No bowel movement without laxatives, diarrhoea with laxatives. Help!

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GlasgowGirl86

GlasgowGirl86

Joined
Mar 3, 2015
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203
After months of regular loose stools I have now got to a point where I can go days without a bowel movement. The GP prescribed Senna and lactulose however not long after taking one dose of lactulose I got really bad stomach cramps and watery diarrhoea. I persevered with the laxatives in case it was just overflow from the constipation however the stomach pain and diarrhoea became constant. However as soon as I stop taking the laxatives I go back to no bowel movements at all. I've tried lowering the dose of both the Senna and lactulose and taking either lactulose or Senna by itself however it seems even the slightest amount of laxative gives me severe stomach cramps and explosive diarrhoea. I really don't know what to do!
 
Hi there,
I take Magnesium supplements to help with my constipation. It's something you might want to talk to your GP about.
 
Are you able to tolerate any fiber supplements? They have helped me when I get constipation.
 
double check anything you are eating or ingesting to see if that possibly caused you to become constipated.
 
A lot of people seem to find that magnesium gives them diarrhoea. I've started taking some again and it does some of the time.

I found any laxatives made the pain and cramping worse, as did any anti-diarrhoea medicines. In the end I worked out the best thing to do was take nothing.

Perhaps you should experiment with some fibre. Bran Flakes always seem to work well for me.
 
wildbill I've not changed my diet at all after cutting out loads of trigger foods but I guess it's possible that something I was ok with before is now giving me trouble, so hard to tell!
DEmberton I've tried bisacodyl, lactulose and Senna and they all result in terrible pain and diarrhoea. If I eat a lot of fibre I find it makes the pain worse which is rubbish because I've had to give up my favourite multi seed bread!
 
I had the same problem so i now take 1 'Laxido' a day. usually about 2pm and by the time i go home from work it makes things alot smoother. its a stool softner, all they do is lubricate the stool making it much easier to pass. I couldnt imagine life without them now. they are very mild aswell so probably wont get any side effects other than finding it easier to go to the toilet. It doesnt me diarrhea, just softens things up.

Speak to your doctor first but they do work wonders for me because i was going a week without going to the toilet and it made me feel bloated and horrible every day.
 
Thanks Danico85 I'll ask if Laxido is an option at my next GP appointment. I went 4 days without a bowel movement before I gave up and took laxatives because it was incredibly uncomfortable and I looked 6 months pregnant!
 
Yeah its definetly worth it. ive been taking them about 5 years now. just one a day. Before i was in some nick because i genuinly couldnt go to the toilet and i was straining and in turn it caused blood etc.
 
Can you manage to take soluble fibre? Last time I was in a nasty flare I survived on bananas and flapjacks as they had energy and soluble fibre, and I cut out all insoluble fibre.
 
Ispaghula husk is mooted as being good soluble fibre for IBS-C. You can buy it as Fybogel in the supermarket.

I dared to believe it might be the solution to all my problems, but actually made things worse! But you never know.
 
If you haven't tried Fybogel, then it probably is your best bet. Me personally makes my insides turn into absolute knots, but then so does Dulcoease which I've taken today to try and stop anything from irritating my ongoing fissure problem.

I did find that going on a low-residue diet before did work a little for me, and definitely helps my UC'er boyfriend - so like nitty said, you may want to try a diet with no insoluble fibre. :) Keep us updated.
 
I have better luck with fiber supplements than trying to eat high fiber foods. Much gentler on the digestive tract for me. I would ask the Dr. if they can recommend any. I have one called Benefiber and an acacia fiber supplement...can't remember the brand. I sprinkle over food or add into any drink. So far, so good.
 
Went back to the GP today and got some Laxido so here's hoping that helps! It tastes absolutely vile though, like drinking sea water bleugh!!!
 
I can't taste it at all in orange squash! Believe me, when you have malabsorption problems, finding a squash you can tolerate is hard... But I have Robinsons & I cannot taste the Laxido at all! Just downed one myself haha. Not quite a shot... But hey it's something
 
I will eat a prune if things have slowed down too much and if things are moving too fast I will add a 1/4 teaspoon of chia seeds to my smoothie or cereal. I've had 15 inches of my ileum/colon removed so I'm not sure how well my method will work for you. You might try it, adjusting to suit. The over-the-counter alternatives cause cramping for me too. It's at least a natural method with foods good for the body! :smile:
 
3 sachets? I'm guessing 2 morning and 1 evening, so 2 yesterday and 1 this morning? For chronic constipation, you're only meant to take 1-2 sachets a day (or do what your doctor told you to do as Laxido is prescription only!). Unless you have an impaction, there's no real need to take more. They can take a few days to settle in and they're not laxatives as you know them. Rather Laxido helps absorb water so they are easier to pass, so there will be no urgency to go. So, no. Do not panic. They are not meant to work yet. Just work on keeping your fibre up too, and water intake.

