Help for constipation! (SO Sorry!)

As far as keeping things going....I take peri colace every other day or colace daily as needed ****il I got on more of a regular diet)

However...once I was already blocked up...sometimes the peri colace wouldn't work and I would use "dulcolax supporitories"  Sometimes..once that "brick" is there....nothing from "above" (IE by mouth) will move it a long...and you need something to help from "the other end"

Good luck - and we talk about poop all the time...to runny...to solid...to often...not enough....you name it we'll talk about it!  LOL

Pam

Thank you, Ladies, for the advice.
I think that the worst has past me now, so I'm glad for the preventative suggestions :-) !
Questions...

Seems many are mixing laxatives in with water/crystal light.  Is this better than the chewables?

Do you take the recommended amount from the label of Colace/ Pericolace/ or other laxatives/softeners?

Thanks again!
Since I purchased all this Miralax & Benefiber, I think I'll start with those on a regular daily basis.  See how that goes.  When they're gone, then I'll move on to one of your fine & helpful suggestions.

Pat

I have been constipated my entire life.  I use Fiber-Stat and Peri-Colace twice a day.  Fiber-Stat is available at Barix.

Pat,

I find that the following works well for me...

Benefiber (2 tbsp) in my protein shake every morning.  (i prefer this to the chewables, but i think they all work the same)

Peri-colace (stool softener without stimulant laxative) - 2 pills most nights with my iron pill

About 2x a week I end up needing to take Colace (stool softener with stimulant laxative) - 2 pills

I also eat a lot of fiber fruits (like fresh pineapple) and veggies at this point. 

But I have to say I vividly remember just how constipated I was when I was at your stage, and it was NOT fun.  A big part of that is because with a mainly liquid diet (and a pureed diet) that's focused on protein there just isn't enough bulk to form a normal stool.  Fun, eh?


Hope this helps!
Karen

I worked in a hospital for a long time.  The nurses there used the 'silver bullet'  warm prune juice with a shot of MOM.


I make my own version when I need to.  Warm prune juice with 2 Tlbs of Benefiber after dinner   followed with 8oz  of water.  I also eat 3 prunes everyother morning.

Good luck and remember this too shall pass


ellen

Pat,
If you go to a health food store, pick up a bottle of plain aloe vera juice. You'll have to experiment but usually apx. 2 tbsp ( 1 oz.) will soften your stool and help with regularity. Distilled aloe juice tastes just like water. George's is the brand I use. Regular aloe juice can have a bitter taste and most people dilute it with fruit juice. This is a healthy alternative to taking a stool softner, as most medications don't recommend their use on a regular basis. I hope this helps.
Chris

Thanks, Chris.
Is this something that you take regularly, or only when the need appears to arise?
Pat

pat,
I take this about every other day. Aloe is also supposed to aid in the absorption of any other meds or supplements that you take. I only found out about its laxative effect by accident. For myself, 1 oz. every day or so keeps me real regular w/o the long term side effects that over the counter laxatives have. They aren't real good for your digestive track per my gastroenterologist. Aloe seems to be a perfect fit to me. No side effects to speak of, better absorption of any other meds or supplements and an easy non harsh stool softner/laxative as well. What not to like?
Chris