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anal fissure and laxative abuse 1

 

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Please help me. Laxative abuse.

Please help me.

I am a female of 23 and for the past 5 years have been abusing laxatives, the OTC kind like dulcolax. Sometimes I alternate. I take a great deal. About 20 pills in one go and do this every day. My situation has become out of control I look dreadful (dark shadows/unhealthy skin/slow healing) despite eating a healthy diet and I need a way out.
I have seen a GP who told me to reduce gradually but this just does nothing except make me very uncomfortable.

I have heard that homeopathy is effective for constipation so I'm desperately hoping for some replies.

I have pale unhealthy mottled skin, dark undereye shadows, occasional scattered pimples. I have cracks in the corners of my mouth that get worse from stretching the mouth when eating anything large - like an apple. I have never been able to stomach milk or dairy, jut the thought of milk or cheese makes me feel ill. I am very sensitive to cold weather but also cannot tolerate the hot sun at all. I am an unconfident person through low self-esteem but can be very friendly and chatty when I feel I look ok. Some people may describe me as sensible, reserved and quiet while others would say frieldly talkative and funny and a bit mad. This depends on my ever changing moods as I can be quite irritable although never aggressive. I do like to spend a lot of time on my own, I am not particularly outgoing and am often unorganised and late. I get very shy when talking to people in authority like teachers, bosses and doctors and when talking to a doctor will often cry uncontrollably because I am talking about myself. I am very paranoid about my own health and one of my worst fears is catching germs from other people. I can be quite obsessive about people and ideas.

That was probably too much information so thank you if you read it all!
Is there any hope for me or do I need to be locked away?!
 
  butterfly007 on 2006-12-02
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
initially, to help overcome the laxative abuse, take nux vom 6c 3 times daily while you are withdrawing.
maybe others have some other suggestions too?
well done for recognising you need to stop and good luck....:)
 
erika last decade
Hmmm. Seems to me like you would greatly benefit from a high potency dose of Arsenicum Album. I'm not a qualifed prescriber so welcome an experienced homoeopath at this stage... The right remedy will help you on all levels - your digestive problems, and yr mentals, but you have to stop all the laxatives and allow the med to act ..

Well done for taking control of the situation. Help not far away.
 
carlotta last decade
Thank you Erika and Carlotta,

I have just read the description to the Ars Album and yes it does sound as lot like me how could you tell that! I am incredibly fussy eater and difficult and particular about a lot of things. But a few points are not like me - the lose stools and tight skin. Mine is pale and blotchy, often irritated, bumpy and dry but never tight looking. (After a few days of good sleep it looks ok though.)

I had often thought I was a cross between Nat Mur and Silicea.. I get very confused with the 'types'.

Would Arsenicum help with constipation? Nothing I have read has said it will?

And would either Nux Vom or Arsenicum have any horrible side effects?

Thank you both for helping me out. I am so grateful. I wish I had never started taking the things.
 
butterfly007 last decade
It is the mentals which are the most important guide to the remedy in your case, i believe, so not to worry (no pun intended!) if all the symptoms don't match exactly, although you'll find the dark under-eye shadows you mention, and the mottled skin are very Arsenicum.

No side effects like conventional medicine. When remedy and potency match the individual, even aggravations may be minimal. And remember , we're looking at the whole picture, not just one particular pixel so don't focus too much on one symptom ie. constipation.

Tell us more about the laxative story.
 
carlotta last decade
Thank you so much,

I that you may have found my consitutional remedy for me!
What potency of the Arsenicum do you think I should try? And for how long?


I have read the nux vom which also sounds a bit like me - or how I used to be. Finding sleep irresistable after work but unable to sleep at night - until a few hours before it's time to wake up. Stress and worry, addictive tendancies, dreams of being chased, irregular cycles. I think that everything is me though!!! what a hypochondriac! I will try the Arsenicum first.

If you want the laxative story, to my shame, here it is.
I started when I was desperate to lose weight. It did not work and I stopped. Then about a year later, I had an eating disorder - annorexia and bullimia.

When I ate something I would panic, then try to throw it up, then out of desperation took some laxatives to get the food out of me as soon as possible. It was more the feeling of emptyness - like after being sick - that I craved. I felt dirty, fat and full when I had eaten, and light and relieved when I stopped.