I'm in the same situation - kind of. I have been taking 2 sachets a day, almost 40g of fibre a day, and I have about 6 BM a day, but they're pathetic. Pebbles. So I am technically constipated. Ugh. Not nice. All my bloods have to be taken tomorrow to see if my inflammation markers are raised.
 
I had 2 sachets yesterday, 1 in the morning just after I got them and 1 in the evening then had another 1 this morning. I plan to take another 1 this evening. I definitely look like I need to go because my stomach is the size of a football! How much time should I give the Laxido to work?
Good luck with the blood tests but remember if they come back normal that doesn't mean there isn't something going on. All my bloods have been normal so far but I certainly don't feel "normal"!
 
I'd give it a few more days if I were you. I'm on my 5th day, and I'm seeing *SOME* improvement - but not a great deal. I started for the first 2 days taking 1 sachet, and these last 3 days I've been taking 2. But, I eat a hell of a lot of fibre too, I exercise a lot and drink a damned lot of water. The exercise has helped to keep the bloating at bay, so if you don't already, go for a 30 minute walk a day or longer just to try and help a little.

This is true. I've had them done before, and all came back normal, apart from a slight decrease in WBC lymphocytes, which was odd, but apparently normal for somebody of my gender and age. :rof: Hey-ho, life goes on. However, my doctor seems to think I now have inflammation going on, so thinks it'll help find something. He did mention that the more blood tests I have come back that come normal though, the less likely they'll do scopes or believe I have IBD. Bit concerning really!
 
I had a colonoscopy which showed inflammation in my colon but the blood tests were normal so I'm not sure how that works... So even if your inflammatory markers are normal there still could be inflammation so don't let them tell you otherwise.
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
I had a colonoscopy which showed inflammation in my colon but the blood tests were normal so I'm not sure how that works... So even if your inflammatory markers are normal there still could be inflammation so don't let them tell you otherwise.
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That's very odd. Very, very odd. If they see it with their own eyes, surely something is wrong? What did they end up doing for you?

Ugh. I'm having major problems with my bowels and 'constipation'. :(
 
They have done next to nothing. I had a faecal calprotectin test done after the colonoscopy when I was actually feeling better so the test came back normal. They say that they can't start me on any IBD treatment until they get a definite diagnosis although they suspect crohn's. I'm currently waiting on an appointment for a small bowel MRI and a follow up appointment with a gastro doctor after that. Extremely frustrating not being able to get treatment especially as my symptoms at the moment are keeping me off work.
 
How long afterwards? I had the calprotectin too, and surprise surprise, mine came back. However, I have got worse after the last 3/4 months, but I am not convinced my tests are going to show anything tomorrow, but hey, we will see.
Hope you get back to work soon. :(
 
The faecal calprotectin was done 2 months after the colonoscopy. The colorectal surgical doctor I saw even said there is a good possibility the results were normal because it was done on a good day however he has not asked for a second faecal calprotectin to be done.
I really hope I can get back to work soon. I only started the job in October after 4 years in uni working towards it!
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
The faecal calprotectin was done 2 months after the colonoscopy. The colorectal surgical doctor I saw even said there is a good possibility the results were normal because it was done on a good day however he has not asked for a second faecal calprotectin to be done.
I really hope I can get back to work soon. I only started the job in October after 4 years in uni working towards it!
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I didn't know whether or not inflammation could just disappear, so sorry for the random question on that! If I am like I am now right this instant tomorrow when they take my blood, if they don't find inflammation, then god knows if they ever will find anything. Gosh, my left side hurts. :( It has felt like somebody has been scratching my insides, specifically in a place on my left-side. Now it's starting to travel into one huge cramp, but that place is more stabbing than the rest of it.

What do you do if you don't mind me asking?
 
So frustrating when you feel like crap but the test results show nothing! It's not like I want to have something wrong with me but I'd rather just get some answers and get it dealt with.
I work as a nurse in a cardiac ICU.
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
So frustrating when you feel like crap but the test results show nothing! It's not like I want to have something wrong with me but I'd rather just get some answers and get it dealt with.
I work as a nurse in a cardiac ICU.
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This is exactly the same way I feel. I don't want to have a chronic illness, but I'd like a diagnosis to attempt to try and get some answers and specific treatment. Either way, my haemorrhoids/proctitis has seemingly flared up again, so come tomorrow, there SHOULD be something to show. But, who knows. *sigh* Feeling a little down at the moment.

