Question at Five Weeks Recovery Point

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Hello everyone,

I wondered if anyone was given the okay to use stool softeners/laxatives long-term. All the stool softeners and laxatives say "Don't use for longer than seven days." Well, that's easy to say when you are living with perpetual constipation. I've been using Senokot S--which has senna and a stool softener, but I worry about dependency.

I drink fiber supplements mixed in water, eat fiber gummies and plenty of fiber, and drink lots of water. Without Senna, I can feel I need to go, but nothing happens or it's really hard and painful, and I feel like I'm giving birth again. My bum cracks and bleeds when I'm constipated--I don't think our bums have the same flexibility from before radiation. The Senna allows me to go once a day, in the morning, but then I feel bubbly, full, and crampy all day, but can never go again until the next morning.

Honestly, I worry my unsettled stomach and constipation may irritate the mass and set off a new set of squamous cell growth. (I tend to think too much.)

It seems my day is centered around using the bathroom--I still have to dab lidocaine on my bum before going, and then the rest of the day I feel full and uncomfortable.

Anyone else who has struggled with this, I'd love to hear any tips (or that it gets better!). My radiation ended on January 5th, so I suppose I'm still recovering.

Thanks, and I hope everyone is doing well.

Sarah

Former Member over 4 years ago

Hi Sarah

My consultant told me to follow a low residue diet. It's all the things we are normally told not to eat, but it means they pass through the stenosed or healing tissues more easily. I found an information leaflet from Hillingdon Hospital, just google low residue diet, and details will come up. My consultant told me to take stool softeners, and senna, and drink lots of water, but not to take a lot of fibre, because it bulks up the stools. After following this diet, I am to increase fibre intake a little at a time, and have started putting dried fruit and nuts in, because I love them..

I don't think it's forever, am hoping after the first 6 months to a year, things are more normal, but the toilet is traumatic currently, so want to make it as easy as possible.

Prettypinkroses over 4 years ago

@scary40

Hi there, I have had a 30 year bowel condition which means I only go with laxatives

You can take the softeners (Laxido/Movicol/macrogol sachets dissolved in water) daily without worry. The more powerful laxatives like Dulcolax etc will cause long term lazy bowel so you’ll just keep requiring more and more to go!

Senna is a better alternative to Dulcolax but I’d still recommend you persevere with the softeners if you can.

Also meant to say you can up the sachets at first to get things moving and then gradually decrease to find the amount that works for you I tend to take 2 sachets at night with lots of water and then I am ready to go first thing in the morning so no hanging around all day!

Wishing you well and hope this helps!

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