder or tho the ingridiance the same but it think its this Orange flavour what coarse the irritation.

was on Lactolose that give me cramps so for a year now im on Laxido and 2 Senna at night.

Good Luck.

OldTimer74 profile image
OldTimer74 in reply toSnilesworth

I have had two days of cramps with lactolose and have just found some Laxido that I used to take it should be here in the morning

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