Movicol

[Justbreathe55]

Hi everyone I've recently been prescribed this medication due to severe constipation as a side effect of chemotherapy and all the associated drugs that go with it. I already suffer with chronic constipation so I take prucalopride , which now isn't effective alone 😔 my question is how many sachets do you take? I've tried 3 but still nothings moving will it take time to work? Tia

*update

Thanks for all your advice I've avoided A&E and finally been 💩 never thought I'd be happy to be running to the loo all day 🫣 I'm getting prepared for the next session with all your tips thanks again.

[CalRW]

Hi. I used this recently and it took about three days (which I believe it says in the info leaflet) to take effect. More recently I tried Picolax which worked overnight!

[Justbreathe55 in reply to CalRW]

Thank you I'm limited to what I can take so will stick with it hopefully it will start working soon.

[Buikpijn1942]

I have the samen experience. My solution is Lactulose sirop, prescribed by my doctor It really helps. Succes!!

Greets, Hansjelle Dijkstra Netherlands

[Justbreathe55 in reply to Buikpijn1942]

Thank you unfortunately that didn't work for me 😪 but thank you for responding x

[villages2]

Just read your post and thought I'd reply to your question. I was exactly the same when I had breast cancer in 2019 with 12 lots of chemo. Tried everything people recommended and still nothing. I finally found ' relief ' by taking 2/3 pieces on sugar free liquorice which I found in The Factory Shop amongst the kids sweets for I think 3 days and it worked 💪 worth a try and good luck with your chemo journey 🫶

[Justbreathe55 in reply to villages2]

Thank you for your reply I will give it a go. I've only got one session left so hopefully it will go back to normal when im done,whatever normal is 🤔 thanks again I hope you're well x

[Tim61]

Can you take prune juice Kazzacrazy, this might help, also Magnesium is good to help in this area , as well as being a good all round supplement, if you can take it . I hate getting constipated, I can understand you’re getting upset, it throws the whole body out of kilter, and makes you feel bad.

[Justbreathe55 in reply to Tim61]

I'm taking prunes not tried the juice. I can't have magnesium while on chemo but thank you for replying. If nothing works today will call my lung nurse I'm in alot of pain now 😪

[Evonne02]

Hi Kazzacrazy, So sorry to hear what you've been going through & hope you're on the road to a successful recovery. Please try not to stress yourself out about this as like me your Gp hadn't spoken to you properly about this.

It took years and multiple A&E visits to get my Gp to admit that I could take up to 8 sachets a day. My prescription says 1 twice a day, but I learned due to desperation that it doesn't work on me unless I take them both at the same time. This advice I give to everyone I come across and all say it works as i tell all to use a straw yo drink it too.

For you I would start taking 2 sachets every 3 hours. I believe that what my Gp eventually told me is what the instructions state you can do. If you're still struggling in 2 weeks, ask your Gp to either prescribe Docusate tablets which softens your poo and puts water into it. Alternatively you can ask your Gp to refer you to Urology who will assess you and could prescribe you the Docusate. I take 1 tablet 4 times a day as i have Sjogrens Syndrome, which dries everything out. I don't want you to get the horrific pains I've endured over the years as constipation is no joke. Your tummy/bowels can be further relaxed by your Gp prescribing Peppermint Oil Capsules which, does work in conjunction with the Docusate.

Also speak to your Gp and Consultant to see if your cancer treatment and/or drugs have caused this situation with your bowels as a side effect. There's lots of medications and treatments out there that should be given with laxatives. Patients present zero side effects so they don't give it to them. Then, like us we have issues further down the line. It makes me so angry as they even do this to kids 😤.

Please let us know how you get on. Congratulations on coming so far. You're an inspiration and should be very proud of yourself. All the best 😍

[Justbreathe55 in reply to Evonne02]

Thank you so much for your reply. I was taking 5 docusate a day on the last 2 sessions of chemo it took a while to work so the oncologist said the laxido might work quicker because it also adds water to the stools. I will go back to docusate tomorrow if nothing happens tonight. It's definitely a side effect from the steriods and antisickness meds I'm taking during my chemo sessions so hopefully only a short term problem. I'm also not as active as I was as I've had part of my lung removed so being inactive is definitely making me more sluggish. I just can't risk sitting in A&E for hours while on chemo. Hopefully it won't come to that, I'm going to use a suppository soon so wish me luck 🙏 and thank you again for taking time to respond to my plight x

[Evonne02 in reply to Justbreathe55]

Please take the Docusate as prescribed. Then take the Movicol x2 sachets every couple of hours. Suppositories are milder than the Movicol and also the Docusate and will undo what's already been done. All the best 😍

[Hidden in reply to Justbreathe55]

A friend of mine has lung cancer, and she was given a'get out of jail free' card, so if she had to go to A&E or hospital, she would show the card and be whisked through straight away! Ask for a card if I\ were you!! Good luck!

[bungi1961]

I don't know if you read my posts I had Breast Cancer in June 2018 had it removed and checked my lymph glands in my armpit checked also that was followed by 6 chemo's 15 radio sessions very gruelling indeed I am on that 1mg Anastrazole tablet a day that was on the news the other

I had to Isolate 4 all of 2020 COVID so only going out 4 Medical things 1 lot of chemo delayed because it by only 2 months so not 2 bad but late 2020 I was having blood in my poop after different med's still not right so 2 colonoscopies in a month ( disgusting prep 4 each one as I was still having constipation/diahrea ) had 6/7 polyps removed 1st time 2nd time 3/4 more removed ( Pre-cancer ones that came back clear thanks ) given FODMAP diet sheet & shoved out the door as if I bloody well knew what I was doing expert I am not that was at The GW Swindon early this over Xmas last year 2022 and early this year more blood in poop so back Doc's again had colon scan again ( more prep that had dye in it even more nasty stuff coming out om as what comes out of me is bad enough let alone !!!! ) I even had a scan like you do when having a baby (62 years old ha ha ) all again come back OK so why am I still having IBS/Diverticular Disease I shall never know!!! I just get given more tablets ETC from Doc's like putting a plaster on a wound that needs stitches

It appears that every other things are highlighted on TV like Heart/Demetia (i.e) 2 name a few and we seems 2 be put on the bottom of the pile!!!

I just don't know?

bungi1961

[diana1998]

Have you tried 30mg Milk of Magnesia? And add a Laxido or Movicol if necessary. With required amount of water. Recommended by gastroenterologist.