This became more and more frequent until I was talking them all the time. When I got a job I would time taking them so I would go in the night. I am no longer anorexic and don't bel;ieve that the laxatives aid weight loss but I am now dependent on them. I try not to think about it because it is my deepest most shameful secret. Because I hadn't faced what I was doing to myself I never admitted or addressed the problem.

I won't go on holiday, or stay over at a boyfriends house, or do anything that will interfere with my taking them. I feel that I will swell up like a balloon if I do.

That's the story. Thank you for reading and helping me. xxx
 
butterfly007 last decade
OK, Butterfly . I'm confident even at this stage that Arsenicum is along the right lines for you . It's a key eating disorder remedy also, as the perfectionism, anxiety and fastidiousness that underpin an eating disorder are Ars traits.

I'd want to bring in another, classcally minded, homeopath on this board - and I hope one of you guys reads this and takes up this case with me, because I'm not qualified to prescribe for you. I know what i have in mind, but it would be irresponsible of me to handle your case alone.

Thank you for your bravery and honesty in sharing your story. You seem to be very self-aware about the effects of your disorder, and intent on overcoming it, which you will.

Tell me more about the dependency to the laxatives now and your reasons for taking them. What's a typical day's eating etc?

Elaborate on 'swell up like a balloon' ..


This is a digression from the homeopathy but there are a few other things that come to mind. One is the benefits of organic golden linseeds/flaxseeds, which you can soak in mineral water overnight. They expand and release a muciligious substance which is rich in essential fatty acids. They are fantastic for constipation as they bulk out the stool and coat the inflamed intestinal tract at the same time, as well as giving you Omega 3 oils which am sure you're lacking. You can swallow them by the truck load and know they are doing your whole system the world of good and healing your insides.

Another supplement to consider is the amino acid L-Glutamine which fuels the intestinal lining and is important for anyone recovering from food allergies and disorders.

I am a healer and work with flower essences and a couple come to mind with you. With the Bach essences - CRAB APPLE is a fantastic remedy for feelings of physical shame and self-disgust. Or, if you can get hold of the Australian Bush FLower essences, Billy Goat Plum is THE shame remedy.

These are other ideas, and if you take the arsenicum , then it must be without any other meds. But i just want you to know there's a lot out there that can help.

Take care and hear from you soon.
 
carlotta last decade
Thank you so much, I am really touched that you have read my post and taken the effort to reply.

I am quite into health and supplements (ironically) and have a lot at home so can try that straight away and I'll buy the L-Glutamine tomorrow.

I am still slim-ish but eat all sorts of things now including occassional sweets and chocolate which I wouldn't have dreamt of before. I'll eat wholegrains - lots of wholemeal bread, lots of green tea, fruit, veg, lean white meat and fish. I will drink alcohol about once a week or less, only to be social as I do not like the effects on my skin the next day.

I do not have an aversion to red meat I chose not to eat it, but dairy I have never liked. I have always been incredibly difficult eater and I have never eaten potatoes for example and have always hated white bread and eggs. Growing up I always liked salted, sour things, meat and sweets like chocolate. I have been told I always like to be difficult. Sometimes I will say I don't want to do something just to be difficult. I don't know why - often I'll later become reasonable.

I probably should see a homeopath really but I am ashamed and always find an excuse to put it off.
I feel swollen up now because I have just eaten dinner. As big as a balloon, not as light as one. I tend to want to keep eating once I start so fill up on low calorie foods and plenty of water. But I just feel heavy and fat.

I do not know if this is important but I prefer hot drinks. I do not sip like an arsenicum type but gulp down as much water as I can quickly. I do not like icy cold water but prefer at room temperature. I find that my skin responds badly to caffinated drinks like coffee and diet coke.

Thank you for reading this long post, I will be so happy when I can be 'normal' again.
 
butterfly007 last decade
No probs. Will help as far as I can .. Of course the ideal would be fore you to see a homeopath one-to-one so your case can be taken really thoroughly. No need to be ashamed - that's what they're there for. But DO persevere here , rather than do nothing.

Tell me more about the dependency to the laxatives now and your reasons for taking them. Are you able to talk about it?

Any times or circumstance when you feel better generally , on any level?
 
carlotta last decade
Thank you for the advice, Are you training to be a homeopath? You are so knowledgeable. I have som L-glutamine now and hoping that will be beneficial.

