I am required to take Movicol (1 sachet) daily for constipation that is healing nicely.
Only thing is it gives me a thick throat for 2 hours and also makes me a bit wonky on my feet and effects my mood
I am VERY sensitive to meds - irritates me beyond belief but it is what it is and there is little I can do about it.
My healthcare providers are adamant that there is no alternative and I must "push through" but it is counter-intuitive to take something that makes you feel lousy for 2-4 hours.
I am currently having about 5 BM's a day and they are soft but the healthcare bunch say I must wean VERY slowly so that I do not get rebound (previosly my colon was chockablock with v little peristalsis)
It is working now but they don't want a recurrence which I get.
Movicol is branded under many names depending on where you are and it would seem my senstivity is to Magrogol which is the active ingredient in all the generics.
Are there any alternatives that are purely stool bulk softeners - I am not after any stimulants as its important for my gut to be doing the work itself
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JonByram
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Dulcolax do a stool softener partner took it last year when meds including codeine made him terribly constipated - helped and after he managed to go after a Dulcolax laxative took it daily - helped him
thanks - I know dulcolax - its also osmotic - is it stimulative as I need to get my gut to do its' own peristalsis and magrogol does not interfere with this - hoping dulcolax is the same
Don't think so think it softens the bowel movement - Dulcolax is a laxative but the Dulcoease just helps for it to move more easily - hence the word "soften" - my partner took it because he has two misplaced discs and last year was on his back for three months - all the meds severely constipated him and on an odd occasion had to take a laxative but then other days took the Dulcoease to help soften his poo - thing was he was unable to strain for his back so this helped - his dad had bowel cancer and was unable to take laxatives but he used the Dulcoease every day to help him go - maybe someone else can help on the Dulcoease but this was our experience of it -- I do know from experience nothing worse than having the feeling of wanting to go but it won't come out (sorry TMI) hence why the honey also helps - have you looked at Myota this may help too
It looks like Dulcoease is a stool softener and laxative. I understand your frustration at wanting to go and not being able to - horrid feeling - I developed urinary hesitation around the same time as constipation and the 2 go hand in hand for me. I am working with a physio to aid both - its a long slow process that goes up and down
oh and I have been having ginger tincture in warm water first thing - that helps to go and also my go to every night is spoon of honey in warm water ab0ut 8.30 pm that helps as honey is a prebiotic - sometimes I take an extra dose on a morning if needed - but not very often
Have you tried inulin powder? And/or prune juice. A teaspoon on inulin before bed and a small prune juice during the day is usually enough to stop the colon going on strike.
No. Do you know if you have prune juice regularly whether it makes your normal gut movement lazy?
Inulin sounds really interesting. It seems I have IBS-C . Its weird as some days I have 5 BMs but then the next day feel constipated. I had a severely impacted colon about 4 weeks ago that needed 3 picoprep treatments to clear. Trying for a new normal so all suggestions are welcome
What is your fibre intake like? To improve constipation in the short term you can try ground flaxseed on your breakfast, starting at 1 teaspoon and increasing at 1 teaspoon every 2-3 days - you'll need to consume extra water with it.
These foods are also high fibre:
8-9 Prunes
2 tablespoon chia seeds (soaked for 10-15 mins in milk or non dairy milk with cereal or water)
Shredded wheat (or if GF: Nutribrex)
60g Quinoa
Wholewheat bread
75g Whole grain pastas (if GF: Buckwheat)
2 Hard pears
5 Dried apricots
90g Raspberries
1 orange (contain a natural laxative)
2 kiwi.
I find that I need to have 1 orange or 2 kiwi a day and then another high fibre fruit later in the day to help with BMs. Introduce new foods and any fibre increases slowly, starting with one new thing at a time, waiting for 2-3 days for a response and keep a food diary. You may not need to consume as much fibre as I do.
For breakfast I make a porridge of 4 tablespoon of oat bran and 4 tablespoon all bran (wheat bran), 2.5 small cups of water and microwave for 10 mins. I then mix in 2 tablespoon of chia seeds and 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and leave to stand for 15-20 mins since the chia seeds need to form a gel. On top of that I place 8 prunes and eat. The best thing to do is to start with normal oats in similar quantities and, if needed, replace one of the tablespoons of oats with oat bran for a couple of days, carrying on doing this every couple of days until you get to 4 tablespoon of oat bran and 4 tablespoon of oats. Then start replacing with all bran (wheat bran) in the same manner. You can then add the other ingredients one at a time. You might find you do not need the complete 'recipe' to have a BM. All these individual components are down to tolerance e.g. you may not tolerate wheat (see later about Alflorex), so it is best to keep a food diary (I do this on a spreadsheet) recording symptoms for up to 2-3 days after each change.
Exercise can help with BMs. The government recommends 150 mins of moderate exercise (e.g. walking as if you are late for an appointment) or 75 of intense exercise (e.g. jogging) per week. I also have a bit of a walk around straight after breakfast to get things moving.
You need to ensure that you are drinking enough fluids (2 litres of fluid per day).
There is some good advice about constipation here:
There are also medications that help IBS-C (constipation dominant IBS). I suffer from IBS-C and have been prescribed Linaclotide for it. I also take Alflorex probiotic which has made me more tolerant to taking in the extra fibre I need for a BM.
Failing dietary measures, you can try Optifibre, which needs to be worked up to a dose according to instructions. You may not need the full dose - watch out for gas and increment to a level that is acceptable for you.
Some people are more prone to constipation due to their intestinal anatomy. Through colonoscopies I have been told that I have a long loopy (redundant) colon. This means that food takes longer to pass through and in the mean time the intestines have more time to suck out water from the stool, drying them out and causing constipation. I have found that I need to consume much more fibre than other people to have regular BMs.
I have also found useful having most of my food at meal times, leaving 4-5 hours of not eating between meals, eating my fruit snack before a meal. This means that your digestive system has time to process each meal. It also allows something called the MMC (migrating motor complex) to run which sweeps food waste from your small intestine into your large intestine. This only happens when you have an empty stomach. When people snack regularly, it prevents the MMC from working properly. I also find the larger meals help to push things along better than drip feeding through snacking.
I was prescribed these also but as I get nasty Diahorea ( Sorry about the spellings ) I have been far to afraid to take them so I don't !!! but for the last few weeks have still not taken any so I am not in any position 2 comment you could try a bit of butter on toast may help as I am all ways fearful of having the stuff I can't control well take care & keep safe and well x
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