To poop or not to poop, that is the question

[Bassetmommer]

I am about to embark on taking a phosphorous binder. I will be taking Sevelamer or Renvela at 800mg, one tablet with meals. I only eat two meals a day. WHAT can I do to prevent constipation. I already have an issue with it because of Ozempic and being on dialysis. I had to stop eating oatmeal every day. I eat a ton of fiber and make sure I move during the day. I have to limit water because I cannot make it through dialysis any more than 2 hours or I have to pee. I am not happy this because I have dropped weight, (7 pounds) since coming off of Tums. I cannot being putting on weight because of the transplant requirements. I take stool softeners already and fiber gummies. HELP!!!!

[RhenDutchess123]

How is your Magnesium Level...I take a supplement and do not have any problems with constipation...Maybe that could help you

[Bassetmommer in reply to RhenDutchess123]

I take 200mg every night. How much do you take and are you on hemodialysis?

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to Bassetmommer]

I take 425 mg ...I am on PD...my Labs show my Magnesium at 2.8...which is a good level

I use Magnesium Malate...not all Magnesium Supplements are the same

[Bassetmommer in reply to RhenDutchess123]

Thank for the reply. My Mag is at 2.6 so maybe I will up my dose.

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to Bassetmommer]

2.6 is good...maybe when your body adjusts to the Dialysis, things will "move" easier....take care of you !

[RhenDutchess123]

This is the brand I use...You can take up to 6 a day...One usually works for me...someday I take 2

White bottle

[Bassetmommer]

its not the dialysis I am worried about but the binder. Thanks for the suggestions.

[horsie63]

when I was on PD I took severlamer and added miralax to my coffee and that kept me regular. I only had to take the binder for a month.

[Ziggydoodah]

Can you tolerate coconut oil? I find that does the trick. Either in coffee or 1 to 2 teaspoons down the hatch. Definitely don't do it on a dialysis day 😁😁😁

[drmind]

I think two things may be important: you have to drink an adequate amount of water and also maybe take the right kind of magnesium. There are several types of magnesium and I honestly believe that people react differently to different types. I'd experiment and use what works for you. My nephologist told me to take 500 mg daily and I can only handle 250 mg. I use magnesium citrate. My labs are always in normal range

Actually I've never had a constipation problem, but two fanily members do. Water helped both of them as well as Miralax. One also benefitted from magnesium as well.I know you have a problem with water, but it does offer basic help. Good luck. Sorry you have another problem to deal with.

l

[Bassetmommer in reply to drmind]

I have no fluid restriction other than self-imposed intake on the night before and morning of dialysis. And it is because I have to pee. As soon as I am off the machine, I start drinking water. So I am hydrated most of the time. The magnesium I take is chelated blend: bisglycinate chelate buffered and magnesium oxide. As far as having problems, I am being proactive on this before I do have an issue.

[drmind in reply to Bassetmommer]

Gotcha! Sounds like a good idea to be proactive and I understand. When I drink my quota of water, I'm spending alot of time (every hour at least) running to the bathrooms. Just part of that new normal. Have a happy week.

[Darlenia]

My hubby was on dialysis and on binders and never had issues with constipation. Then there's me...always dealing with constipation myself. I take magnesium and also slippery elm. Slippery elm is great - for me anyway. It has mucilage properties that really helps in soothing and processing things. I know supplements aren't recommended for dialysis and transplant patients but, if you're interested, maybe you can get an exception for this. My hubby received approval for other things like cranberry based supplements and probiotics after kidney failure. It's not easy trying to get our systems to work properly. I really feel for you.

[StillVertical]

I have taken Calcium acetate 667 x 4 per meal. Yep, you will get constipated. I have also tried the Sevelamer 800 x 4 per meal. They both constipate me. The remedy for me is to drink lots of cranberry juice in addition, find a form of fiber that is easy on potassium. I resort to high fiber bread, celery, corn, green beans, carrots, lettuce and zuchini, etc. Just watch the potassium, it's easy to go over board. You might be able to wing Bulgar or Orzo too, its loaded with fiber, but track your potassium.

Also there is a tea, you can drink; Smooth Move. If tea is your thing it works.

Good luck.

[Bassetmommer in reply to StillVertical]

Thanks, I am hoping to not get bad. You took 4 of those huge pills with every meal? Holy smokes. I am only doing one right now.

I do eat a lot of fiber. The one thing good about dialysis is I am no longer having a potassium issue. Just phosphorous. I also have the tea. Thanks.

[StillVertical in reply to Bassetmommer]

Yeah my kidneys are on last leg. It has been a fun ride. Haha. Esrd. I walked around for 6 months with a tube out my chest lol. Emergency. Every day above ground is good. :). Phosphor hard to escape it. It’s everywhere.

[22171]

Renvela has caused frequency and sometimes diarrhea. My husband takes 2 tabs 3 times a day. His phosphorus has been good. My understanding was that it increases bowel frequency so that the phosphorus can be eliminated from his system, and it works for him.

[Imaanforever]

Hi Bassetmommer,

I just started taking Renvela and after my doctor stopped me taking D3 which was not going well with me. However I do notice that Renvela has reduced my regular morning poo. What I do and have always done is drink decaf coffee. It works for me like magic. So once I wake up in the morNing I drink decaf coffee and follow up with a little warm water and then I need to go.

I don’t know why it works for me, I read it lower risks of gastrointestinal issues and it contains antioxidants that’s good for you and coffee has got some fibre but when I tell people they find it hard to understand how it works for me lol. I always make sure I never run out of my Latin American decaf coffee 😆

All the best with your poo

[Bassetmommer]

Just to round back. I was on Sevelamer pills and stopped them. They did nothing but block me up. Now I am on two packets a meal of powder sevelamer, which is a breeze to take in applesauce. In less than a month, my phosphorus came down some. To combat the constipations, I take a huge capful of MiraLAX every morning in my coffee. And if I am blocked, I take two Senna laxatives and really bad... then it is Smooth Move tea. I do not understand why they make something that blocks you up to remove something that you can't pass out because you are blocked up. Labs are this week. We will see if it is working.