The laxatives aren't really a mental problem and nobody would know I have any problems at all. Physically I can tell they are affecting my looks and holding me back from living life to the full - traveling, relationships etc. They are also a financial burden. I take them just so I can go to the loo. That's it really. The problem is the amount that I need to take now I have been abusing them for so long.


I think I might get some arsenicum 30, take for 3 days and see what happens. As homeopathy does not have any serious side effects does it?
 
butterfly007 last decade
Planning to study the year after next - will be travelling around Oz until then , but when i back I will begin a formal training . All the complementary therapies interest me , but homoepathy is really the most refined, i believe anyway. Thanks for the compliment though : )

But back to you .. if you're become physically reliant on the laxatives rather than psychologcally, then it's a case of weaning yourself off and getting your bowel and natural motion of the colon back to normal. What kind of laxatives do you take? Prescription? Over the counter?

Switching to herbal substitues may be the way forward, just to wean you off. Casacara Sagrada, Barbarry, Triaphala are some of those herbs. A company called Herbs of Grace do nice formulas that i'd recommend. Glycerine suppositories are also useful.

I can't recommend stongly enough the golden linseeds though - they really are wonderful on so many levels for your bowels. Soaking the seeds and then taking the herbal lax 4hrs later to help push them through will start restoring a more natural function. Then you can drop the dosage of the herbs until your peristaltic motion is much improved. You'll need be really dedicated to this healing though, cos your bowels will have got v. sluggish from the lax abuse.

Re. the arsenicum , I'd go higher. Start with 200c , just one dose and then wait.

Also, last question on previous post.

thanks : )
 
carlotta last decade
I wasnt sure what you meant by feel better. I feel better when I have used the laxatives because I feel lighter and slimmer. Generally I feel better when I can get enough sleep. I get up early for work and have a lengthy morning routine as I wash my hair every morning and tend to wash my hands again and aagain while getting ready. I feel better when I can lie in. I look better after lots of sleep and that makes me feel good too. When I look ugly I feel ashamed of myself and unsociable. I am not a morning person at all!

I will start incorporating the supplements you mention into my diet now, reducing the laxatives slowly. I cannot thank you ebnough for your time - your advice has been amazing and you have inspired me that I can get over this and get my life back on track. I had not even tried seriously to come off them as I didn't see how I could, but I don't want to have to get my bowel removed before I am 30. (Sometimes I have been passing blood after taking a lot and push it to the back of my mind).

When I have reduced the pills I will give the Arsenicum a go seeing as I cannot take Arsenicum with medication.

Thank you
 
butterfly007 last decade
sorry forgot to answer your other question - I take over the counter laxatives, you can pick up the pills almost everywhere in supermarkets and chemists. But I'm taking almost a pack (nearly 20 tablets) every day.
 
butterfly007 last decade
The more I read the more Arsenicum fits - obsessive complulsive is there isn't it.. AAHH i wish another homeopathy would come in on this now , as i'd bet money on a dose of Arsenicum 1M helping you out over these issues.

Needless to say, sooner to lessen the intake and come off the lax the better. The blood in the bowel - may be perforation in the bowel from gut lining compromised - but take as warning now. As have said, the linseeds is where I'd like you to start, because you can incorporate these right away, even with the pills you are taking. The best brand is one (if u r in uK) called Linuisit Gold (from big supermarket/health shop) .

Get a pint glass and pour in a 1/3 of seeds and then fill with mineral water to the top.
In a couple hourse they will have swelled, and u can swallow them with spoon.

Also if we're going for the this approach before homeopathy, SLIPPERY ELM is the herb to buy for the moment. It comes in powder and is easy to make tea. Tastes a bit gross but with some honey it's drinkable.

There are lots of useful supplements and herbs for the gut, but 2 i've mentioned above are the most soothing and will begin to repair and heal the gut.

Once you begin the healing, you'll also begin to notice changes in yr skin condition, your energy levels .. it's all inter-linked.
 
carlotta last decade
how you doing B'fly? Update when you're ready..
 
carlotta last decade
Hi,

Thanks for taking an interest, I am so pleased that you replied it has really encouraged me and your advice has been great.


I have been taking the linseeds every morning and the Glutamine. I have my laxative intake to 14 - down from 18, so it is a start. I could probably reduce more now but get slightly anxious about reducing the pills.
I am also taking some colon cleanse tablets from holland and barratt. Just because I had them at home and had never taken them.

