How I got hooked on laxatives and what came of it (nothing good came of it).

There is an incredibly wide range of laxatives on the market today, with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. In this case, only a doctor can choose the best option, after conducting a full examination of the patient and taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular organism. The most important thing is to establish the cause of constipation, which will help you choose the most effective treatment method. Quite often, self-medication is the main reason for the lack of positive results in the treatment of constipation.

Causes of constipation

Problems with bowel movements can occur due to the following reasons:

1. Junk foods are the main cause of disruption of normal bowel movements. In addition, you also need to learn how to properly cook in a healthy way with a minimum amount of fat. Modern people simply do not have enough time for a full breakfast or lunch, so they have to eat on the go or snack on fast foods, which negatively affects the digestive process. You need to cook it by steaming, in the oven or over an open fire. Healthy fresh salads and fermented milk products for a stable digestion process. Fatty, smoked and spicy foods lead to stagnation of waste products in the large intestine.
2. An unhealthy lifestyle also negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system. Sedentary work leads to loss of muscle tone, which simply cannot cope with the timely removal of waste and toxins. At the same time, an active life with constant stress and nervous tension also leads to constipation.
3. Bad habits and long-term drug treatment negatively affect your intestinal microflora. Decay products simply get stuck in the large intestine, gradually beginning to poison the entire body.
4. Constipation can be a symptom of a digestive system disorder. Therefore, it is very important to conduct an examination to identify the main cause of the disturbance in normal bowel movements.

What to do when the blood is too thick

• Clinical manifestations
• Causes of pathology
• Danger of the pathological process
• Diet and treatment

Blood is a biological medium that ensures human life. Thanks to the work of the cardiovascular system, it supplies tissues with the necessary nutrients and oxygen for normal cell division and growth. At the same time, blood helps cleanse the organs of metabolic products and carbon dioxide, followed by removal from the body by the kidneys and lungs during respiration.

Clinical manifestations

An increase in blood density may be asymptomatic, and changes in its rheological properties are detected during a diagnostic examination for other diseases. The most indicative laboratory tests that can be used to check blood fluidity are:

• general blood test - quantitative determination of cellular elements (erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes);
• study of hematocrit - an indicator that is characterized by the ratio of the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and its cellular composition;
• biochemical blood test to detect glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides;
• test for coagulation ability (coagulogram) - includes indicators of fibrinogen, prothrombin, thrombin and prothrombin time.

In most cases, symptoms of thick blood occur, which are nonspecific in nature, which means they can occur in many diseases. Clinical manifestations of the pathological process include:

• weakness, fatigue, decreased ability to work;
• marbling of the skin, coldness of the extremities, feeling of numbness in the fingers;
• headaches, dizziness;
• decrease in mental functions (memory, speed of mental reactions, thinking);
• emotional depression, depression;
• dry skin, mucous membranes, feeling of thirst;
• the appearance of subcutaneous nodules on the legs, which are thrombosed veins.

If you promptly consult a doctor if the above symptoms appear and undergo annual preventive examinations, you can significantly improve your general condition and prevent the development of complications.

Causes of pathology

As you know, blood consists of 90% of the liquid part - plasma - and 10% of the dry residue, which includes blood cells, biologically active (enzymes, hormones) and nutrients. A decrease in plasma or an increase in cellular composition leads to its thickening. Platelets and erythrocytes, the most numerous blood cells, have the greatest influence on the rheological properties of blood. Also of no small importance is the tone and integrity of the vascular endothelium, the functional viability of the myocardium, which ensure the unhindered movement of blood throughout the body.

The main reasons for increased plasma density include:

• dehydration (profuse diarrhea, repeated vomiting);
• discrepancy between fluid intake and the body’s daily need for water;
• damage to the vascular wall (atherosclerosis, vasculitis, hypovitaminosis);
• functional liver failure, leading to impaired enzyme production (cirrhosis, hepatitis);
• bone marrow diseases (pancytopenia, erythremia);
• endocrine pathology (diabetes mellitus);
• pathology of the cardiovascular system (chronic heart failure);
• state of acidosis (increased acidity of blood and intercellular fluid);
• parasitic infestation (ascariasis, echinococcosis);
• increased functional activity of the spleen;
• radiation sickness;
• bad habits (abuse of alcohol, nicotine);
• taking certain medications (diuretics, birth control pills).

Laxative does not work - reasons

Why doesn't the laxative work?

The following reasons can be identified:

• Incorrectly selected drug. There is a category of people who simply do not want or are afraid to go to doctors and choose their own medications in pharmacies. At the same time, you need to understand that it is impossible to correctly diagnose and select the most effective remedy at home. That is why self-selected drugs very often do not live up to the expectations placed on them. You should definitely consult a doctor if the desired laxative effect is not achieved.
• There is a category of drugs that lose their effectiveness over time. If you often use the same remedy to treat constipation, exceeding the permissible norms or treatment periods, the body will get used to the main components and will no longer react to them. That is why you should not constantly use the same drugs, especially when the instructions indicate that addiction is possible. You also need to pay attention to the expiration date and storage method so that the medicine does not lose its effectiveness.
• Constipation needs to be treated comprehensively. Not only medications, but also dietary nutrition and increasing the amount of fluid consumed will help restore normal stools. Medicines alone are not enough to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Failure to comply with recommended doses and duration of treatment also reduces the effectiveness of the drugs. To get the maximum effect from treatment, you must strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations.

