Laxido

[Health650]

My bowels were fine until in January 2023 when in the course of an evening I had strange sensations in my lower legs which has left me with nerve pain in the lower legs and it has affected my bladder and bowels, both which were fine before.MRI etc have not shown anything so no diagnosis. I have a good fresh diet and drink plenty of water but now can not open my bowels without Laxido, ..I just can't go at allBut it's actually getting harder and harder to go and I'm so worried....Yes I can go if I add senna but I don't want to get dependent on that.Its not getting stuck in my rectum, It's just a paste that does not seem to be passing through.

[Hidden]

I'm permanently on multiple laxatives, 10 years and all there is to show for it is plack in the intestines, apart from messy porcelain! The intestines will clear without problems in time.

Of course you can go on, life I mean, not the throne! What is the alternative. You have little choice. The alternative is very permanent with no way back, yet.

Chase your Dr's and don't be fobbed off. We are our best advocates. Keep fighting until you get a resolution. If you don't get a resolution you'll probably be told it's IBS because they don't know the answer.

Cheers

[Health650 in reply to Hidden]

The doctors never believe me when I say I never had a problem before January 5th.I have no tummy ache, bloating...so long as you go....eventually, they aren't bothered.Ive have always gone every day until the day I stopped going completely. It's nothing like cancer as I had a well woman check in back in Oct and the stool test as part of that was all fine. Because nothing is evident on a brain scan or back MRI, they don't see the problems ( even though they all started together on Jan 5th together with my legs going weak and now with residual neuropathy) as something neurological.I stopped going for a poo totally at that point, and used laxido to unpack( advised by pharmacist,)....and if I don't use it, I can't go at all.Its not diet/ fibre etc.I drink lots ,mainly water and I cook fresh everyday fish, bit of lean meat, loads of veg and fruit...always have.But now find rice and pasta are not transiting at all well.Have always been able to eat anything.Its like my food isn't getting moved down my intestines the same way as before. At the same time, my bladder lost nearly all control and I have a mega over active bladder now, barely contained by mirabegron.And that waS all perfectly fine before as well.I can't understand why they can't see a link.Its like banging your head on a brick wall. Thank you for your reply.

[Hidden in reply to Health650]

You could ask for a script for Domperidone which aids the progression of food through the stomach. Fibre is what aids in the digestion of food and move it more quickly through the stomach.

If you don't keep trying nothing is likely to happen. It doesn't affect the medical staff but it does impact your life.

I know it is frustrating and infuriating but the alternative is to sit and stew about it. That does no good. I actually take a support person with me to see Dr's now. They don't like being out numbered from what I see.

[Health650 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will look that up.I have found the only progress I have made with anything is to do the research myself and ask someone to act upon it.

[Hidden in reply to Health650]

Yes, that is the way to do it.

[Luisa22]

Could you ask your doctor for a referral to a neurologist? It sounds rather more like the elimination problems are nerve related especially as it started with nerve pain in your legs. It may be originating from a sacral nerve perhaps? Maybe there could be some impingement of a nerve there?

But even though you don't really want to, I would say it's better to keep the bowels open if it has become hard to "go", as it will be healthier for you than getting backed up. There may also be other natural or herbal remedies apart from senna to keep the stool looser so it's easier to pass. I think Aloe vera juice helps, kiwi fruit, and foods like beetroot, carrots and apples (even peeled apples can be helpful.)

[Health650 in reply to Luisa22]

Thank you.I do have a very fresh and healthy diet. I cook everything from scratch.My problems all started on one night, and after that it's been turmoil.Because the MRI and brain scans didn't show anything conclusive, the neurologist says there's nothing he can do to help me .When I wanted to discuss the impact it has had on my bowel and bladder, which is obviously due to that one " event" in January....he said its nothing related to neurology, these are separate things.zI thought I was hearing things.I am a slim person, active with a good diet and my bowels and bladder and all the rest of me before Jan 5th.Thank you four your advice,I really appreciate anyone trying to help at all.

[Luisa22 in reply to Health650]

Right, I see. So no problems were found in any of your lower spinal discs? I imagine an MRI would pick that up. But I have also heard that such things can be picked up on X rays.

So...no assistance from the neurologist then? Something must have started that sudden (what appears to be neurological) event in January! That's so strange they didn't find anything in the lower spine or nerve impingement.

Or it could be a muscular situation, involving pelvic floor muscles. Upsets there could possibly reverberate and affect legs? And could certainly affect bladder and bowels too. If it is pelvic floor, there is help for that.

Have you been tested for Lyme disease? Or had you in the weeks or months before that January event had a Tick bite or exposure to Tick bite risks during the previous Autumn or early winter?

It's a complicated test and you'd have to get a doctor or someone on your side if you suspected it, because some Lyme tests aren't worth the candle quite honestly, and some doctors aren't that diligent about doing the tests right.

[Health650 in reply to Luisa22]

One doctor in A and E suspected guillain barre syndrome and not everyone gets to the full paralysis stage with that.He was pudhing luke mad for further tests but someone above him said no.My peripheral nerves are definitely affected and it came on all at once so that should be red flags for someone in the know., The neurologist said it could have been a reaction to the covid vaccine( and I think that is quite likely) and my friend who is a nurse has a colleague who came down with transverse myelitis and her case has some similarities to mine. The stumbling block is they always say to me, did you have any back pain....Well no I didn't.Ive read about Lyme disease but I haven't had any tick bites or anything like that.But thank you for reading my post and considering it.I really appreciate your time and your valid points of view.

