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Constipation 😖

(77 Posts)
Grandyma Wed 20-Dec-23 22:20:53

Anyone have any suggestions or advice? I’ve been constipated for a few days now. Been taking Lactulose but no luck so far.
It’s really uncomfortable.

Coolgran65 Wed 20-Dec-23 22:25:35

I used to suffer constipation when I used cocodamol and used lactose with success. Perhaps you need to up the dose a little. I agree it is very uncomfortable.

silverlining48 Wed 20-Dec-23 22:26:13

Drink lots, up the lactulose.
Have you been taking co codamol? I ask because coedine can quickly cause quite severe constipation.
Try not to worry, I once went, or didn’t go, for 10 days, not my finest hour.

silverlining48 Wed 20-Dec-23 22:26:30

Snap coolgran

nadateturbe Wed 20-Dec-23 22:27:21

I take 3/4 warm prunes (tinned) every morning before breakfast.

Grannmarie Wed 20-Dec-23 22:37:34

The specialist nurse who did my bowel scope some years ago advised me to increase my fluid and fibre intake by starting my day with 3 weetabix and a large jug of water in the fridge to be used up gradually throughout the day.
I also find that hot tea with 2 or 3 tangerines in the morning is effective.

Hope you feel better soon Grandyma.

crazyH Wed 20-Dec-23 22:41:46

I agree about the ‘hot tea’ - hope things improve soon - my sister could go for a week without ‘emptying’. She travelled a lot and perhaps she trained herself to hold it in 😂

travelsafar Wed 20-Dec-23 22:49:07

If your really uncomfortable try dulcolax they work 6 to 12 hours later. Make sure you are drinking lots.
Eat, sprouts, lentils, kidney beans, parsnips, high fibre veggies. Good luck.

silverlining48 Wed 20-Dec-23 22:52:51

Maybe you are right crazy. My 10 days ‘without going’ was while I was on holiday in Italy. A long time ago now but oh yes, I remember it well.

Grandyma Wed 20-Dec-23 23:11:43

Thanks for all your suggestions. I haven’t been taking cocodamol or anything. I probably need to drink more.

LizzieDrip Thu 21-Dec-23 00:43:02

Have you tried Kefir? You can buy it as a drink in most supermarkets, near the yogurt drinks etc. I find a small bottle of that works wonders!

biglouis Thu 21-Dec-23 01:07:23

I swear by senokot but dont take the max strength version unless you really have to get things moving - fast. Glad I have a downstairs loo.

I recall going to a pharmacy in Damascus because I needed a laxitive. The pharmacist was puzzled because foreign visiters usually came with the opposite sort of complaint. She sold me some suppositories and told me all the instructions were in French. I told her "Thats ok because I speak French. But I think I can work out what to do with them."

In Europe they seem to be very keen on things to shove up rather than things to swallow down.

Granny23 Thu 21-Dec-23 02:06:17

Sorry to be so graphic but my problem has been a lack of muscle power to push the stool out. Recently I read an article which suggested that you should always push with your knees held higher than your bum - sort of a squatting position. This has really worked for me to my great relief.

Whiff Thu 21-Dec-23 04:15:53

I always think constipation is like trying to give birth.

When I had months of UTIs and kidney beans a nurse told me when on the toilet to make sure your knees and hips are in line. It makes sure your bladder and bowel empty completely. As I have an ease toilet which looks like a normal loo but it's taller I use a toddler step for me feet.

I find it you have pulses in your diet everyday it helps keep your bowels moving. My dad was always constipated after a ulcer operation when he was 28 . They couldn't remove the ulcer as it was to big so they used mesh to seal it and made his stomach smaller. He used to say teeth marks on the seat again.

My nan had senokot everyday and used to soak the pods in water all day before tablets came about.

At least with diarrhoea you can take something to stop it.

Sorry not much help but I do sympathise with you as when I get it the pain is awful.

Whiff Thu 21-Dec-23 04:16:30

Not kidney beans kidney infections 🤦🤦🤦🤦

HelterSkelter1 Thu 21-Dec-23 05:20:24

Lactulose needs as much water as you can drink to work as it absorbs water from your digestive system. Tinned prunes are great...not dried fruit as again they absorb water. Hot tea and prunes or prune juice help. Keep moving don't sit about.

Boots glycerine suppositories are my friend. Trust me ... the anti emetic drugs you take with chemo treatment are evil and suppositories to get things going really help. Constipation can make you really miserable. If you find cold water difficult to drink try hot water. It seems to go down more easily.

Justwidowed Thu 21-Dec-23 10:16:47

A dessertspoon of olive oil often helps.I have had faecal impactionfor six months diagnosed during a hospital stay.Am now on prescribed laxatives daily,Docusate and Senna.The olive oil really helped me to become more regular.

farmgran Thu 21-Dec-23 11:08:18

Sennakot tablets are good at night, together with a kiwifruit.
A microlax mini enema is good too to get things moving. A cup of coffee in the morning helps too.

Tattooedfidelma Thu 21-Dec-23 11:16:17

Last time I used syrup of figs, bought from my local pharmacy and worked a treat. I now make sure I drink plenty of water and haven’t had a bout of constipation recently.

Baggs Thu 21-Dec-23 11:27:27

Dried fruit of all kinds (prunes, apricots, dates, cranberries, etc) early every day as a 'dew bit'; a fresh apple a day; pulses and beans; all kinds of cabbage, e.g. a small amount of kale each day, broccoli, savoy cabbage cauliflower, etc; tomatoes are good too.

And drink plenty. Mainly hot tea in my case (contains water).

I've been taking co-codamol (and its predecessor) for over forty years so, believe me, I know what works. I've never had to resort to pharmaceutical remedies.

Theexwife Thu 21-Dec-23 12:07:58

I suffered for years with constipation, last year I started drinking 2 litres of water a day and have been fine since, my only regret it I had not being doing this before.

I used to use glycerine suppositries.

Keekaboo Thu 21-Dec-23 12:14:37

After an operation I was constipated my doc told me to take senator and lactalose together because they both work but in different ways. It worked thank goodness.

fancythat Thu 21-Dec-23 12:19:08

All Bran[high fibre]. Liquorice.

Jaxjacky Thu 21-Dec-23 13:01:58

A drug I take causes this, prune juice usually works better than tinned prunes, lots of water, lactulose before bed if the other methods fail.

Visgir1 Thu 21-Dec-23 13:45:47

Or just try a teaspoon of pure wheat or oat Bran (from Health food shops) cheap as chips, added to your breakfast cereal, works well. I found it much better that "potions" I advised to take my operation.