The dangers of long-term use of a diuretic for weight loss

Long-term use of Furosemide during weight loss increases the risk of side effects, and the chance of death due to metabolic disorders and cardiac arrest increases significantly. This is due to the fact that a pronounced deficiency of minerals appears in the body, which are necessary for the normal functioning of all organs and systems.

For this reason, long-term use of any diuretics is prohibited. Physically, a person loses performance, endurance, the body loses the ability to regulate body temperature, which leads to dehydration, weakness, and disruption of blood circulation.

What laxatives are there?

For constipation, the following types of laxatives may be prescribed:

• Irritants. The main components, entering the digestive system, stimulate muscle function, which, in turn, accelerates the removal of toxins from the body.
• Osmotic drugs. This group of products increases the amount of fluid in the digestive system, which, in turn, liquefies and expels waste products naturally.
• Prebiotics. Products in this category contain beneficial microorganisms that improve the digestive process and accelerate the natural process of bowel movements. Such products are not addictive and are completely safe for the human body.
• Fillers. The active substances, entering the intestinal system, increase in size and push toxins out of the body. These medications are suitable for mild types of constipation.

How to recover from Furosemide

After stopping the diuretic, the patient's swelling may worsen. This may happen for one of the following reasons:

1. A consequence of a disease treated with Furosemide. In this case, you will need to consult your doctor with subsequent correction of the pathology.
2. Symptom of drug addiction.

With the furosemide-dependent effect, everything is a little more complicated.
You will need to take mineral medications containing potassium and magnesium, but it is better to consume liquid in small quantities. Use herbal remedies as diuretics. It is advisable to drink no later than 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and take the last meal before 6 o'clock in the evening. These recommendations will have to be followed for 30 days or more. In order to prevent hypokalemia, you need to introduce foods high in potassium into your diet - nuts, dried apricots, raisins, beans, peas and other legumes, kale, potatoes. At the same time, it is recommended to take potassium supplements.

To compensate for magnesium deficiency, you will need to take chloride or magnesium gluconate. Sodium chloride therapy for low sodium levels in the blood is carried out carefully, since salt retains fluid in the body.

Osmotic drugs

This group of drugs is not addictive, but this does not mean that they can be taken constantly and uncontrollably.

There are certain contraindications, among which the following are worth highlighting:

• Long-term use can lead to disruption of the water-salt balance and even dehydration of the body.
• Beneficial bacteria and vitamins can also be washed out of the body.
• Violation of the normal absorption of microelements from food.
• It is prohibited to take the drug in courses of several months.
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding, you should always consult your doctor.
• Serious diseases of the digestive system are also contraindications for osmotic drugs.

This group includes Lavacol, Fortrans, magnesium sulfate.

Release forms

The pharmaceutical market offers customers a wide range of laxatives in the following forms:

• granules;
• oral tablets;
• rectal suppositories;
• solutions for infusions, injections;
• powders;
• syrups;
• oils;
• substances for internal use.

Which option is suitable in a particular clinical case is determined only by the doctor. Self-administration of medications can lead to overdose and poisoning.

Why are prebiotics effective?

In most cases, laxatives do not help due to incorrect diagnosis. Patients do not go to doctors and self-prescribe medications for constipation.

According to doctors, the best remedy for constipation are prebiotics with live bacteria that are responsible for digestive processes. It is this group of drugs that is not addictive and has virtually no contraindications. Living cultures, entering the stomach, destroy pathogenic microflora and resume the digestive process. Ultimately, it is possible to speed up the absorption of nutrients from food and normalize stool.

Prebiotics are allowed for both adults and children, as they have no contraindications or side effects. Among the popular drugs are Duphalac, Norase and Poslabin.

Features of application

The dosage depends on the specific drug. For example, Bisacodyl is prescribed 1-3 tablets orally before bedtime or 1-2 suppositories into the rectum. The dose for a child is selected depending on the number of years. Guttalax is taken 5-10 drops for adults, 2-5 drops for children aged 2-12 years. Use both morning and evening, taking into account the period of action - after 6 - 10 hours.

Drink 1-2 tsp of castor oil. for adults, 1 tsp. - for children. In the form of capsules containing 1 g - 15 - 30 pcs. adults, 5 – 15 pcs. children. The reception is carried out gradually, over half an hour.

Medical nutrition

If the laxative fails to act and restore the natural process of defecation, you should definitely contact a gastroenterologist, who will identify the main cause of constipation and select an effective treatment method.

In addition to medications, you should definitely follow the principles of dietary nutrition:

• It is recommended to include foods high in coarse fibers in your daily menu, which cleanse the body of waste and toxins.
• Dried fruits are characterized by a high level of efficiency, namely prunes, which need to be steamed and prepared compotes and desserts based on them.
• Before going to bed, it is recommended to eat fermented milk products with live cultures, which will restore the digestive process.
• Be sure to drink a lot during the day to dilute the hardened waste products in the large intestine.

