chronic constipation

[Laxido21]

I’m still waiting for a colonoscopy. Meanwhile I’m taking 3 docusate a day and 2 senna at night. I hardly have bowel movements. Feel constantly bloated, having severe crampy spasms in left lower back. Does anyone else suffer like this. I try drinking hot water in the morning. I find that prunes and fibre don’t really help. As I don’t actually know what is wrong with me, I justv don’t know what to eat for the best. I am totally sick of the situation. I got a txt from the nhs saying as they’d not been in touch with me for over 12 weeks, basically was I still alive and did I still need treatment, or was I better? Joke isn’t it! Will be glad of some support from you kind folk. x

[Iris99]

Have you tried using Movicol? I’ve found it really helpful in relieving constipation, and it’s quite gentle. Poor you, sounds really uncomfortable and I do hope you hear back re the colonoscopy soon. Worth chasing via your GP?

[Bridall]

have you tried Laxido.

[Ginnie2018]

I had the similar situation happening to me since mid February after a night of non stop vomiting … it appeared as some stomach bug . Because I had colon resection 6 years ago , they CT scanned in the ER for blockage and it just show backed up stools . Which I had no idea why as I was taking my constella once a week and was doing fine . But since then had gastroparosis and nothing was working for weeks … very unusual and frustrating . Had a colonoscopy on may 9th and was all ok . No stricture , no polyps . The Dr thinks that some viruses cause severe motility issues and I’m still dealing with it up to this day .. I’m taking peg daily plus constella 2-3 times weekly and am not having a normal BM . Really not sure what’s going on ….

[Sc12Coco]

Have you tried prune juice. I do have others bowel problems as well.But I have 4 docusate a day 3 cups of prune juice ( yuk ) 2 senna and 3 magnesium citrate .

I have just started irrigation for the another issue. ( Prolapses).

Prune juice should help

[SteveR12 in reply to Sc12Coco]

Hi Sc12Coco, may I ask if that is for hemorrhoid prolapses?

[Sc12Coco in reply to SteveR12]

Hi, No I have complex bowel prolapses. More serious than hemorrhoids. Prolapses of the bowel causes a blockage. Stool can't pass, causing constipation.

Try the prune juice.

[SteveR12 in reply to Sc12Coco]

I understand, thanks and good luck

[gussmithy]

I have had these symptoms but counter-intuatively, after reading extensively, I concluded lots fibre caused and/or made things worse. I weaned myself off all the things like Fybogel and cut back on high fiber food. Now things much better. Doesn't mean it will work for you. Meanwhile I really think you need quick medical attention as sounds like you may have a blockage & may need an enema. You can't go on like this. Do hope you do get some relief soon.

[EdinburghElle]

I feel for you! And love your username, not sure I could live without laxido... If the laxatives aren't producing the intended results, review your diet. I eat tons of veg and fiber, too, and still am constipated. What helps is cutting out bread and processed food (this includes pasta, cereal, etc.). Experiment! Good luck ~

[Minty00]

Could be a bowel obstruction , medical intervention may be required as you dont know what the problem is causing your symptoms

[Iggls]

if you suffer from bloating, high fibre like prunes, etc will only make it worse ( as per Fodmap diet), Fybogel is a disaster, try kiwis ? I stick to Senna ( on prescription) and glycerin suppositories are very useful too. But do investigate the Fodmap diet , though with a dietitian ?

[Karate777]

i have ongoing constipation, acidy stomach bloating etc. Doctor thinks its ibs. I had a colonoscopy and thankfully everything was normal. I eat porrige oats or weetabix for breakfast and use laxido occasionally.need to drink plenty of water ,fruit and veg mite help. You should contact your doctor again

[Grassmower]

I feel for you. The colonoscopy is worth having as it will eliminate anything serious. I have had chronic constipation for over a year and I think it is a psychological reaction to chronic stress. The GP's kept adding laxatives but they didn't help and a consultant said stop them all, hold it in and go once a day or once every other day and try a low fibre diet which was better but not a cure, I am still on the loo up to three hours a day.

I finally found a GP who asked about what was happening in my life when it started and that helped a bit. I found a gasteroenterologist online who is also a psychotherpist who specialised in this area. Sadly he is retired but was willing to talk. He wrote to me, " Symptoms are metaphors and they have a meaning that often relates to the traumatic life experience." He wrote a book on this, ’Sick and Tired, Healing the Illnesses that Doctors Cannot Cure," by Nick Read. I will seek out a copy and buy it. It might be worth looking into.

Basically doctors tend to concentrate on symptoms to try and find a diagnosis, but constipation is sympton and not a diagnosis as it does not identify an underlying cause, and forgot to look at life processes as they unfold over time. There training encourges this. I think the laxatives and diets are worth trying but they are like shooting fish in a barral if they doctors have not identified the underlying cause, they might work, but often don't. With me I am pretty sure its tight muscles, called dysergenic defaecation or anismus, caused by long term stress: both wanting to shit on perticular people and holding it in for fear of the anger, rage and completely reasonable disgust I feel towards the way certain people treated me.

I hope this is useful but my experience of doctors in this area is pretty miserable unless you can find one who both has gastroenterlogy expertise but also specialises psychological medicine.

[Treetop33]

I find a combination of movicol taken over a few days and glycerine suppositories do the trick, but you may need an enema as it's been going on for so long.

I had a nasty virus about six months ago and my whole digestive tract has not been right since. Medical help takes an age.