Please, I need your help. For 50 years, since the age of 11, I had IBS-D, severely at times. Once I lost 70 lbs. because I could not retain food in my intestines. I went to many gastroenterologists and underwent many hospital and laboratory tests.
Finally, about 20 years ago, one very famous New York gastroenterologist told me to take 6 Imodium (loperamide) every night and a large tablespoon of psyllium powder in the morning. That worked! However, during the past year or so, my IBS has morphed into IBS-C! My doctor has told me that this switch has occurred because of all the years of taking Imodium. About two weeks ago, I had a terrible bout of IBS-C and could not defecate for 6 days. So, I took Senokot-F (SENOSIDOS A-D). The box said that it is a Natural Laxative, Easy on the Stomach and that I will wake up feeling well. Well, my experience was horrible! After taking the pill before bed, I awoke at about 1:00 AM in great pain. The pains continued until at about 3:00 AM when I was able to begin evacuating my bowels. The stools were very hard and dry. For about 8 hours I was literally screaming in pain, until finally, my system unplugged itself, with a very large stool, and then I had just pure diarrhea for several hours. Now again, I am in the same situation: I haven’t had a bowel movement in 6 days. I did not want to go through the same agony I went through with the Senokot-F, so I figured I needed something that worked more strongly and quickly. The pharmacist gave me something called “Anara”. I live in Mexico. “Anara” is Sodium Picosulfate. Wikipedia says that Sodium Picosulfate is a contact stimulant laxative used as a treatment for constipation or to prepare the large bowel before colonoscopy or surgery. According to the directions on the box, I took 2 (5 mg) pills the night before last. Nothing happened! According to the “Anara” box, it says that if the patient does not experience results, s/he can take another 2 pills 12-24 hours later. Which I did, about 4:00 PM yesterday. Now it is 6:12 AM and still nothing has happened. I am at my wits end! Should I go back to the Senokot-F? I dread to think about going through that agonizing pain again. Is there a third option I can try? Enema? Suppository? I know that you are not doctors. I am only asking for non-professional friendly support advice. I’ve been drinking plenty of water and eating prunes. Every day I drink two yogurts with Lactobacillus. I even am drinking several cups of coffee and eating lots of fruit (which used to be huge IBS-D triggers for me) in order to begin to move my bowels! Thank you so much for reading this and your suggestions.