over the counter antacids/laxatives.

www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/panda-natural-licorice-x4-128g

Recently when I was on constipation inducing painkillers I found these helped together with a lower dose of lactulose. Avaiable in my very small local Sainsbury’s

Fibogel is the go to laxative in this house , never causes any gas nor overdoes its intended effect

I have to make sure I'm never constipated but prefer to leave medicines alone. I find that upping my liquid and vegetable intake solves most problems. I regularly make a thick vegetable soup with plenty of roots and onions in it and it works very well. Also a few dried apricots/figs/prunes taken as a snack is very 'productive'.
Someone once told me that laxatives tend to become less effective and you have to up the dose to get the same effect, hence my reluctance to start them.

I take quite high doses of Morphine which apparently causes constipation, I've always eaten lots of fruit and veg anyway but to avoid constipation I eat dried prunes and so far I've had no problems, like Hilda above I too avoid medications wherever possible.

Thanks for the replies. Since stopping lactulose the gas problem seems to have reduced. It was very painful.
Good idea to go back to veg. soup, Hilda. I used to make it often, but lately cooking has been more of a chore than a pleasure. Usually I try to leave medicines alone too.
Dried fruit as well - we have plenty of those.

I take inulin which you can add to any drink, and is almost tasteless. Very gentle, and good for constipation.

You could always ask your pharmacist for advice- mine is very helpful.

Another fan of liquorice here. I did buy the more expensive one, but lately have been eating Tesco’s liquorice twists. Just 2 every evening, and I am fine. ( but I sometimes have 3, only because I do like them!)

Rosins. Recommended to myDH by Consultant in colorectal surgery.

Actually I think it was raisins he meant

Fybogel. I have it on prescription from the doctor, but you can buy it over the counter. Gentle and effective. It is ispaghula husk, so a natural fibre product, no chemicals. It just bulks things up, making them soft. (Without going into gruesome details!)

You can buy prunes which are moist, sealed in a bag.
They're very nice; almost like sweets.

Try Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar from Holland and Barett.
Drink a spoonful in water a couple of times a day and make delicious salad dressing with it.

Eat Vogel Soya and Linseed bread - delicious.

Drink plenty of water in general.

Buy a probiotic - order from Healthspan online and take daily.

Eat plenty of green vegetables and those gorgeous soft prunes in bags from Tesco.

Al;l this should improve your gut bacteria and voila! Nice healthy bowels.

P.S
No gas or bloating, good digestion, perfect and the ACV contains millions of gut loving heathy bacteria.

You could buy the Probiotic supplements from Holland and Barett or Healthspan.

Sorry

Vogel bread from Sainsbury and Waitrose - never seen it anywhere else.

Oh dear - keep thinking of other things...

Yes - don't forget apples - an apple a day keeps the doctor away - but do forget those horrid over the counter medications!

Good luck!

On this subject I would like to moan about the plethora of adverts for certain medications. There are several culprits but they all seem to imply that permanent bowel and digestive problems just require doses of their product. To be honest if you have such symptoms with such regularity (heartburn/indigestion/constipation etc) you do need to get it checked out and NOT just swan off to the chemists and buy weekly supplies. The normalising of such symptoms through these jolly adverts is dangerous.

Hilda I agree with you. I've stopped the Lactulose now and today made a lovely veg. soup with lots of courgettes.
When we had a veg. garden I used to make stewed courgettes and onions, which got me going.
If my problems come back I'll go to see the Dr., he'll be sick of seeing me what with one thing and another.

I use Slippery Elm and acidophilus bifidus capsules, as well as oats (raw with milk or as porrage) all these things encourage your bowels to act naturally. As does good quality fibre, taken a Psyllium if you don't eat, or like, wholemeal bread.

Laxatives, so my doctor tells me, don't and only make the bowel dependent on them, or what she calls 'lazy'.