Overuse of laxatives

[Bassem1979]

Hi

Does anyone know if using laxatives daily can cause you not to have a bowel movement ? I have been taking 2 senna now daily for over 2 weeks and my stools have been small and thin. Then one day I didn’t take them and the day after I had a good bowel movement how can that be ?

I don’t o ow what to do for the best anymore.

[Morzine]

I get thin poo sometimes, and get constipation.Are you constipated and that’s why you are taking senna?

Have you tried some other aid, a sachet of movicol works better fir me. As for your question about senna I’m not sure.

[villages2 in reply to Morzine]

Have you ever tried sugar free liquorice ? During my chemo i took this to get myself moving again and dr said it was ok to take 1/2 pieces daily i liked the fact that its not a drug and i choose the sugar free bcoz i watch my sugar intake. Maybe worth a try for you .

[Merlinjardin]

I was taking senna over a long period many years and now I don’t take them. They made my bowels lazy. Have had a bad IBS flare up this past year and constipation. Stopped the senna about a year ago and now I go to the toilet but have to use a micro enema everyday. My bowels do not work properly. Short term senna okay. Consultant told me only to use stool softeners. Wish Now I had tried to not use senna for so long. Try adding things in your diet to help, I know how difficult it is when you are not regular.

[Phil865 in reply to Merlinjardin]

What is a micro enema? Thanks

[Merlinjardin in reply to Phil865]

A very small tube of liquid to help move a motion . It helps encourage liquid into the bowel.

[Shopnow1 in reply to Merlinjardin]

I have had a loaded bowel for months now and taking movicol sometimes going numerous times in a day. I have had two satchets today and gone like billio but still feel something is stuck. Sorry for all this horrid detail but I have also been given mini miralax enemas to use but am so frightened to administer . Would I be ok to use one now even though I have passed loads of motions the last two days and what is your experience with them

[Merlinjardin in reply to Shopnow1]

I use one each morning when my bowel has opened. I walk about or do things standing up for 15 minutes so the fluid can reach my bowel. I am use to them, you could try one May work quickly need to be near a toilet. Sometimes takes an hour to settle down and I usually go more than once. Sometimes a bit of cramp pain but they are very small. Good luck

[Morzine]

Prune juice works well