Chronic Constipation of the over 65s

missdeke

I suffer from constipation caused by adhesions and exacerbated by daily use of cocodamol, the lowest dose. I used to use sodium docusate, then suddenly that stopped working, for the first 6 months subsequently I have been on lactulose at first that worked but the last few weeks I have had to increase the dose to the maximum and that has stopped working. I eat at least 3 pieces of fruit a day and 5 different veg, I have pumpkin seeds on my high fibre breakfast, I've tried chia seeds and flax seeds and nothing works. I am at my wits end with it all , my GP is very good and I visit him frequently I've seen specialists, had scans etc and the only option is to have the adhesions cut but they will come back as they always do. I will try anything that anybody comes up with that I haven't tried already. I sympathise with the OP so much.

None of those worked for me, I'd have to take dulcolsx at max dose and then be in agony as my bowels went into spasms.

Bromelain is the only thing that works for me. The bonus is it is also good for inflammation so helps with my arthritis.

It is natural, a pineapple enzyme, and Iro. Holland and Barrett. Don't know if it would help with adhesions but it has been life changing for me.

I hope you find something that works for you.

No-one has suggested this, but have you thought of asking for a colonoscopy? I think I would if constipation was a new thing.

I have found that having a Colionic Irrigation treatment every six months helps me feel so much better and dont worry about the poo taking hold in side and the germs taking hold of my gut We all know that waste poo is poison and if it stays inside our colon Large and small will eventually cause issues
great if you can take fruit just of anything that helps you perfect but i think i have a twisted bowl born with or caused due to childbirth complications etc Its been the only thing thats helped me over the years Colionic Irrigation I bless the day i heard Prince Diana having a treatment or i would never have found a solution am sure
Have to have a trained proffesional to treat you remember !!!!

Since having part of my bowel removed last year because of cancer, I have found it very difficult to be 'regular' - there was talk of 'the new normal' but I haven't found it permanently yet.
At the moment I am eating loads of fresh figs because we have them growing in the garden and I think this is helping me but obviously once the fig season is over I will probably be back to going several times on one day and then 2 or 3 days with nothing. I did find that drinking lots of water and having a really good walk every day helped, but this didn't always guarantee relief.

Do you take codeine ?
I call it cement mix .
Eating lots of fruit and vegetables and ensuring that you drink enough will help .
Try massaging your tummy in the bath and going for a walk after a meal .
Both will cause movement in the intestines and a sure sign is passing wind - a good sign announcing a bowel movement .
Try not to rely on laxatives .
Using a cotton wool pad lubricate your anus with a little oil to avoid a possible tear .

Definitely see the dr
For constipation could try sitting on loo with your feet apart and flat on the floor back straight …

I get serious doses of constipation and now much better since starting the day with natural yoghurt, a handful of rolled oats, fresh fruit which always includes a few prunes and topped off with a spoon each of flaxseed and honey.

I’m trying to stay away from dairy so I make my own water kefir, it’s really easy! I went to a class to learn how to do it but you can find tutorials online. It really helps with gut health and tastes delicious ( my favourite is ginger and lemon).

Coffee first thin in the morning helps to stimulate bowel movement. In addition, one tablespoon of flax meal….not seed..also helps with digestion. I have IBS. I know what I am talking about. Try not to get attached to medications..go natural. Flax can be sprinkled over anything you are eating. It tastes nutty and you benefit from the Omega 3’s. Avoid flax seed as it is not digested and you don’t get the same nutrients. Good luck!

theworriedwell

missdeke

I suffer from constipation caused by adhesions and exacerbated by daily use of cocodamol, the lowest dose. I used to use sodium docusate, then suddenly that stopped working, for the first 6 months subsequently I have been on lactulose at first that worked but the last few weeks I have had to increase the dose to the maximum and that has stopped working. I eat at least 3 pieces of fruit a day and 5 different veg, I have pumpkin seeds on my high fibre breakfast, I've tried chia seeds and flax seeds and nothing works. I am at my wits end with it all , my GP is very good and I visit him frequently I've seen specialists, had scans etc and the only option is to have the adhesions cut but they will come back as they always do. I will try anything that anybody comes up with that I haven't tried already. I sympathise with the OP so much.

None of those worked for me, I'd have to take dulcolsx at max dose and then be in agony as my bowels went into spasms.

Bromelain is the only thing that works for me. The bonus is it is also good for inflammation so helps with my arthritis.

It is natural, a pineapple enzyme, and Iro. Holland and Barrett. Don't know if it would help with adhesions but it has been life changing for me.

I hope you find something that works for you.

Thank you, that has never been suggested to me before. Due to all the other medications I have to take I would have to discuss this with the GP in case of interactions, but I will definitely investigate. Thanks again.

SynchroSwimmer

1 - 2 Tbsp of neat olive oil is the only thing reliably working for me - it takes 20 hours, but seems to nicely coat the bowel wall and eases transit.

Even drinking an entire pint of plum puree still takes 2 days to have any modest effect for me (6 plum trees - eek 😬)

Senno/Fybogel/Laxido/ dates / kiwi/ beetroot are all failing me .

