constipation help

[Laxido21]

hope you knowledgeable people can help me. I was shouted at by my gp and bought to tears. She insisted I follow her Plan. 3 docusate and 1 fybogel sachet daily. To ignore what other drs have said. I began with this on 1st March, I’m now on day 6, have still not opened my bowels. I have terrible backache , stomach aches still, which she said is nothing to do with bowels. I feel positively awful, no appetite. Any ideas other than go back to her and get reprimanded. This has been going on since last sept. Still waiting for a colonoscopy. I’d be very grateful for some ideas. Thank you.

[heartmatters1]

I’m sorry to hear you have been treated like that. I can’t believe that she could say that the pain wouldn’t have anything to do with your bowels. If it isn’t then you need to ask her what she thought was causing it then! If you haven’t been to the toilet for that long, after taking all the prescribed laxatives, then you need to get a second opinion, it could be you’re impacted. I know because I’ve been through it, & it can be very painful.

I need to make sure I don’t get constipated. My colonoscopy picked up diverticulosis, so constipation needs to be avoided.

Get a second opinion & chase up your colonoscopy.

Best wishes 🤞🤗

[Luisa22]

If you can, change your GP. No doctor has the right to treat you like this or shout at you like she did. She does not sound good. Is there another GP you can register with at the same clinic? Or is there another health centre or clinic nearby?

Check with your friends or neighbours you know quite well, and find out which doctors they see, at which clinic etc, and if they are happy with the way they are treated

[Misspomfrey]

Yes, I'd see someone else if I were you, what's the point in taking all that stuff if it's doing no good? Have you tried Flaxseed and Kiwi Fruit 🥝

[dogandbone]

Hello Laxido21, your post made me feel so sad as I have been there with a Dr who always insisted she was right and another who said “this is not my expertise.”. I have tried Laxido, Mobicol. Fibregel (one of the worst). When I was referred for my 6th Colonoscopy and was diagnosed with diverticulosis, piles, constipation etc the Specialist said to try Linseed starting with a teaspoonful and building up gradually a bit more each day, take whole. and a glass of water each time which swells the linseed providing bulk to pass through your system. I buy the gold linseed organic from Biona which you can buy on line or from a local Health Food store. It does help me and I have the same problem as you. I have tried so many ‘cures’ to no avail. I also eat at least 3 fresh fruit a day, pineapple, bananas, pears., very little meat, small amount of cheese, Meat takes a long time to go through my system! I hope you get your Colonoscopy soon, the picolax or whatever they give you to take beforehand should clear you out Good Luck Best wishes. Dogandbone.

[gussmithy]

All sounds awful. Fybogel and other herbal laxatives will not help. When I have suffered from impaction it's been cleared by having an enema (when I was in hospital) or a good dose of milk of magnesia. Do take others' advice re changing GP. In short term, perhaps you can go to a walk-in clinic or A&E, don't leave things too long.

[yorkshire_lass]

I’m so sorry you’re having such problems with constipation. Since being given codeine for pain relief from arthritis, I’ve been suffering with constipation as well. Spoke to a nurse at the surgery and she told me to take Dulcolax every evening - yet another pill to add to my daily dosage! The only thing I’ve found that definitely helps me is eating prunes. I’m eating more fruit & veg generally. I also scared myself silly by reading various health emails which threatened all sorts of dire consequences if constipation continued, but I think we’re better-designed than that!

The GP shouldn’t have responded to your problem with anger, I know it’s a pain looking for a new GP, but I’d say you definitely need to talk to a sympathetic doctor to help you.

Hope you feel better soon.

[xjrs]

You could make a complaint to PALS due to your treatment:

nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospita...

and try to find another GP or different GP service in your area.

Have you also tried all the natural remedies in terms of diet etc. (my original xjrs post on this below):

healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

[edwangy in reply to xjrs]

Have you tried to get through to PALS lately?

[xjrs in reply to edwangy]

I haven't tried PALS myself. I just know of its existence.

[-lilybet]

all I would say is you know your own body just because it’s a professional telling you what to do they do get it WRONG follow your own intuition.

I have gone 5 days without opening my bowels terrible lower back pain stomach cramps ect . Your not alone even though it feels like it at time

[lowraind]

Please get a 2nd opinion, if you have the time. My severe constipation led to a surgery and colostomy. I almost died due to diverticulitis, which I did not know I had. My surgeon said to take prune juice and it does help me.

[Frasina]

Whilst in hospital a few years ago having an op (not related to bowels) I had bad constipation. Nurses suggested prune juice which my other half bought in whilst visiting. I drank a couple of glasses and it literally overworked! So much so, I had an explosion - and did not even make it to the loo in time....

So, this is something I would suggest you try and hopefully it will get things moving. Good luck, and as others have said, definitely change GP.

[Sparrow58]

I think it is so bad that there are GPs out there who are not understanding about IBS. They really do not understand what it is like. I know that I and probably alot of others try everything possible before going to the GP and when all else fails and we do get an appointment we are really asking for help and understanding.

[Health650]

Lack of appetite and back ache might mean you are well backed up, in which case fibre will not help. Laxido does break things down but you might need to use stimulant laxative in a reasonable large dose to move it through .Have you taken the impaction dose of laxido ie 8 sachets over a 6 hour window and you can do it over 3 consecutive days ( instructions will be on box ).You are disimpacted when it runs like soup but then don't suddenly withdraw quickly, reduce gradually and then use the maintenance dose. When you get moving again, don't eat big portions at a time and avoid stodgy things till your system is back in shape, Your doctors method may help once you get unbunged. Certainly for now avoid things with skins and big chunks of red meat, pasta etc anything that's hard to digest.

Once you get moving again , warm prune juice does really help.

It is a doctors mantra more fibre, more fibre but it is not the answer to everthing. Sorry you are going through this, it is very worrying,I know.

[QuiltLady]

What helps me is exercise, taking Magnesium, eating a bunch of cooked broccoli for lunch and dinner, breakfast if necessary, and an occasional glycerin suppository.