Laxatives aren't working - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

cassie12290 · 08-16-2007, 08:07 AM

I have IBS and I couldn't "go" so I took two of the exlax natural senna formula. They didn't work. The next night I took three before bed. They didn't work. Then I did a suppository. I got a bunch of leakage. I took correctoal for women at nine last night and it's 10 am now and it didn't work yet. Why won't these things work for me? I eat healthy and I get a lot of fiber. When I first got IBS I didn't have a bowl movement for two months but then it got a little better. Now I'm in pain from the cramps from the laxatives and I feel horriable.

bellyblues · 08-16-2007, 10:34 AM

Oh my! I strongly recommend you stop taking the laxatives and go to your doctor immediately! There is a very good chance you have an impaction since nothing is moving from your system. This happened to me and a simple x-ray in the doc's office showed the bowel was completely full. When you are that backed-up, laxatives will often not work and in fact cause even more problems.

Call your doctor!

cassie12290 · 08-16-2007, 11:19 AM

Thanks for your response . I passed a very hard stool (kind of like rabbit droppings). That's all that has happened. The last time I got exrays for this (during the 2 months of no bowl movements) they just told me to try flushing out my system. I went to a colon doctor (I forget the actual phrase) and they gave me fiber which still didn't help. I don't know what else to do. I think IBS needs to become more well known and more researched. They treat us like a joke! "oh you can't ****? or you're shitting to much? IBS!" and they don't even try to find a different remedy or cause.

Imajeanation · 08-16-2007, 07:18 PM

Wow, you really must be miserable! Have you ever tried magnesium citrate liquid? Comes in a little green glass bottle . You can get it at the drugstore. It is what they use in the hospitals to clean a person out who is going to have tests...you may have even had some in the past for tests on your system. Anyway, that willlllllll ............llll clean you out. But be sure to drink plenty of water too. Sounds like you're so behind on fluid intake also. The way that mag citrate works is that it pulls water into the bowel...so you need to have a good fluid intake. Works very quickly and you should have no cramping pains while going either. Hope the best "outcome" for you!

cassie12290 · 08-16-2007, 08:44 PM

Thanks for the advice. I'm busy all weekend .. so I can't "go" all weekend. I have terrible gas to the point that I have to lay down on my left side for an hour. This happens so much. Is gas a big thing for IBS ?