Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | uncomfortable question...any takers please?

Hi,

I have a potentially uncomfortable question which I nonetheless want to ask, as I am keen to learn the facts about the issue once and for all;
so here goes:

At certain times, when it might be necessary to use some laxatives, such as Coloxyl, to help with bloating, do IBS sufferers react differently, or at all, to such medications?

I ask because I am a semi-competitive swimmer, and a few weeks ago I was in Wellington to do a 3km Oceanswim event.
The night before, it looked like my 'little friend' was intent on participating in the swim with me, something I didn't want. So, I took quite a few Coloxyls, and they had a bizarre effect.
They made me even more bloated, unfortunately; but despite the fact that I took about three times as many as you're supposed to (out of desperation of circumstances!), bizarrely enough, they didn't have any effect whatsoever on my bowel movements. Logic would suggest that such a dose would cause an uncontrollable 'torrent', but it seemed like my body didn't take any notice at all!

Is this to do with my IBS?

Apart from laxatives being bad in general (I know!!) is there any reason in particular why they are not desirable for IBS sufferers?

I only resort to them occasionally, when a specific event means that my IBS symptoms will really get in the way. I just wish that in those cases, they would work!

Any advice appreciated

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"They tried to make me give up salad, but I said, No, No, No!"
Hence the Amy Winehouse effect

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