That reminds me, my Mum used to give me liquid paraffin sometimes, that helped.

singingnutty

Since having part of my bowel removed last year because of cancer, I have found it very difficult to be 'regular' - there was talk of 'the new normal' but I haven't found it permanently yet.
At the moment I am eating loads of fresh figs because we have them growing in the garden and I think this is helping me but obviously once the fig season is over I will probably be back to going several times on one day and then 2 or 3 days with nothing. I did find that drinking lots of water and having a really good walk every day helped, but this didn't always guarantee relief.

I had terrible constipation after having my rectum (end of the bowel) removed and finally I went to my GP who prescribed Macrogol which is a laxative that makes the faeces softer. I have been taking a small dose daily for 20 years with no ill effects so far.

However I naturally need to empty the bowel much more frequently than before the operation as the bowel is shorter.

Caleo

singingnutty

Since having part of my bowel removed last year because of cancer, I have found it very difficult to be 'regular' - there was talk of 'the new normal' but I haven't found it permanently yet.
At the moment I am eating loads of fresh figs because we have them growing in the garden and I think this is helping me but obviously once the fig season is over I will probably be back to going several times on one day and then 2 or 3 days with nothing. I did find that drinking lots of water and having a really good walk every day helped, but this didn't always guarantee relief.

I had terrible constipation after having my rectum (end of the bowel) removed and finally I went to my GP who prescribed Macrogol which is a laxative that makes the faeces softer. I have been taking a small dose daily for 20 years with no ill effects so far.

However I naturally need to empty the bowel much more frequently than before the operation as the bowel is shorter.

Singing Nutty, The Macrogol laxative is in addition to a good mixed diet with fruit veg and plenty of watery fluids.

Jane43

SynchroSwimmer

1 - 2 Tbsp of neat olive oil is the only thing reliably working for me - it takes 20 hours, but seems to nicely coat the bowel wall and eases transit.

Even drinking an entire pint of plum puree still takes 2 days to have any modest effect for me (6 plum trees - eek 😬)

Senno/Fybogel/Laxido/ dates / kiwi/ beetroot are all failing me .

That reminds me, my Mum used to give me liquid paraffin sometimes, that helped.

AI overview:

Modern osmotic laxatives (like lactulose, macrogol/Movicol, polyethylene glycol) and stimulant laxatives (like senna, bisacodyl) are safer and more effective.

👉 Summary: Liquid paraffin is not prescribed anymore because the risks (aspiration pneumonia, leakage, reduced vitamin absorption) outweigh its benefits, especially since safer and more effective laxatives are available.

Senna is very natural and gentle, also make All bran part of your daily diet and plenty of liquids

I have had lots of tests done to find out why I have suffered with constipation all my life, I was found to have extra colon and a high salt content in my body, I drink lots of water eat veg and fruit every day but nothing helps so the doctor prescribed me Dulcolax Pico liquid and tablets. I now go every few days. Unless you suffer with constipation it's hard to understand how it can rule your life.

I have suffered from chronic constipation due to slow gut motility for many years. Added fibre and more vegetables etc actually make it worse because it doesn’t move through the gut fast enough and just gets stuck.
The most effective treatment I have found is Milk of Magnesia. I had never thought of it as an option but came across several forums where people said it worked for them. I tried it and have taken it daily ever since.
I told the bowel consultant when I had my last appointment that I was taking it daily and he said it was ok. I know it’s seen as an old fashioned remedy by some but it works. I take just less than one capful each night and drink plenty of water.

Fybogel - gentle natural and effective . Plenty of water every day.

My dh ended up in hospital because of this. I had been telling him literally for years that he didn’t drink enough - he never seemed to have a ‘thirst’ impulse, only a ‘hunger’ one.

He told the medics that I was always telling him he didn’t drink enough, and they said, ‘Well, you should have listened to your wife, then!’

He now makes a point of drinking a lot more.

Aswell as have ground flaxseed in my breakfast topped with a mix of seeds I take 2 Magnesium tablets ( from Nutrition Geeks) one morning and one at night. They have been a game changer for me!

Yoghurt helps me, I do think exercise is important too.
But I had a vagina prolapse for years. I knew that I had anterior prolapse, but I didn’t realise that I also had a posterior prolapse, and my vagina prolapsed into my bowel when I sat down, which was making it very difficult to empty my bowel.
I had a prolapse repair last autumn, and I can’t believe what a difference it has made.
So, really worth getting everything checked out.

Have you had your thyroid function tested recently? An under active thyroid can have the side effect of constipation amongst other things e.g tiredness, weight gain , lethargy, brain fog, depression, slower pulse etc. Worth asking Dr if can have thyroid function tested if you have any of these other symptoms. Otherwise more fluid and soluble fibre, knees above hips when sitting on the loo. Look up the Bristol Stool Chart so that when you see the GP you can be talking the same language when talking about what you are excreting. Hope it improves soon.

Yes. Still finding my way after 4 years. I’m 75. Just been hospitalised because of Covid! Worse one I’ve had. So it’s been tough.

Try to get a good daily walk

Broccoli, cabbage and green beans are my favourite too, but if I eat too much of them I suffer horrendous smelly wind.
So, I don’t eat them every day.

Eight portions of fruit and veg seems a bit excessive to me.