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Bunged up
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I've been constipated for nearly a week now, I've been drinking plenty of fluids, taken stool softeners and 2 lots of laxatives, dried fruit, fibre stuff. I'm getting fairly bad stomach cramps and I'm incredibly bloated.
Any other suggestions? It seems such a trivial thing to go to the doctors about but I feel horrible!
Any other suggestions? It seems such a trivial thing to go to the doctors about but I feel horrible!
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However, I've heard a couple tablespoons of mineral oil can help, or today for some reason, people at work were talking about "smooth move" tea with Senna and how that clears you out well.
Try cutting back on the fiber too. I once bought a jar of prunes for a recipe and ate the whole container because they were delicious, then got constipated
Have you tried the same type of laxative? Maybe try another brand with different active ingrediants?
Realise it might be difficult at the moment but if you're not moving much then that's highly likely to be part of the problem. If that's the case then getting help from your GP is less trivial.
I've called NHS direct so we'll see what they say. I've moved a lot less than this before and not had an issue. I get like this when I'm stressed out and my housemate's gran has just died on top of everything else.
For future reference, if you are adding bran/ oats, etc, to your diet, you need to drink plenty of water or similar fluid.
Prunes (out of a tin) are excellent for keeping things moving in your bowel. Half a tin a-day should do the trick. Dried apricots are also good, but are not quite so easy as tinned prunes. Having a portion of one or the other daily should keep you regular.
But to get things moving again after a week, I think you need to see your doctor.
Jed
If keeping regular is generally a problem for you, ask your doctor about a prescription for Regulan - it's a natural product that you can take daily as a fibre supplement, more information here:-
http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Regulan
But talk to your doctor to make sure it's suitable for you, and don't take it when actually constipated.
Plenty of fruit and veg and fluids is the best way to keep regular, but it's easy to slip out of such eating habits.
I hope all is well and you are feeling better. It looks like you have tried everything you can to help your stomach but maybe going to the doctors will be a good idea as they may have other suggestions and able to pescribe you medication that will able to shift it.
Please continue to post to keep us notified on how you are doing
Well that's good news that the doctor has given you something and advised on why you have been constipated :yippe:
I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Let us know if you feel any better.
purple_rain