Like you say, that pile up - dam burst thing can be a real pain. My most common cause seems to be gastroparesis - the infamous "slow stomach".

Some things that have helped me-
1- Take pills on an empty stomach to give them a head start.
2- Swedish Bitters or similar bitter herbs have been shown to stimulate motility. The bitterness on the tongue is what does it.
3- Talk to your self. Or, more precisely, your Self. I'm not kidding. In a quiet setting and out loud, initiate a conversation with that vast part of you. You don't have to limit it to GI function either. I am having success with stuff like, "Walk smoothly down the hall and make the turn into the bedroom." But it has to be out loud. And not as a command but more like a partner.

On the latter, I suggest that you let the folks around you know that it is coming lest they get the net.