Hiya - I’m really struggling with constipation again!
I had a colonoscopy last Wednesday - 8 days ago - and I haven’t managed to go since.
Does anyone have any advice please?
Have been taken Movicol since Tuesday but still nothing!
Thanks
Sue x
hi i have suffered with the same problem and my doctor gave me cosmocol which i think is the same as the 1 you have been using but he told me to take 6 sachets at once obviously on a night. as i hadn’t been for nearly a week and then reduce the amount of sachet’s each day i found this helped. Now and then i get constipated and just take them as i need hope this helps… x
Hiya Laurie
Thanks for your response. Yes I think Movicol is a similar product but is in a liquid form.
I’m also so glad to hear that you did finally go! Fingers crossed for me! xx
I have the same problem.I find drinking plain old water helps make sure you are drinking enough as thats a big thing.I find sunburst prune juice helps and also a warm glass of water first thing and also if u feel the urge put ur feet on a small stool to raise your knees this relaxes the bowel.Also i find massaging the lower tummy from right to left gets things mving a bit more too,ive only just found this out.Mines a lot more than normal constipation its my bowel not working properly and i have to find all sort of ways to go,its just awful.
Hello
The instructions on the Movicol box state you can take 1-3 sachets per day and up to 8 for ‘impaction’. (I can’t imagine taking 3 every day. Sounds like a recipe for chronic diarrhoea!)
In the past, I’ve taken 6 or 8 sachets over a period of several hours. Generally, I’d mix 6 sachets in a lot (at least a litre) of water, drink a couple of glassfuls then wait half an hour, drink another glass every half an hour till it’s all gone. I would expect this to take a couple of hours.
Soon after, there should be results. If not, wait another hour or two and then take another 2 sachets.
I know how flipping uncomfortable constipation is. It’s a bugger of a problem. And the cure doesn’t exactly fill you with joy either. Obviously you’d expect diarrhoea to follow.
If the overload of movicol doesn’t work, phone 111 and ask for advice. There is no reason why it shouldn’t work!
In the future, try not to let it go so long without movement. Take extra Movicol sooner rather than end up with this sort of problem.
Sue
Thanks Sue - I appreciate your advice. I think I should call 111 for advice as I don’t really want to take too much Movicol!
Do phone them. It’s always best to have a medical opinion. It’s different if you’ve had the experience before and used the maximum Movicol treatment. If you’ve never been advised to do it, then getting proper advice is best.
But make the call now, if you haven’t already. I know sometimes it’s difficult to make yourself pick the phone up!
Let us know what they say.
Sue
Hiya - just to let you know … I called 111, spoke to an Advisor who told me I’d get a call back from a medic but nothing yet!
Guess they are really busy.
x
Have you heard yet? What are you going to do? Aaarrgh! I really feel for you. Utter misery. And waiting for calls…
Sue x
Your poor gut - colonoscopies are pretty brutal and decimate your gut microbes, and it can take weeks for them (and you) to recover. I have heard that probiotic foods like plain yoghurt and kefir can help the helpful microbes to re-establish themselves, while prebiotic foods like artichokes and asparagus and bananas help to nourish them. I hope that you feel better soon.
Alison
when you have a colonoscopy i believe you have a massive clear out lol, some have even found old toys they swallowed when kids nah just kidding.
do you feel you need to go? i found movicol waste of time, and my doctor recommended to me glycerine suppository and boy did that work quickly. I have constipation as a norm.
you need to go to toilet so perhaps chat to your GP?
Hiya - thanks for your responses!
NHS 111 called me back 3 times between 1am - 3am this morning but my phone was on silent and I slept through the calls.
Then first 2 voice mails asked me to call them back and the 3rd message told me that they were closing my call but if necessary I could call them back!
So I’ve now taken 7 doses of Movicol but still haven’t been to the loo!
I phoned my Dr’a and was told to call back at 8am on Monday to make an appointment!
Think I’ll try the Glycerine suppository you suggest crazy chick!
Xx
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they are totally natural and boy they work well. the coat the poop like lubricant lol and everytime i have taken one they work within 15 minutes. I was told by my GP they were the best option as they were totally natural and its common in MS anyway to have constipation. I only take them when i just cant go. sometimes i just cant feel my back so its easier for me. i never found movicol worked. xxxx
I agree re glycerin suppositories, theoretically, the trou ble is I always dropped the buggers into the loo! Stupid MSey fingers!!
I have always found that Movicol works. If you’ve not emptied your bowels for a week and taken 7 sachets of Movicol, something should have happened.
If you’ve now tried a suppository (or two), as well as all the Movicol, and nothing has happened, phone 111 again. Getting a response between 1 and 3 am isn’t really helpful. Try to get them to consider your need as urgent.
Alternatively, go to A&E. I know that’s not the most appealing prospect, but really it’s getting a bit ridiculous now, 9 days since your colonoscopy, even for someone plagued by constipation, I’d have thought something should have happened.
Sue
i dont think she has tried them its only i told her and she is going to.
dont go to A&E, my daughter had a dog bite not serious. the next day it was a swollen thumb and very sore, within a few hours tracking up her arm. she rang her surgery they told her to to A&E so she did. she waited … SEVEN HOURS.
when she saw the triage nurse she could see tracking up her arm. anyway finally she saw the doctor she went mad. she said her GP should have asked her to send a photo and then sent her prescription for antibiotics. my daughter was quite sick by the time she saw the doctor who had to put her on a massive dose of antibiotics, which she had to take 3 times for the rest of the day. Lucky she is now on the mend.
trouble is too many people going to A&E for things liike this and they are literally groaning with patients not even covid as they are not joined in the normal department.
the GP should deal with someone with severe constipation after a colonosopy and even send in district nurse. 111 are useless. I would ring the GP and insist something was done about it, but they will probably just give her an enema. the colonosopy totally cleans out your system. i did ask my brother how long it took him to go to loo after having one and he said ages nearly a week. he doesnt have MS. but if after the suppositiories there is no bowel movement then yes i would suggest a trip to hospital or ring 111. IMHO.
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Hiya - thanks again for your replies - I really appreciate your advice.
I’ve ordered the suppositories from Amazon yesterday and they are due to arrive today!
However, I have finally managed to go this morning albeit a small amount (sorry for the details!)
but am still too scared to leave the house as I am sure there is more to come!
xx
thats good news hun. sometimes after a full clear out for a colonoscopy this can happen. see how you go. if your ok again today just keep the box for another day when things go sluggish lol. they are natural and doctor told me i can use them when i need them. they are not like medical type suppositories. xxxx
I hope the colonoscopy shows everything is good too. xxx
Hiya
Thanks so much crazy chick! Oh yes all was clear on my colonoscopy thankfully!!
xx
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