Constipation... Laxatives?

Hello Everyone..

I have a major problem with my bowels building up & sometimes I have not been able to go for about 1 week.  My primary is sending me to a Gastro Doc... I never had this problem before surgery. I will end up having about 12 laxatives in my body it just like I have to add a laxative a week. I promise I am not bulemic! I have been eating yogurt and fruit, I am not a fan of the green foods though!  Any suggestions.?

I had the same problems and ended up seeing both a gastro dr and a colon/rectal surgeon due to the damage that occured from my prolonged constipation. Its really a terrible problem.

There seem to be many, many different ideas on what will work, but what I've found is that something will work well for one person and do nothing for someone else so its really a matter of trial and error. The C/R surgeon told me that I needed to up my fiber intake drastically and recommended that I eat Fiber One cereal daily (the original fiber one, not the new ones w/ cinnamon and raisins). It doesn't taste the best, but it works pretty well. I was on a prescription of Zelnorm for several months until it was pulled from the market.

Some of the other things that I've tried or read about from others with this same problem are~
stool softeners every night, Miralax, Lactulose (presription), smooth move tea, flax seed, MOM, laxatives~I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

I have also added a serving of Activia Light to my daily eating plan and this seems to be working well too. I had to stop using protein shakes b/c they were a major contributor to  my problem. I am still able to use some protein bars without too  much trouble, but I use the sparingly. Also, I'm sure to get in at least 64oz of water daily and I shoot for 80-100oz most days.

Good Luck and I hope you will find what works for you!!!!

I had chronic constipation for 11 years. I tried: more fiber, less fiber, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, no fiber, both fibers, stool softeners, Smooth Moves & Correctol teas and Metamucil wafers, together, apart, more water, less water, cut out anything bu****er (and protein), senna, cascara sagrada, everything one could possibly try until I was basically dependent on enemas for 3 yrs.

Miralax helped the stool be passable. It was rx and finally became generic, so went from $80 for 3 months to $20 for 3 months. Now it is OTC, but is about $8 for 5-6 servings. If you can get the rx, it is much cheaper, safe, daily, for life, according to my GI doc.

The stool softeners are store brand equal to Colace, not PERI-colace.

Word was that magnesium citrate was such a great thing. This is pills, not the green bottle, so I tried it and nothing happened, and so I kept increasing it. What DID happen is that my foot and leg cramps ceased. So, I kept doing that and tried magnesium oxide. This is small, cheap, found anywhere, like drug stores. And finally, it worked. Mine are 500 mg and I take 2.

My final formula:
1 serving MiraLax (rx) *
4 stool softeners at night
1 mag ox with lunch, 1 with dinner

In the morning, hot beverage first thing on empty gut

This has worked for several years yrs now.

* MiraLax was rx only until the end of 2007, and is now generic by rx. The original name brand is available at drug stores at about $20 for a large bottle. You might want to try one first, taken daily, at about the same time. If it solves the problem, then ask your doc for rx. It is NOT a laxative. It is safe, daily, taken for life, per 4 doctors I've asked. It was a pediatrician who introduced me to it. My rx plan allows me to have 6 of those big bottles every 3 months for $20. Check with your doc and your insurance to see if it's beneficial to buy it by rx. BTW, my doc writes for 2 servings per day, because they might SAY there are 30 servings per bottle, but somebody can't count. Me or them? I use only one, but if I spill or get too much, I still have enough to last til next refill.

I am the master of constipation lol..........but i have found that flax seeds mixed in either a protien shake or even oatmeal works wonders for me and i have to tell you that even i had taken laxatives that didnt work as well as the flax seeds did, i would try that and see if that helps before going in and having all kinds of things done to you...i went through this and that is all i needed to do to get myself going .. good luck if you need more info dont hesitate to email me [email protected]

i dont know how you all tolerate dried fruits, but eating a few dried apricots a day, chewing them very well, has helped me along the way.

also once i started eating salads again that helped.

lots and lots of fluids of course each and every day.

also i know some of you dont like to go there, BUT you do need some fat in your diet and that does help, such as some butter, or real salad dressing, not the FF kind.  small doses of course because we always need to be mindful of the calories, but it does help lubricate the system

now if your real early out and cant tolerate any of the above, then i guess your doc is the only solution at this time, because you cant stay constipated, its not a good thing

good luck, jacki

My doctor recommended that I take 1 - 4 Senokot-S tablets a night.  They are very expensive and not available through prescription.  Soooooo I go to www.getcanadiandrugs.com and order them in bulk there.  Waaaay cheaper than here in the states and they work GREAT.  They are like a stool softener and a very very light laxative all in one.  Good luck! 

I now only take 1 tablet whenever needed at bedtime with a glass of water.  I have my husband taking them now.  He has not had surgery, but has terrible constipation and nothing works for him.

I whole heartedly agree with Vita lady, fiber, LOTS of fluids and fat in your diet are essential.  A saving grace for me has been prunes.  Not only do they satisfy the sweet tooth but they are a natural laxative.

I have had great success by adding Special K's Fiber to my water.  They come in packages like your individual Crystal light.  In Pink Lemonade(my fav) and green tea flavor.  There are 10 grams of fiber in each individual serving.  I add 2 of them a day to my inital bottle of water.  My laxitive use has gone down to practically nothing and I move every day

You can find this in the diet section of most stores, near the Slim Fast.

Good Luck!

I was so constipated that one night I had to sit on the toilet for 45 minutes to push out that brick.  Let me tell you child birth was less painful to me than that.  Well after that I started taking Senokot well the generic for it.  I take 1 every other day and I take Metamucil or something like that everyday.  I am no longer constipated and I can go every other day.  I feel so much better.  I don't know what I would have done with out the OH board.  They guided me in the right direction.