I'm back with laxative query

[ijregner]

You all were so responsive. I have had a recommendation to take Dulcolax. Not sure I will, given all your alternate suggestions, but wonder if anyone here has taken it safely and successfully? Thanks for your eternal patients.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Yes, I’ve taken it. It’s a stool softener. If you have hard, difficult to pass stools then it might help. If that’s not a characteristic of your constipation then maybe it won’t help so much. Personally, that’s not my particular pattern so Ducolax didn’t do much for me. However, if you have hard stools you might also benefit by increasing your water intake. I have about 2.2L fluids per day and even have an app on my phone to remind me — because it’s easy to get out of the habit. As I said on my other post, I take ground flaxseed 3x daily but always with 200-250ml water. I think fluid intake is important BUT…. it sometimes doesn’t do the trick on its own. Sometimes it’s a combination of strategies and you really need to try, try and try again until you find a way that is sustainable in the long term and that works for you. I’m very much a believer in gut health and the microbiome, and when we have constipation or IBS etc, our gut health isn’t where it should be. There’s a lot of myth and misinformation out there, but the key to gut health is diversity in the diet, NOT cutting things out. Eliminating foods may “help” in the short term but only makes the problem worse in the long term as we lose the microbes we need to break down these foods. I really recommend Dr Megan Rossi’s most recent book. It’s based on science, not fads. But if you don’t want to go down that route, that’s OK. It takes a lot of commitment and diligence but for me I think it paid off in the long term.

[ijregner in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thanks. I drink a lot of water and use flax meal. So, I am hoping I can get back on track soon. Thanks for your help.

[meadfoot]

Oh yes I take it regularly. There are several dulcolax laxative products available. I have failed gastric peristalsis so take the bisocodyl version, its a stimulant laxative as the nerves and muscles in my bowel dont work.

I take it weekly under the instruction of my consultant gastroenterologist. Its gentle and so far effective. I hate having to rely on laxatives but so be it, just hope it continues to work well.

[ijregner in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you. Much appreciate your reply.

[Bagrat]

Dulcoease is a stool softener dulcolax (the original tablet) is a stimulant.

[Ppiman]

Dulcolax is a bowel stimulant based of bisacodyl. This causes the bowel wall itself to go into spasm and evacuate its contents. It works well but is for occasional use as if used continually, the bowel can come to need this extra stimulation. My elderly friend’s wife used it for a week a fortnight ago for an impaction and, well – great success!

A gentler and highly effective natural alternative is prunes, The best I have found is Sunsweet prune juice taken in the morning with half a dozen Bulgarian organic prunes, gently stewed in the prune juice. This is both tasty and entirely effective, and very good for you.

Magnesium salts also are excellent and very safe. They, too, are for occasional use, but are not a stimulant laxative.

Steve

[valezio in reply to Ppiman]

I also have Sunsweet prune juice which I find very helpful. I shall take your tip and try Bulgarian organic prunes stewed in prune juice, sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing this.

[Ppiman in reply to valezio]

You will enjoy them. They need care not to burn them on the bottom of the pan as this taints the flavour, so stir often and heat gently. My wife usually does them and to soften and plump them finds she only needs to cover them in prune juice and heat them till they just reach a gentle boil, then turn off, cool and store in the fridge. As they cool, they swell and soften really well, almost to plum size. We store them in a container in the fridge then.

In terms of laxative effect, I find the juice is the strongest, with the prunes more gentle. I think the Sunsweet juice is naturally and uniquely high in a sugar called sorbitol, which gives it its effect. Since a small op "down below", I had to stop the juice and I'm now managing on the prunes alone.

Steve

[valezio in reply to Ppiman]

thank you so much Steve, you’ve been very helpful, I really appreciate it more than you realise. Bless you.

Take care and stay well, Best wishes, Val x

[Ppiman in reply to valezio]

Thank you for your kind comments, too, Val. It’s a bit cold in this part of England - brr! But I hope you have a lovely day. Steve

[Mazza23]

I have found movecol good but some one told me to try ginger tea and for me it works I have one cup s day

[Hidden]

I eat prunes and mangoes daily with occasional senna and dulcolax,seems to keep things moving 😂 water is also important !

[ibuputih]

Constipation is not something I experience, but it occurred post Knee replacement surgery and the hospital gave me all sorts of stuff to try and ‘get me going’. I had tablets, stool softeners … you name it.

What finally did the business ( if you’ll excuse the phrase) was warmed prune juice. Worked like a charm and I’ve passed the advice to many who have benefitted!

[2learn]

Its fine, I find it helps without causing panic

[tunybgur]

Gut health is better achieved without artificial aids, not always possible of course.

I didn't see your first post but have found my gut problems, IBS, GERD etc. improved markedly when I started making and consuming home made kefir and adding fermented foods to my diet, sauerkraut, kimchi etc. I thoroughly recommend you try it.

Good luck

[Desanthony]

Yes, I was told to take it for three days before an endoscopy and some wonderful thing the day before. I told the nurse about my AF and medications so thought she would know what to prescribe safely. It was only afterwards when reading the packet that I thought maybe I shouldn't have taken this. Next time I did without the dulcolax and they told me to take the two doses of the other stuff further apart - glad I didn't as it wouldn't have worked. Still it caused no problems so maybe infrequent use is OK - I normally don't take anything like that ever. Best person to ask for advice on this is your pharmacist.

[Greenhilldrive]

Hi, I take Laxido and it’s a stool softener and safe even for long term use. Good luck