I am feeling better in myself and my skin looks ok. It really looked dreadful when I first posted - red sunken puffy and irritated. I was getting tender lumps, like blotchy spots over my cheeks that I hadn't had before and was getting really distressed about it. Since taking the linseeds it has cleared fast. THANK YOU.

I had also started taking Astragalus tincture for my immune system so that may have helped too? I still have dark shadows and wonder if that is because I have overburdened my liver?

I should probably take the slippery elm but the thought of drinking it makes me feel sick! Also I don't want the people I live with to know about any of my problems. Nobody knows about this. I would be mortified if they did.

Will taking the linseeds make me fat? I was wondering if I need to modify my diet so I don't consume too many calories?


Thank you for your advice. I feel that my problem has stopped escalating and has taken a step back - I feel like I have some power over it which makes a big difference. I used to feel that it controlled me. And it still does but I am fighting it.

Sorry, that sounded completely mad!
 
butterfly007 last decade
Well done on your progress. Really super.

Don't worry about the linseeds putting weight on you - they won't as the kind of fats they provide are the nourishing kind which are essential for your brain and your heart and your skin. Not the saturated kind which may present health problems if eaten in quantity. I mean - personally - I think it's about moderation. I'd rather have a bit of butter on my toast than some tasteless spread..

I'm really pleased your taking the linseeds. You can take loads of these per day, the more the merrier. You can see them coming out the other end too !

Try now to get hold of a herbal lax. I recommended Herbs of Grace - BTB or BTA are the formulas. You get what you pay for with herbs and vits. These are great formulations as they've been designed to tone the colon, detox the liver as well as assist cleansing.

Don't worry about your liver . You can do a liver cleanse later on, but for now focus on your bowels.

Astragulus is good. Only take it for a week or two then stop. And only take when you're in good health, not when ill. Other herbs you can take when poorly like echinacea.

NB. Take the Glutamine on empty stomach and leave up to half hour before eating.

Well done with everything. Keep going.
 
carlotta last decade
How you doing now? Busy time of year i know, but let me know when you have a moment.
 
carlotta last decade
Hi,

I am doing ok, still taking lots of linseeds but as it is Christmas I have been out a lot and my diet is worse than usual. I am still taking 14 laxative tablets at a time and have not made much effort to reducing it any further. Perhaps I have been using the holiday as an excuse to put it to the back of my mind...again.

I keep forgetting to take the glutamine.

I will buy one of the herbal formulas you suggested next week. Sometimes I feel as though I will never be able to live without laxatives and my enthusiasm falters a bit.

thank you for asking about me. xx
 
butterfly007 last decade
hi,
this is an old post and i feel like nobody might read it, but this topic is so close to me that i had to respond.
i started taking laxatives when i was 14 just to 'feel' skinnier.slowly the dose increased and just a year later i was taking up to 16 a day.i kept taking them for 6 years, ranging from 13-23, depending on the stages i wa s going through, and what types of laxative(sometimes i combined different types, for ex.bysacodyl+senna). my stomach hurt on a daily basis, i was grouchy and moody, it was afull. i couldnt sleep at my boyfriends house often, had trouble sharing hotel rooms with peole, and was constantly living on this schedule that i had in my head(take pills, pills kick in, bathroom nearby?). it was sooo hard, and what made it harder was that nobody knew.not a soul.i hid the pils so well, and covered my habit so carefully, that to this day, nobody around me has any idea.
as i was approaching 20, i felt like if i continued like this, i would never have a normal life.and it saddened me so much.i was depressed, although nobody knew, because im generally considered the wildest, most outgoing one out o my friends. but i was deeply sad.
then one night i was wasted and forgot to take my pills when i got home.i went to work the next day and when i came home, i went to the bathroom on my own. i thought it was just the laxatives from 2 days ago still kicking in, but decided to skip my nightly dose again. the next day, i went again. very little, but all on my own.
so i stopped. i wont lie, it was tough. but truthfully, the most i skipped was a day.the only real problem i encountered was when i went on a cruise and could not go to the bathroom at all, but i think it wa sbecause of the change of location.i had to take laxatives again, but this time only 3. since i got home, ive been fine, even better than fine, great!most of the time now i got 2 times a day, which i always deemed unreal.
i just feel so much better now, and i wish u the best, best , best of luck! i know what a difficult and embarassing thing this is, and there is really nothing about it in the media,as opposed to bulimia, anorexia, painkiller abuse, etc.u really dont know where, and how to get help.
also, laxatives are sold in 100 pill packs, which makes it so much easier. this is a scary topic that people should pay more attention to.anyway, once again, best of luck!!!
 
lolla last decade
Hi Lolla,

My story and yours are almost the same, I am still taking them, I am finding it very hard to stop.

