But the same pills leave him, in his words, ‘‘bound up’’. Mr Farnham is desperate for help after being unable to defecate unassisted for about 10 years.

He has waited almost 12 months for a colonoscopy after receiving a referral for the procedure in March 2015.

Mr Farnham joins more than 8470 Tasmanians on the state’s elective surgery waiting list.

His wife Jeanette Norman said she felt as though she lived in a developing country.

‘‘We’re worried about food going rotten in his tummy,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s a day procedure but it’s like major surgery to get there.’’

Mr Farnham agreed: ‘‘It’s a two-hour procedure, I’m not going to take up one of their beds.

‘‘I feel lousy.’’

A Tasmanian Health Service spokeswoman said patients were categorised according to their clinical need as determined by treating clinicians.

‘‘Mr James Farnham is expected to receive a date for a colonoscopy within the next couple of months,’’ she said.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson has previously said the government is committed to reducing elective surgery waiting lists.