[xjrs]

Let me know if you need any tips on increasing fibre intake to soften stools. If it is a nerve related problem, then there may be specialist physios who can help with that.

[Health650 in reply to xjrs]

Thank you, I do have a really good natural diet, I cook from fresh and eat plenty of fruit, veg and wholefoods....but since all this started it's crazy.My stools are very soft with laxido but they are still having trouble transiting through my intestines....its like everything has been affected and really slowed down.When my bowels suddenly stopped working at the beginning, I justcouldnt go at all.Ironically it is the opposite with my bladder and I am really struggling with continence.I have never had a problem with either of these until Jan 5th when I got the weird sensations in my legs and found myself crawling around the house.I can't understand why people can't see there's a connection.These problems didn't come on over time ,they all started on one night.

[xjrs in reply to Health650]

Yes. You would have thought there would be a connection. It would be far better if consultants worked together, for instance, in your case gastroenterlogists working with a neurologist. In fact, there is a new discipline called neurogastroenterology. I'm wondering if there is one of those available for you to be referred to?

[Health650 in reply to xjrs]

I just cant even get anyone to identify there is a neurological problem.....the neurologist said the MRI doesn't show him anything and he will not be giving me another appointment. I am now in a waiting list of 55 weeks minimum to go to a specialist centre in Sheffield.......

[xjrs in reply to Health650]

That's crazy. Is there anyway to speed up the first appointment by going privately and then transfer to NHS i.e. jump the queue? This is how I got to see a gastro early and then transferred across to the NHS for tests, though this will depend on means.

[Luisa22 in reply to Health650]

I am guessing that any private consultation would be unaffordable. If you do have any savings though, and enough to spend on a consultation that might be a helpful thing? Your health and wellbeing is worth it and is no. 1 priority, if you could get some solution or someone who was willing to investigate more deeply.

I often think the NHS are great within certain frameworks but may have funding restrictions for others, sadly. It's all often about funding and money and of course they won't let you know that, they will just block any further tests or investigations.

[heartmatters1]

I’m sorry to hear what you are going through. I’m not much help I’m afraid except to say you are not alone. I have always suffered with constipation & a couple of years ago I was found to be impacted. I thought I had diarrhoea, but all that was was overflow, where all that was getting past was liquid. Anyway long story short I can’t go’ now unless I take laxatives. I never know when they are going to take effect, but when they do it’s like my body goes into shock - cold & clammy, shaking, weird sensations in my legs, generally feeling very unwell for a day & can’t go out. It seems as my bowel has ‘packed up’. Very slow transit. I eat a very good diet, plenty of fruit & fibre, lots of water. Nothing makes a difference. I have just started taking aloe vera juice, to see if that may help, as a more natural approach.

I hope you get some answers soon. Best of luck 🤞

[Pat1 in reply to heartmatters1]

I have the same problem despite eating little and a healthy diet. I have tried so many things over the years. Sometime they work, then stop working g. Please tell me which laxative you take.

[heartmatters1 in reply to Pat1]

Fybrogel or Laxido as prescribed by GP.

[Pat1 in reply to heartmatters1]

Thank you for your reply. Please let me know how much Laxido you take. I also have it. But I have take a larger amount, as it doesn’t work otherwise. It can also cause bloating.

[heartmatters1 in reply to Pat1]

When I had my impaction/blockage I was advised by hospital doctor to take 3 satchets a day to sort me out (which it did) I went down to 1 a day, but I find that is too much now. I am frightened to take too much, as at the beginning I think I overdosed a bit. I didn’t know which way to turn (literally 😖😅) anyway now I probably take a couple a week on average. Sometimes I take fibrogel instead.

It’s just a minefield isn’t it to get the balance right?

Best wishes

[Health650 in reply to Pat1]

Mine is laxido

[Health650 in reply to heartmatters1]

I'm not holding my breath but it does help to know other people have problems. I have always had a perfectly good urinary system and bowels until the event of January this year....but trying to get someone on that page rather than assume I ve got to a certain age or heading for cancer is another matter.It all took off in the course of an evening....but thankyou for your reply and sharing your experience, it does all help.

[Health650 in reply to heartmatters1]

Thank you, just other people that listen is helpful.Only people that have problems like this seem to "get it."

[Mutleyforever]

Hi, I’m not sure if I’m the only one that has connected the dots and seen a connection to multiple sclerosis, but it may be a possibility. I know it can affect your bladder and bowels, and can manifest itself with many symptoms. I believe it can take a long time to get a diagnosis so it may be worth asking for it to be checked out. The sooner a diagnosis the sooner appropriate treatment can start. Best wishes and persevere!

[Health650 in reply to Mutleyforever]

Thank you. It's all baffling, but one thing the neurologist did say, there was no evidence of M S.But yes, I wish someone could join the dots.

[Mutleyforever]

was that no evidence on an MRI?

[Zantecat]

Have you thought about seeing a chiropractor? It’s worth a thought if you think it might be nerve/ back related.

[Kdkskkd]

Am I understanding you correctly here, You said you have developed walking problems, since taking laxido for constipation? Could you specify when the walking problems began and when you started the laxido? I may have an answer for you.

[Health650 in reply to Kdkskkd]

No all problems that ensued with bladder, bowels, etc ensued after a neurological event...the jury was out on possibly Guillain Barre syndrome.( not the really advanced version ) and my private neurologist thinks it has now evolved into at the very least small fibre neuropathy which often brings with it problems for the autonomic nervous system. I was previously fit as a fiddle, active a sensible weight and I've never had bowel problems before....ever in my entire life.