Hi all..... As you will see on my previous thread, I struggle with BM's. I am having a particulalry tough time at the moment.
I have not had a proper BM in 5 days. The very few stools I have managed to pass have been tiny and very mushy. But it is hard work.
For the last 3 days I have been taking Movicol (Miralax) - a sachet a day. But it hasn't helped. When I am on the toilet all I seem to manage to pass is wind.... it is very embarrassing.
Any advice at all?
Advice on getting things moving!
Re: Advice on getting things moving!
Oh my goodness, I do sympathise. It is so uncomfortable when something like this happens.
In general, it sounds like you need to increase the Movicol. One sachet a day is a maintenance dose, and if this is what you usually take, it sounds like it isn't high enough for you as things have come to a halt despite you taking this. When you get this sorted, maybe you need to have two a day for maintenance. Wind - well there is probably getting to be a fair degree of impaction after 5 days, and the wind is the only thing that can get past. You may find that you also get a bit of diarrhoea, this can also happen, it is overflow and doesn't necessarily mean that the impaction is shifting.
Sorting the current situation - senna, and Movicol.
Senna - look at what it says on the packet, and start taking it. Keep it going until you are sure that you are all ok again.
Increase the Movicol by stages. Start with one in the morning, and one in the evening. Half an hour after each dose, drink half a litre of water - or hot tea or coffee, if it is a hot drink it works even better. Then the next day, two in the morning and two in the evening, and the same thing with half a litre of water or a hot drink half an hour after each dose.
If that doesn't do it, then the next day mix eight sachets in a jug of water, this needs to all be drunk within the space of 6 hours - the instructions are on the packs. And stay near the loo.
I would suggest also that you talk either with your GP or with the practice nurse - it has been my experience that with things like this, the nurse practitioner has been much more helpful than the doctors, I think that this is the sort of thing that the nurses deal with quite a lot.
In general, it sounds like you need to increase the Movicol. One sachet a day is a maintenance dose, and if this is what you usually take, it sounds like it isn't high enough for you as things have come to a halt despite you taking this. When you get this sorted, maybe you need to have two a day for maintenance. Wind - well there is probably getting to be a fair degree of impaction after 5 days, and the wind is the only thing that can get past. You may find that you also get a bit of diarrhoea, this can also happen, it is overflow and doesn't necessarily mean that the impaction is shifting.
Sorting the current situation - senna, and Movicol.
Senna - look at what it says on the packet, and start taking it. Keep it going until you are sure that you are all ok again.
Increase the Movicol by stages. Start with one in the morning, and one in the evening. Half an hour after each dose, drink half a litre of water - or hot tea or coffee, if it is a hot drink it works even better. Then the next day, two in the morning and two in the evening, and the same thing with half a litre of water or a hot drink half an hour after each dose.
If that doesn't do it, then the next day mix eight sachets in a jug of water, this needs to all be drunk within the space of 6 hours - the instructions are on the packs. And stay near the loo.
I would suggest also that you talk either with your GP or with the practice nurse - it has been my experience that with things like this, the nurse practitioner has been much more helpful than the doctors, I think that this is the sort of thing that the nurses deal with quite a lot.
Re: Advice on getting things moving!
You can be impacted or have full bowels but have liquid stool and gas escaping around the impaction. The goal is to get cleaned out and then take something regularly so you don't get to that point again. But I agree with calluna -- it would be a good idea to discuss this with your clinician and they can actually check you for a possible impaction so that if you are not impacted you aren't treating something unnecessarily.
PNE since 2002. Started from weightlifting. PNE surgery from Dr. Bautrant, Oct 2004. Pain now is usually a 0 and I can sit for hours on certain chairs. No longer take medication for PNE. Can work full time and do "The Firm" exercise program. 99% cured from PGAD. PNE surgery was right for me but it might not be for you. Do your research.
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tummydepressed
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:05 pm
Re: Advice on getting things moving!
Thanks both of you.
I have actually not taken Movicol before. I just started taking it when these problems began to try to get things moving.
It hasn't really helped. I am managing to pass a very small amount of stool, but it is just a sludge. And it is only a very small amount. I feel very uncomfortable!
This afternoon I will take a glycerol suppository. If that doesn't work I think I will be giving the 8 sachets a go!!!!!!!
I have actually not taken Movicol before. I just started taking it when these problems began to try to get things moving.
It hasn't really helped. I am managing to pass a very small amount of stool, but it is just a sludge. And it is only a very small amount. I feel very uncomfortable!
This afternoon I will take a glycerol suppository. If that doesn't work I think I will be giving the 8 sachets a go!!!!!!!
-
tummydepressed
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:05 pm
Re: Advice on getting things moving!
Thanks both of you.
I have actually not taken Movicol before. I just started taking it when these problems began to try to get things moving.
It hasn't really helped. I am managing to pass a very small amount of stool, but it is just a sludge. And it is only a very small amount. I feel very uncomfortable!
This afternoon I will take a glycerol suppository. If that doesn't work I think I will be giving the 8 sachets a go!!!!!!!
I have actually not taken Movicol before. I just started taking it when these problems began to try to get things moving.
It hasn't really helped. I am managing to pass a very small amount of stool, but it is just a sludge. And it is only a very small amount. I feel very uncomfortable!
This afternoon I will take a glycerol suppository. If that doesn't work I think I will be giving the 8 sachets a go!!!!!!!
Re: Advice on getting things moving!
I'm not surprised that a maintenance dose of Movicol isn't producing the desired result.
The combination of senna together with Movicol followed by 500ml warm water/hot drink was recommended to me by a pelvic floor surgeon. The Movicol brings more water into the large bowel, softening the stools and making them easier to move. The senna stimulates the large bowel to produce a motion. Taking 500ml of hot water 30 minutes after the movicol also stimulates the bowel to move - this really does make a difference.
By the way, if you are taking anything like Fibogel, stop taking it immediately. In a situation like this, it will make things worse. But I expect you know this already!
The combination of senna together with Movicol followed by 500ml warm water/hot drink was recommended to me by a pelvic floor surgeon. The Movicol brings more water into the large bowel, softening the stools and making them easier to move. The senna stimulates the large bowel to produce a motion. Taking 500ml of hot water 30 minutes after the movicol also stimulates the bowel to move - this really does make a difference.
By the way, if you are taking anything like Fibogel, stop taking it immediately. In a situation like this, it will make things worse. But I expect you know this already!