IBS-C - have had this for life and is playing up again now

[Miserere]

I remember being taken to hospital at a pre-school age because I had a 'blockage.' After that my mother gave me castor oil, enos, sennapods, that Ex-Lax chocolate that would not fool a 4 year old, prunes. You name it I had it and I can never remember having a bowel movement normally. I could go for long periods without a movement in my teens and twenties and not worrying about it. However, as time has gone it has been more troublesome.

It does not seem to depend on diet. I am currently on a low carb diet because I developed pre-diabetes after taking prednisolone for PMR which was triggered by the corona virus vaccine. I am still on the pred. I was prescribed Laxido by the GP and took that for a long time but managed to wean off it a couple of years ago and used vitamin C instead.

However, after a knee op I was given strong pain killers and needed some help so she re-prescribed Laxido in January. Now I can't get off it at all and I take extra vitamin C.

I've never found extra bran or fibre to be helpful and really don't know what to do now. Currently getting intermittent pain below the navel to the right a little. Not sure what to eat or what to take. Yesterday I had one sachet of Laxido, 12gms vitamin C and, as a last resort, 2 bysicodol. Results very small and there is gas.

So, situation normal. Occasionally it doesn't bother me too much but at the moment I can't seem to find anything that helps.

Just wondering if there are many other long-life sufferers and if so, have you found anything that helps?

Thank you.

[Crystalpalace]

Hello, I have used psyllium husk to get things moving, it's also low carb. I take 1 tablespoon each morning mixed it with yoghurt/kefir. I did take 2 at first but that was too much for me. you must drink plenty of water to ensure it doesn't cause trouble. available on amazon for around £10, might be worth giving it a go. Good luck

[Miserere in reply to Crystalpalace]

Thank you for the suggestion - that's kind of you. I have tried psyllium husk in the past but to no avail, I'm afraid. However, I shall have another go - you never know. Thanks again.

[Krisbetty]

Sounds just like me i did a lot of research and finally got to see a gastroenterologist and took all my notes on what and what hadn't worked for me. I then requested linacoltide/constella they are the only ones that prescribe it and after a bit of trial and error it works no more laxido or laxatives. Normally a bm very 1 or 2 days.

[Miserere in reply to Krisbetty]

Never heard of this before - it sounds like a stool softener to some extent and it does say it is a laxative - at least on the Mayo Clinic site that I've just looked at. Interesting though, thank you and I will do some more research on it.

[Krisbetty in reply to Miserere]

Linaclotide is a guanylate cyclase-C receptor agonist that is licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome associated with constipation. It increases intestinal fluid secretion and transit, and decreases visceral pain. Info from the British BNF

[Miserere in reply to Krisbetty]

Once I get over this current bout of covid I will research further, Krisbetty - thank you!