Irish Visitors Click HereAsking for help with constipation - by Dr Mark Porter
Asking for advice about constipation can be difficult for some people - no one enjoys talking about their bowel habits with others - but knowing what to expect when you do, will make the whole process less daunting.
Where should I go for help?
Self medicating with over-the-counter laxatives, preferably on the advice of your pharmacist, is the easiest option for most people suffering from constipation, but in the following cases a GP should be the first port of call.
- Men and women over 50 where the constipation is a new problem and where it has been going on for more than a month - a change of bowel habit like this can be a sign of underlying bowel problems that may warrant further investigation. In most cases it will be absolutely nothing to worry about, but better safe than sorry.
- Anyone with a strong family history of bowel cancer (a brother, sister or parent who has had the condition) who has developed constipation recently and where it has lasted for more than a month.
- All children - constipation is common in children, particularly the under fives, but there is more to treatment than dietary advice and laxatives. Children often get stuck in a cycle of constipation and it is best to seek the advice of a GP about how to encourage your child to have a regular bowel habit.
- Anyone whose constipation is accompanied by discomfort (tummy pains) or rectal bleeding (any blood loss from your back passage).
What will I be asked?
Your GP and pharmacist will want to ask you a few basic questions to ensure that the you are given the right help. Be prepared for the following questions.
- How long you have been having trouble opening your bowels? How often do you go?
- Are you on any medicines (some types, particularly painkillers, can alter bowel function)?
- Have you noticed any blood?
- Does your constipation alternate with diarrhoea?
- Do you have any pain - either in your abdomen, or when opening your bowels?
- Have you lost weight?
- Is this a new problem?
- Have you any personal or family history of bowel problems?
Will my doctor examine me?
In most cases, yes. Your doctor will probably feel and listen to your stomach and he or she may also examine your back passage (a rectal examination). Occasionally your doctor may want to refer you on for more tests - typically a sigmoidoscopy (passing a small camera into the lower bowel) or a special X-ray of the colon (a barium enema).
How quickly will the laxative work?
There is a common misconception that laxatives have an explosive effect and that you shouldn't stray far from a loo once you have taken the first dose! In fact most laxatives are very gentle and take days rather than hours to return your bowels to normal. In the short term most doctors and pharmacists are likely to recommend a stimulant laxative - one that works by encouraging the muscular bowel wall to contract, propelling the bowel contents along - and these generally take around 8 - 12 hours before their effect is fully felt. Once opening your bowels has become easier it's important to take a look at what caused the problem in the first place and to take steps to remedy the situation. If you don't, the constipation may return to return and so begins a vicious cycle (weblink to next article) all too familiar to most sufferers.
Click here to read Dr Mark Porter's next article on 'Breaking the Cycle of Constipation'
- View interactive animations of how the digestive system works
- Find out what the symptoms of constipation are
- Click here to use our treatment advisor to help find an appropriate treatment
