Trouble With Going To The Toikey

[buffymad]

I suffer from IBS and bloatedness and constipation are my main problems. Sometimes it seems it's every couple of weeks that I suffer from constipation, sometimes once a week. Sometimes I don't even get the urge to go and other times I do, but the feeling disappears when I get to the loo. I drink plenty of water, have plenty of fruit and veg in my diet, take exercise etc - but it seems to make no difference.

This week I couldn't go for 4 days and was incredibly uncomfortable. A friend suggested dulcolax so I took one the other night. Seemed to work as I went the next day but not as much as I thought and I didn't feel "empty". Don't really like taking laxatives in case my bowels get even more lazy. And in any case, I didn't take another one the next night and guess what? I haven't been able to go again!!

Is there anything I'm missing out that I should be going to help things? I'll try anything (just about) to feel normal again!

[ukanonymous]

Have you tried prune juice?

[ukbod2015]

Psyllium husks can smooth the road. EBay or most health shops stock them.

[buffymad]

I haven't. Is that harsh on your system or not? Have tried eating prunes but thought they were disgusting!

[fiction-factory]

When I read the title I thought perhaps you were being prevented from going to Syria via Turkey.
I find drinking Cola helps in these situatons. I also have some Colefac tablets which work really well. i only suffer once or twice a year though

[scorpiojo]

Are you under a lot of stress, buffy? You could try keeping a food diary and see if anything in particular triggers the IBS.

[scorpiojo]

...and adding more fibre to your diet?

[buffymad]

Ha I just noticed the misspelling - that's predictive text for you! Not sure how to amend that.

Diet coke/Pepsi is the only other drink I have along with water but doesn't seem to do much for me.

[scorpiojo]

http://patient.info/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome-leaflet

[ukbod2015]

No side effects from Psyllium literally smoothes the way

[buffymad]

No stress as far as I'm aware. I have Shreddies for breakfast and all bread, pasta etc is wholewheat. Any other way of adding fibre without resorting to bran flakes and the like (yuk!!)?

[scorpiojo]

Yuk indeed :)

You could try this, but it's like drinking wallpaper paste...

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Fybogel

[buffymad]

I've tried fybogel before and gagged every second I was glugging it down!!

[ladyalex]

I find Fybogel quite palatable.
You have to drink it quite quickly after mixing it up with water.
It tastes like orange squash and does the job for me.
Any chemist will sell it.

[scorpiojo]

Lol :)

[buffymad]

I'm the type of person that can't even drink orange juice if it's got bits in so you can imagine what fybogel is like for me!!

[Samuraisan]

I agree with ukbod. Physillium seeds mixed with water every morning. But, like Fybogel, you have to get it down you quickly. I believe you can mix it into food too. I buy it in Holland and Barrett.

[buffymad]

Is aloe Vera juice any good? Keep hearing people talking about that but not sure what it does.

[Jackdaw33]

Try eating liquorice. As fond of it as I am I have had to give it up. A few weeks ago I indulged in a whole bag of Pontefract cakes and the world fell out of my bottom.

[rockyracoon]

Jack, that's just made me PMSL.

Weetabix always worked for me. But, I agree with a previous poster, you should keep a food diary.

[MargoTester]

Try Allbran red berry (or golden) crunch. Works for me and is very palatable, give it a few days though.