Wow, what a great career choice!
 
I love my job :) It's really annoying that I've already had so much time off sick when I'm only just starting out.

I know how you feel, it's easy to feel down under the circumstances. I'm trying to focus on the good things in my life instead of the negative and I still try and keep myself busy/occupied even when I'm stuck at home.
 
I have the same issue myself. When I find myself not passing anything for a day (or few), I drink two cups of Apple juice and that normally works within an hour. If that doesn't, I drink hot apple vinegar with honey and that works with in 10 minutes. I try to stay away from the laxatives as much as possible.

Hope this helps! Also, pay attention to how much dairy you consume. Everyone is different, but I always notice cheese takes way longer to go through my system.
 
Laxatives are probably the root of all evil.

I stupidly thought, oh, let's take a glycerine suppository! Within the 15 minutes, I was in the loo. Not before it ripped my fissure more, and then inflamed everything harder.

Wasn't really clever on my behalf really. :)
 
Do you track what you eat, drink and exercise? May be quite beneficial to you. Yesterday I managed to track up 41g of fibre - that can't be too healthy to eat that much! But hey, I think I am going to resort back to low-residue once these blood tests are done today.
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
I use myfitnesspal to track everything. Good luck with the blood tests :)
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I did too, but it caused me, err, problems. Well, rather allowed problems to become more predominant. I stupidly use it again, because I want to get rid of a few pounds before I see my GI, as I've somehow gone from just above underweight, to just overweight in a matter of 8 months. :sign0085:
 
It is a bit strange at times. I'm not trying to lose weight so set it to maintain my current weight and it told me to eat only 1200 calories a day! So I just ignore their suggestion and focus on the nutrition stats.
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
It is a bit strange at times. I'm not trying to lose weight so set it to maintain my current weight and it told me to eat only 1200 calories a day! So I just ignore their suggestion and focus on the nutrition stats.
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1200 is pretty damn low! Definitely not enough to get enough fibre in either, unless you're taking supplements. Stupid MFP for that, really is. :poo:
 
Just wanted to say to you that after 6 days, the Laxido has finally kicked in and everything is a lot smoother. My frequency is still as much, but it's softer, it's more and it's stopped me from straining to an extent. I'm guessing it is the Laxido and not the Glycerin suppository that helped, although I think the suppository kick-started me!

I hope you're having some luck with the Laxido. I quite enjoy it with the orange squash! :smile:
 
I've had to stop taking the Laxido for the meantime because I've had non stop diarrhoea. I've had 15 loose bowel movements in 24 hours! I'm gonna be on a train for 2 and a half hours tomorrow so I hope it calms down by then.
That's great the Laxido is working for you! Hopefully I'll eventually find something that works for me.
 
GlasgowGirl86 said:
I've had to stop taking the Laxido for the meantime because I've had non stop diarrhoea. I've had 15 loose bowel movements in 24 hours! I'm gonna be on a train for 2 and a half hours tomorrow so I hope it calms down by then.
That's great the Laxido is working for you! Hopefully I'll eventually find something that works for me.
Click to expand...

Oh wow, I'm truly sorry to hear that. Mine isn't exactly great. It's not diarrhoea in the sense that it's watery and loose. Just lots and I keep going. At least it doesn't hurt to go I guess! Hope you do find something that helps you.
 
I can't eat fibre either but only the insoluble kind like lettuce and fruits. I use psyllium daily, just a teaspoon in the morning and that bulks everything up a bit and reduces the frequency.
The cool thing is that is also works if you have constipation, it makes things easier to pass so sounds perfect for you. Have you tried that yet?
 
Sorry for the late reply, I've been away for the weekend. 7k.industry I've had a full colonoscopy but no talk of upper GI endoscopy, faecal transplants, probiotics or immune suppressants. I'm currently waiting on an appointment for a small bowel MRI.
Layla I haven't tried psyllium yet but unfortunately I've went back to having diarrhoea without any laxatives at all. Think my weekend away was a bit too much for me! I'll give it a go though if I go back to being constipated.
 
I use psyllium for D! I'm never constipated, ever, just have D 24/7 if I don't medicate or take psyllium. It really helps for D but also for constipation, that's why I thought it would be a good fit for you.
 
GlasgowGirl86,

Sorry to revive your thread, I was just wondering how you're getting on? I did 2 weeks of the Laxido, stopped it, THEN I got diarrhoea. I've found a connection with what I eat though. If I eat anything with fructose-riddled ingredients, I get 'constipation', for maybe a week or 2. When I eat 'safely', I get diarrhoea! Have you been logging what you've been eating at all?

Take care.
 

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