Adverse reactions from internal organs and systems

In case of an overdose or incorrect selection of medication, pathological manifestations may develop:

• allergic reaction in the form of rash, skin hyperemia;
• avitaminosis;
• chronic diarrhea, which results in electrolyte imbalance;
• functional disorders of the small intestine, accompanied by a decrease in the absorption capacity of this section;
• colitis;
• melanosis of the large intestine;
• intestinal obstruction;
• nausea, vomiting.

Prevention

By adhering to the following simple rules, you will be able to avoid constipation in the future:

• Diet food. The most important thing is to cook in a healthy way using fresh ingredients without preservatives or dyes.
• During the day you need to drink a lot of water, fresh juices, fruit drinks and compotes.
• Physical activity. This can be a regular morning exercise, which will keep your abdominal muscles toned.
• After drug treatment, it is recommended to take a course of prebiotics to restore normal intestinal microflora.

Patient reviews

Marina S .: “Constipation for a week, nothing helps. I had to see a doctor. He ordered the necessary studies, recommended drinking plain clean water on an empty stomach, including fermented milk products, pharmaceutical bran, and salads from raw and boiled vegetables in the menu. I’ve been fine for a month now!”

Olesya V .: “I’m tormented by constipation, nothing helps. I read that you need to eat more vegetables, herbs, drink kefir and yogurt. It helped! Before, I didn’t even think about the need to eat right! Constipation has become extremely rare - for this case, I have a light laxative tea based on herbal ingredients.”

Anna K .: “I suffer from constipation regularly. I tried different laxatives - it helped for a while. During a consultation with a doctor, I learned that the body gets used to laxatives and the intestines lose the habit of working independently. The doctor gave me the correct menu. I rarely eat meat. Omelettes with vegetables, fresh vegetables and kefir helped me cope with this trouble. I drink kefir several times a day between meals, and also at night. It must be fresh. Fresh one weakens, but three days old strengthens!”

Girls, we overcame constipation in a 3-year-old child (with staining of panties, pain during defecation, thick stool, and problems almost from birth, we grew up on formula), I am writing specifically to help others, since I went through this hell myself, it’s okay for us it didn’t help, all the laxatives lasted a maximum of 3 days, they drank a full measure of Duphalac and only stained their panties, they even drank senna, the effect was not long-lasting. The doctors tried everything they could and told me to go for a colonoscopy, but my child already had 3 anesthesia, we refused. I found online that I need to do enemas for 10 days and everything will go away 100%. We tried, but it didn’t work out, it was difficult for the baby to put on water, but she didn’t give it. In general, I found Proctum microenemas, she also resisted, but it was possible to do it and pooped without pain, immediately and quickly (the instructions say potty training, she screamed a lot from microlax) and did Proctum 10 days in a row in the evening at the same time, in the evening because this will not happen in a hurry or in the garden, I think in our life it’s more convenient. The child began to poop herself 8-9 times. After almost 2 years of torment, diets, doctors, etc. I made it to 10, and for six months now we have been happy and cannot believe in this miracle, every evening she poops without pain on her own, eats everything. Try it, I'm sure it will help, we tried everything! An old gastroenterologist gave this advice to one mother and said that if this does not help, then the reason is in the physiology of the intestine and then surgery is necessary.

Possible consequences

After consuming a quarter of the weight of one average fruiting body of the pale grebe, which weighs 70-100 g, an adult develops severe intoxication, and a child, due to high sensitivity to toxins, experiences death.

There is no consensus on the lethal dose, but most researchers believe that the following doses are lethal: α-amanitin 5-7 mg, phalloidin 20-30 mg.

Thus, a fatal outcome for a middle-aged adult man in 90-95% of cases occurs when eating 1 mushroom.

Quick methods for children

To quickly relieve pain due to constipation, children are allowed water and oil enemas using medical bulbs. It is possible to use medications with a mild effect, after reading the instructions, consulting a doctor (Duphalac), antispasmodics (Papaverine, Drotaverine), prebiotics. If a child complains of severe pain or an acute abdomen, it is recommended to immediately contact the clinic and conduct tests for helminth eggs, a general blood test, and an endoscopy.

Folk remedies with prunes (they have a pleasant, sweet taste) will help eliminate the problem.

If there is a tendency to such problems, it is necessary to conduct a medical examination of the child’s body (intestinal obstruction occurs due to severe constipation in the absence of proper help), and the prescription of physical procedures (massage, gymnastics) by a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable in the absence of bowel movements for a long time.

Treatment of the elderly

Caution should be exercised when treating older adults at home. There are several drugs that effectively relieve the problem:

• Vegaprat is a tablet that does not reduce the amount of microelements in the body. It is recommended to drink the medicine with a glass of water.
• Normaze is a mild drug that can be taken with caution even if you have diabetes.
• Fitolax are chewable tablets of plant origin. They have a mild laxative effect.

Folk remedies are suitable for older people due to the absence of chemicals.