hiya everyone, not posted for ages but i have been reading the posts and thinking of you all and sending you my support.
anyways, two days ago i decided to give up laxatives once and for all. ive been taking 10-20 a day for about a year now and just decided that i have to stop. anyway yesterday was my first day without taking any and i had the most crippling stomach pains, felt sick, dizzy, as though my stomach was going to explode and i have been awake all night with these pains. this mornign it got that bad that i have now just taken 10 laxatives and i am back in the vicious circle again. i just cant cope with the withdrawal pains, is this normal? i feel like im never going to get out of this, i cant imagine ever having normal eating/bowel habits again!!!!!!!!!!!
big hugs to you all
laura x x x

Hi laura! Ha, I was kind of a ghost on these boards too...reading, but rarely posting! And although I have not had laxative problems, I know how hard it can be to fix something after messing with your digestion for so long! I know with quitting purging it's hard to keep food in, so with laxatives i'm sure it's hard to get food...out!
What I do know is that your body develops a dependence on laxatives, if they are abused. So your body doesnt really "remember" how to digest anything without them...
My suggestion is to maybe not try and quit cold turkey. But to not just take 10 at a time. The pain must be intolerable, so maybe instead of splurging on 10 lax's you can cut down to 7, and the next time 5, then 3...and so on..
anyone who is more educated or experienced with laxative abuse can fill in or correct me, but I had a friend who had the same problem and that is how she began to recover, by cutting down :) Best of wishes, and good luck my dear!

hey hun! im glad u finally decided to put a stop to laxatives!! that takes guts...and yes im shure the day that u never took them u became ill becuase ur bod is so immune to them without them ur body is proly like "***?" it takes time, do as cricket said...just cut down slowly...ur body will adjust to the change waayyy better than quitting cold turkey.

good luck gurl!!

yeah, definitely cold turkey, or you could be in horrible pain/constipated (because your body's forgotten what to do to digest food) for awhile! seriously, that's excellent that you're ready to give them up though. they really are not good for you (and they barely get rid of any food you eat anyway, just water mostly, so you feel thinner). if you're comfortable, maybe you could talk to a doctor about how to cut them out without extreme discomfort. if that's too exposing, you could either look for information online, or call a hospital/doctor's office and ask to speak with a nurse. They often will give you advice/information over the phone, so you don't have to actually be face to face with anyone.
Best of luck to you!!

Oh honey, you have to stop. I know it's hard I have been there. I remember the pain and agony I went through day after day. The only thing I can tell you is not to starve yourself cause it makes it even worse. The easiest way to stop is to completely stop taking them and give yourself a break. I had to eat boiled rice with lemon juice and toast for like a month in order to let my body get back into a good routine. Unfortunately I pay for it every day of my life with IBS but it's been six years and I have learnt to live with it.
You have to stop taking them, get rid of all of them in the house and dont buy anymore. Your body deserves it, you deserve it.
Try to surround yourself with people. When I wanted to get better I asked my friend to come and stay with me for a while so someone was with me 24/7. It helped tremendoulsy.
Good luck and keep us posted

All of the advice on this board is really good. I have also had a problem with this too, and I went and saw my doctor. She gave me this powder stuff, bascially a mix between light laxative and alot of fiber. I just mix a spoon of it with water everyday, and it has helped me alot. Eventully I will try and give it up all together, but I had the same problem trying to completly stop laxitives all together makes you really sick becuase your body can't break down the food without them. Try taking fiber supplements first with meals (if you have an empty stomach nothing is going to work) and if that doesn't work go see your doctor and let them know whats up. They can find you something alot more mild then laxatives and it will help get your body back on track, that way you don't have to just quit cold turkey and suffer. I hope this advice helps you because it seemed to hlep me alot.
Best of luck,
aleash

Thanks for all your replies, think I decided to stop too late though. Ended up at the emergency doctor last night with the most crippling pains and it turns out my lower bowel is severely inflamed and they are now saying I have IBS. The doctor prescribed a whole load of stuff, antispasmodics, laxatives (of all the things to give me???) and basically said that I have brought it on myself. For any of you out there who are thinking of using laxatives, PLEASE dont, they just mess you up and now Im sat here in agony with something that may effect me my whole life, all because of some stupid pills!!!!!!!!!
big hugs to you all,
laura x x x

What kind of laxatives were you taking? I'm assuimg they weren't like citracel or metamucil...were you taking the liquid or "fast acting" kind? If so, I would try taking citracel or another kind of "bulk forming" laxative that is perfectly healthy and actually good for your digestive tract if you don't over take them. I have IBS and I take 4 a day...your body is probably so used the the laxatives you may get really constipated without them.
I took laxatives for a short period a long time ago and it was hell on my digestive system body..so I can imagine what long term abuse of laxatives will do to you. Of course, I'm no one to talk because I've been puring for years....
Best of luck always.

the best thing to get out of these laxatives is to have water more and trust me u will see gradually u will get out of it. I was too depended on laxatives since last summer but for past two weeks i am off them. i still purge though but i eat fruits a lot. i don' have enough blood so i guess best way is to have fruits as they dont make u fat.