So you stopped all by yourself?
I find it hard to cope even reducing my dose a little, so bloated, full and uncomfortable.

Did you do anything to help?
Did you notice any side effects and for how long?

love to hear more about your experiences.

Nobody knows about my secret either. I feel such shame and isolation about this habit.

butterfly xxx
 
butterfly007 last decade
Hi butterfly007,
It is so weird, I never thought I would quit just like that, cold turkey. In fact, I never even attempted it,thinking that it would never, ever work. The back of the laxative box says do not take for more than 2 weeks, I had been taking it for YEARS.I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to get off them and go back to normal. As I said before, it happenned completely accidentally, and I just decided to go with it, see what happens. It was hard at first, and while I went to the bathroom almost daily, it was very little.But now it's pretty good. Some days are better than others, but the main thing is not to go back to it, no matter how uncomfortable and heavy you feel, because it sucks you in, that 'cleansed' feeling is just too addictive.
I eat really healthy, at least i try. I eat salads, and prunes, very little bread and stuff.I also think when your eating and lifestyle is on a schedule, so is your body, so try to stick to some sort of time schedule.
As far as side effects, I do not know. I never saw a doctor about this, and haven't seen one since I stopped. That's kind of one of my biggest fears. My teeth are in bad shape though, two root canals in one year. That might or might not have something to do with it, I guess. My skin and hair is good, but I'm not prone to bad skin genetically.
Try stopping, please. It's such a difficult experience, the toughest thing i've ever had to go through. Such a huge secret, and you get so moody all the time because nobody f-ing understands!And telling somebody is out of the question beacuse it is so embarassing. And then there'd the fear of somebody finding out,finding the pills or something. Oh god and that running to the bathroom every 5 min.And the pain they cause, the awfull cramps...I used to take mine around 10am so they would kick in at like 6-7 am...running to the bathroom...running the sink so nobody would hear....

This has impacted me so much, in my personal life as well.But think about it, if you stop, it will be better, it just has to be!At least I keep telling myself this.It has really left it's toll on me.But things are slowly looking up, and the experience made me so much stronger, you have no idea.

Good luck to you!
Write back!
 
lolla last decade
here some things to think about
dual action cleanse is not a laxitve should be on the informercials in aussie
linseeds about 2 tabs ground in a large glass of water and left to sit for a few hours till it gels do this 2x daily morning and night
keep covered and put in fridge as it ferments
cooked apple with rubarb +grated ginger and honey,
very ripe black figs
strawberrys, rasberries, kiwi fruit,
cut out cereals except organic porrige with organic cane sugar or cane molases
but get the cleanse first before you have the porrige
and of course drink water, herbal teas
eat salads beetroot tomatoes
 
alangail1 last decade
Hi Butterfly

I wonder if you have the additional problem of being woken at night with the urge to urinate, which might explain the chasing dreams, as the mind tries to wake you in alarm so you don't wet the bed? I ask because as well as empathysing with most of your other symptoms, I discovered that due to a few years of anorexia, caused a depletion of the hormone in my kindneys which controls a reduction of urine production at night, so that my bladder fills quickly and the nerve system disturbs a deep sleep (as you have for the first 1 to 4 hours of sleep) causing dramatic dreams which finally wake me to go to the toilet. Then of course you can't get to sleep straight away, so only get around 2 hours sleep a night. So during the day can be very tired and this of course has an accumalive effect so that you never have energy. Everything becomes so hard to do and you can't ever think clearly. I now take 200 mg Desmopressin acetate an hour after I last drink, and an hour before I go to bed. Then urinate just before I go to bed. My sleep is no longer disturbed and I feel much more energetic and rested. Desmopressin switches off your kidneys for 8 hours. I pee loads in the morning, when I get up.
Catherine
 
cc120 last decade

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