Movicol help (again!)

[binks]

I have taken a sachet of Movicol every night for the past 7 years after a rectocele repair and hysterectomy. On top of the IBS I've suffered from for 30 years, the need to take Movicol is the bane of my life because it exacerbates the IBS symptoms.

I've recently had to increase the Movicol to 1.5 sachets nightly and the bloating, minor constant cramping and vague nausea are getting me down. Sometimes our structural problems mean that diet/exercise/water don't work and I have tried all of them. I had an anal manometry a while ago and my muscles don't work very well so the consultant said Movicol was the best to take long term.

I've tried various probiotics and really thought Alflorex was the winner for 2 months - but now back to the daily slog of pain and bloating so obviously not!

I feel in a catch 22 situation - I have to take the Movicol (and I really do), and the side effects with a higher dose are making life miserable. Thanks for letting me offload!

[Beezwax]

Have you tried lactulose? It could be as bad in terms of side effects but generally I find it less troublesome than Movicol. I also find probiotics can work but not always and for a limited time. VSL3 is quite good. I’ve also recently started eating a small amount of Kimchi, with ok but variable results.

[binks in reply to Beezwax]

I have used lactulose a lot in past years but gave up due to the horrible wind! I think for some IBS sufferers it make things worse. x

[MyStar86]

I found lactulose made my symptoms much worse my tummy swelled up and I was in agony they kept giving it to me when I was in hospital after my hysterectomy it was awful.

The only thing I’ve found that works for me without fail is milk of magnesia that works really well and you don’t need much it’s powerful stuff I just use a capful about 20-25ml I think that is but it does say you can use a lot more it depends on the person.

Have you spoke to your gastro about your concerns are there are medications they could prescribe that would be more beneficial than daily laxatives for slow motility.

Good luck

[binks in reply to MyStar86]

Thank you. I have spoken to my GP endlessly and I've tried Dulcoease, fibogel, normalax and senna in the past. Lactulose was hideous and I don't think it should be prescribed for IBS sufferers. I bloats me and causes agonising wind. They also gave it to me after my hysterectomy! I'll try the milk of magnesia - do you take it every day?

[MyStar86 in reply to binks]

no I don’t take it every day as it’s powerful for me and once it gets things moving it keeps it moving for me however It’s safe to use everyday as it’s only magnesium hydroxide. I hope it helps you and you can follow the instructions on the bottle as it does tell you what dose to use as a laxative.

Do you have a gastro? They can prescribe actual medication to speed up the motility that are not laxatives and they could also rule out anything else that could be causing your constipation. If you don’t have a gastro you gp should refer you given how this is impacting your daily life.

[MyStar86 in reply to binks]

have you managed to get some relief? I hope you are ok

[binks in reply to MyStar86]

It's eased off quite lot over the past few days. I've cut down the Movicol from 1.5 sachets to 1 sachet / day and this might have helped. It doesn't work as well for the IBSC though! Thank you for asking x

[edwangy]

I'm in a similar situation, had hysterectomy 2 years ago and have a rectocele, waiting for surgeon to see if surgery is needed. I have been prescribed linoclotide(constella) which I take each morning, in UK they only have 290mcrogram capsules and it's powerful stuff so I empty the capsule and just take a qtr of the powder inside. you have to take it at least 30 mins before food but I leave it a little longer, it will empty you out after you've eaten something, it can cause diarrohea but that only lasts for a few bowel movements. It's worth a try maybe, only avail on prescription

[Krisbetty]

Ask your gastroenterologist to put you on linaclotide it is a game changer for me no more bloating or pain and helps with IBS C . It literally worked overnight for me. I have just had an anal manomentry and was told i was using the wrong muscles and told to get a squat stool to use so my knees are higher than my thighs when ising the loo it works so maybe worth a try.

[EOLHPC]

My GI issues & bad reactions to movicol etc are just similar enough for me to wonder if the protocol my gastroenterologist has me on long term might be an option for you:

weekly sodium picosulphate bowel cleanses (I use 1 sachet of picolax) plus glycerol suppositories daily in-between those weekly bowel cleanses

Just a thought…I do know others on this sort of regime, so your doctors should be familiar with it…but be aware: it’s not an easy regime, because my bowel cleanse sessions take up one whole day each week …but I’ve been managing my version of these mouth to exit GI probs for 70 years, using all the right self help/lifestyle techniques inc diet, exercise, meditation etc…because my version is caused by childhood onset immune dysfunction & connective tissue disorder illnesses, progressive debilitation could only be slowed down a bit…and Peristeen etc irrigations systems are too risky in my case…so it’s inevitable I’d end up needing a regime this drastic

since I went in this protocol a few years ago, it’s helped me so much that my bloating etc have consistently damped way down

Hope you find someth8ng that help 💞💞💞💞 Coco

[behj]

I hear you, I do. I have struggled with this for, literally, 40 years. About 10 years ago, I was told by my doc to take Miralax, double-doses, I did so. It helped- tho’ only marginally. I added Metamucil about two years ago and had amazingly positive results, so now I take both, every single night. Each person has idiosyncratic responses to this disorder tho maybe the metamucil could help you? (I use the sugar sweetened to avoid the artificial sweetener). Best of luck! Beh

[binks in reply to behj]

Thank you! I think Metamucil is what we have as Fibogel in the UK - psyllium husk? I did try this with Movicol a few years ago but it seemed to make everything sticky (too much info I'm sorry!) I'll give it another go and see - because our responses to meds does change with time. x