Bit of an embarrassing one, my pelvic floor physio has advised that i start on some long term treatment for constipation.
I have always had a sluggish digestive system and don’t really empty my bowels very often as a norm, i have started taking a mixture of meds that have started playing havoc with my already slow bowel movements.
Can anyone suggest anything that i could take long term either OTC or on prescription, everything i have read has said long term laxatives are a NO NO so a bit worried now.
Have you tried crushed/cracked linseeds? A tablespoon of these sprinkled on food three times a day made a huge difference to my problems with constipation.
I was referred to the continence nurse and she has been fantastic at sorting me out both with catheter and bowels I usen a sachet of movicol everyday and also use the Quofora mini http://www.macgregorhealthcare.com/
I also used to use micro enemas before I got to the Quofora stage
there is loads nof stuff out there just ask your GP or MS Nurse for a referal
I also find linseed very helpful sprinkle on cereal or mix in with a flapjack mix , I also take a product called laxido as sometimes my stools can be very firm and hard to pass , but only .when I need too .
Movicol (also known as Laxido or Magrocol) is the best kind of everyday soluble product for constipation. It’s a stool softener / bulker and is supposed to gently provide a laxative effect. You can take 1-3 sachets mixed with water daily, depending on need, or if you are very bunged up a big dose of up to 8 sachets over a few hours will clear you out (literally)! They come in either plain unflavoured or orange flavour. Personally I absolutely hate the orange one, but other people like it. It has to be prescribed by your doctor.
Magnesium is a favourite of some people, so you could try milk of magnesia. Some people swear by castor oil. Or Senna.
Otherwise, there’s all the other dietary things, prunes, prune juice, linseeds, and of course fibre, of the wholemeal variety and lots of vegetables.
Some people use an anal irrigation system like Peristeen to help with their constipation, or micro enemas, or glycerol suppositories.
It’s truly a symptom for which there is no simple answer, no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Many of us struggle with it even knowing all of the available methods for bowel management. For something that’s so necessary to life, it’s a problem that I don’t think anyone has all the answers to. Hopefully you’ll manage to find a routine that works for you.
I eat muesli with milled linseed for breakfast with prunes, kiwi fruit, blueberries and strawberries. I don’t use cow’s milk but Coconut or Soya milk. During the day I eat lots of vegetables and fruit. I eat a wholefood vegetarian diet, which I think helps.
In addition I take at least one sachet of Laxido daily plus Magnesium tablets.
This generally works and I am able to go every day, with the occasional exception.
Hi Lisa - Linseed on my cereal also does the trick for me. I also snack on a few prunes each day along with walnuts, which I find rather yummy. Lidl’s sells cereal toppers, which are reasonably priced & tasty. Check the amount of linseed in the products though, as one has more in than the other. Good luck.
Our bowels are most active just after eating, especially breakfast. So it might be worth going to sit on the loo fifteen or twenty minutes after having breakfast, and see if that helps your bowels to start moving a bit more.
Another to get for while you’re sat on the toilet is a Squatty Potty. It’s a stool that you put your feet onto when sat on the toilet. This means your body is squatting more, which is much better for our bowels. Go to youtube and search for the advert - it’s hilarious! You can buy it on Amazon. They’re not particularly cheap though. I got a much cheaper stool from Ikea, which isn’t as high so as good as a proper one, but it definitely helps.
I use lactulose which is a stool softener. I take it morning and night. I also take psyllium husk supplements. I eat reasonably healthily, drink lots of water which also helps with an unreliable bladder. This does the trick most of the time.
occasionally when things need a helping hand (not literally!), I take duclolax before going to behind and it always works.
Gosh, bowels and constipation. I have a very long tortuous transverse colon - it strangulated last year and I spent 3 weeks in hospital. Getting things moving ever since has had it’s problems. I take 2 movicol each day and still progress is slow. Over wiping to be clean has caused painful sores, ouch… I have been told that the constipation is caused by the medications that I am on. Is there any hope? LouLou x
Hi littlean, have you tried ortis fruit and fibre tabs? i take one every night before bedtime with a glass of water and they work, well they do for me and good reports on them from amazon! gd luck. TC