Movicol/colonoscopy prep for IBS relief

[Book_Worm5]

Hi all,

I have predominantly IBS-D but occasionally I have bouts of horrific IBS-C (I can go up to a week without any bowel movements). This is accompanied by horrific bloating/acid reflux and uncontrollable eggy gas. It can go from a few days to months. I’ve had to be signed off work before because of it because I just can’t work feeling like that and suffer the pain from having to hold the gas in.

Has anyone else had to be signed off before for similar reasons? I feel like a fraud.

The only relief I’ve had is when I had to do the prep for a colonoscopy. I didn’t have symptoms for months afterwards. I’m now in another IBS-C episode and wondering if anyone has tried buying the prep and having a “flush out” to relieve symptoms? I’m at the end of my tether and need to get back to work.

Any advice appreciated 🙂

[winfong]

I have. It was super effective.

Now, you'll have to convince your gastrologist to write you what's basically an off-label prescription. I really didn't have any problem, but who knows? Maybe I was just lucky.

Another thing you might want to look into is Miralax (not sure what it would be called in the UK). It has basically the same ingredient as the prep stuff, polypropene glycol. It's an osmotic laxative - the kind that's okay to take it every day, which I do.

[Book_Worm5 in reply to winfong]

Thanks for your reply! Interesting to note others have had some relief with the prep too. I’ve managed to buy Movicol from the pharmacy (similar to Miralax I believe). My doctor did say some people had relief after the prep but was unsure why - interesting that it helps and sad that it isn’t investigated more as a cleansing tool for sufferers.

[Iggls]

I have chronic slow transit IBS C, and until very recently have done a weekly Picolax bowel prep. This was always a great relief which made me more comfortable for several days, I’ve done this( prescribed) for nearly 10 years. Recently it’s worked less well so I’m taking a break from it..it was prescribed by my gastroenterologist and then GP but it’s available without prescription. Good luck!

[edwangy in reply to Iggls]

Linoclotide does the same

[Iggls in reply to edwangy]

Definitely didn’t for me, extremely unreliable. Never knew if/ when it would work ?

[edwangy in reply to Iggls]

What dose were yoou taking?

[Orchid99]

This is interesting because I asked my Gastroenterologist for another bowel clean out after having one for a colonoscopy and felt good for a couple of months after, but he told me no because it can do more harm then good but yet he's happy to have me on movicol everyday for the last 3 years for slow transit colon. I'm now under the functional bowel clinic at my hospital and they sent me some leaflets today which headed Functional bowel disease, I've never heard of my condition being classed as a disease. Basically my colon don't work properly, tests showed very slow bowel, I can not move stool out without laxatives and still get partial blockages despite the laxatives, weirdly the more osmotic laxatives i take (I.e 8 sachets in one day) I still don't pass alot.