Constipation

[bluejadedwho]

I am sure many of us deal with varying degrees of constipation. This has been a chronic problem of mine for years. If I don't use something, and do not go for days, and it is very uncomfortable. I find that Restoralax (Miralax) (polyethylene glycol 3350) works best, however I have some concerns about taking it due to the fact that it is derived from petroleum.

I would really like to not use it, and am wondering what others use?

Best,

Patrick

[jolocny Volunteer]

Hi Patrick,

I've used Senna products for a lot of years. I have varying degrees of constipation, seems to just depend on the day sometimes. I take it every other day right now, allows for a BM within the day, I alternate regular and softening senna. There are still times that I don't go for 2-3 days at a time (my old normal) and the senna can be increased if I'm not able to look at my diet and water intake and find the problem. I tend to decrease water intake if I'm out of the house, which can wreak havoc, but if I don't know of a decent bathroom location (I'm in a wheelchair).

During a difficult time last year, my Gastro suggested I use either a suppository (which worked great) or an enema. Gotta do what ya gotta do, I'll do anything not to use an enema!

I get concerned sometimes about impaction seeing that I know of people that've had that trouble. It seems that I can avoid that so far with the senna and diet.

Good luck!

[tieaknot]

I’ve got a whole arsenal (haha see what I did there?) of things I use especially when my medicines for other issues have the darn side effects of more constipation (and they’re not opioids so even the “opioid based constipation” meds don’t help that for me.)

Lately I’m having good luck with Dulcolax Chews (which are basically milk of magnesia/magnesium hydroxide) in yummy little chews that feel less like chalky medicine. Unfortunately they’re expensive. I end up taking twice the dose in the evening and planning for twice the amount of time for it to work, along with the morning cups of coffee. When that stops working I switch to senna tea for a while. Then to “real” Dulcolax, and then onto other measures that make it harder to leave the house for the day. I never imagined so much of my day would be trying to do something that everyone else takes for granted!

Mira lax and the newer prescription meds for constipation don’t work for me and only make me painfully bloated 😣

Good luck!

[fdonaire]

I found a solution use of osmotic laxative, doesn't attack the intestinal flora, i. use in Brasil peglax based on Macrogol 3350, it helps a lot.

[monkeybus]

The only thing worse than dying to go to the toilet, but you simply cannot go is when you've taken a laxative and you are dying to go even more, but you still cannot go.

Same goes for when you've just had an enema and you get zero result.

Or you take an even higher dose of laxative, and it is like tieaknot says, you simply cannot leave the house. Any minute you may have an urgent appointment with that pot.

Different things work for me at different times. The trouble is, I don't know which is the suitable solution each time. Senna, a cheap OTC laxative, high dose of Magnesium, Glycerine enema, prunes.

I already eat plenty of fibre, and I don't eat much meat, I eat fruit, etc. I know my constipation has no connection to my diet.

I do find that drinking only one cup of tea in the morning and switching to water for the rest of the day works wonders.

Nightmare, but (at times) constipation is easily fixed. I wish the spasticity was so easy to fix.

[tieaknot in reply to monkeybus]

Yep yep yep. Something seems to work for a little bit and I think I have it figured out and then…nope. Nothing works. NOTHING. After a while I start to worry about an obstruction or other nasties going on in there…almost ready to go to doc or ER and then…something works! So much time and effort should not have to be dedicated to pooping 🤣😣