Constipation - any ideas with restricted fluid intake because of dialysis?

I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables but that's getting old quickly

[Bassetmommer]

Welcome to my world. It is not a fun place to be. So not only does dialysis not help with constipation, it adds to it. Are you taking any binders? They really add to the problem. Taking any opioids, them too? Check all you meds to see if there are side effects listed that they cause constipation. If not, and you are on limited fluids, here are some tricks I have found. I use a LOT of laxatives in different forms. Every day in my coffee, I use Miralax. Then at night, I take 200mg of magnesium. When I feel myself slowing down, I start taking vegetable, or Sennakote lax, up to two or more pills. Then if that doesn't work, Dulcolax and Senna tea.

I eat an apple a day for bulk, tons of veggies and salads and oatmeal, once in a while.

Check with your nephrologist to make sure this is ok or whatever you use is ok.

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you...the nephrologist has okayed miralax every day which helps plus my diet mainly consists of veggies, fruit, eggs and a piece of whole wheat bread. Didn't know that about the binders - I was told to eat 1000mg of Tums when I eat but my phosphorous level is almost normal and I don't itch so my thought is to remove that from the mix for now.Be well

[Bassetmommer in reply to Hidden]

Tums also constipates.

[Allnight]

yes. The constipation! I use lactose. Restoralax and senokot. My stools are soft But this PD is also known as the pooping dialysis. Pain on drain and. Alarms on the machine….all that kind of thing. Prunes. Fibre filled cereal. Fruit and veg are not enough. If your colon is full of stool, the catheter cannot drain right and gets out of place causing a lot of pain. I have to get up every cycle and sit in a chair or walk around. To avoid alarms and slow flow notifications. I complain about this to the clinic and a told to take more laxatives.

trying to get this catheter in a better place.

I also take calcium magnesium daily. And Vit D. Nothing that would cause constipation that’s for sure. I get very unpredictable bowel movements and can’t get very far from the bathroom most days.

Then I am stuck at home because of unpredictable bowels. This is not a lot of fun. After a year, it is worse. The theory is that you sleep through this and then get on with your life. My sleep is broken,I go back to bed until early noon, etc etc. I am always tired and dragging around.

I see the guy on the 25th . We’ll see what to do.

[Hidden in reply to Allnight]

I'll say a prayer for you - broken sleep is bad (I have severe sleep apnea) so I hear you. I come home from HD and fall asleep for several hours

[ZenPDX]

Have you tried Lactulose 10gm/15ml? I got constipated once before anyone realized there was a problem. My nephrologist prescribed it for me and I took it for three days. It cleaned me out by the second day. I now keep a bottle around and take it anytime that I go without pooping for two days.

I also take mirilax and magnesium supplement every evening and a senna pill every morning. This along with eating as much fiber as possible and drinking as much water as I can stomach does a fairly good job of keeping me regular.