Cheers for the info S+U.

I like the idea of road-testing the suppositories on non-critical days first to see if they work for you. (i.e. no second poo later in the day). Helps build up confidence in it as a system.

Totally get you on the combo problem. Shy bowel plus another condition (in your case, urgency) makes everything ten times worse. That's when it gets into 'complex problem' territory and complex problems are always so much harder to deal with. Still, fingers crossed, sounds like you've come up with something that works and is liberating. And if it works for you, there will defintiely be other people who will find it works for them.

I'll give them a go myself next year (am doing a gut treatment at the mo so don't want to introduce another variable). My fear is that the glycerine will exacerbate my IBS symptoms. But... there's only one way to find out.

Lovely to hear you talking about the things you wanted to do, and now you've got this workaround, you'll be able to.

Regarding dependency: I guess it's an issue. Then again, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong advocated using actual laxatives, and used them himself every day. He said it was for weight loss, but maybe it was also just like what you experienced: He got his poo out of the way, and then was free to go out into the world. He certainly managed to get out into the world and live a full life. These days I'm getting more like, "Whatever Works..." But I want it to work in a sustainable way. Let us know any advice the GP/Nurse gives you re the dependency thing, especially whether the body gets 'tolerance' and you have to use more to get the same effect.

One last question: On the bristol stool scale, when you use the suppository, what number does it come out as? I remember when I tried using one, it came out pretty squitty politty, and my intestines felt bruised and sore after, but then again I was in a stressed situation.

Yup, it's weird posting all this personal poop stuff on a public forum. Still, you all get to be anonymous. (It's only muggins here that's pasted his name all over the site... Doh!)

I guess I could set up a private message board but part of me wants anyone who thinks they might have shy bowel to be able to view the messages.

Ta for sharing your breakthrough S+U, and ta for the thanks. You're most welcome.