I have been using Miralax, a prescription medicine prescribed by my gastroenterologist....The Miralax has been taking a little longer to work and I am using more of it since my last surgery so he just prescribed Zelnorm. I also eat lots of fruits and bran, but I need the help of the meds.

yes, Idealist!!!
 

Yes!!! I forgot!!! Walking does a lot...working those hips. But, I guess that doesn't help those who aren't mobile.

yup
 

I just wondered into "chronic pain" for the first time, being a poster on peripheral neuropathy for many years. Then, I was diagnosed with a rather humungous spinal cyst, which put me on the spine board as I was working my way through the decision for laminectomy and fusion. And now, well, 9 months post op, I've been told by my neuro I'm a "failed back". And somehow, with all this, I find I spend more time thinking about this issue than any other.

So, for what it's worth: my GI was very concerned that I had been regularly using herbal laxatives, which I had thought were primarily magnesium and which had worked for a long time. He said that on colonscopy my entire colon was turned black from them, a condition called melanosis coli. By itself, there's nothing wrong with having a black colon; however, it makes colonscopy almost useless for picking up early cancer.

He was adamant I switch to miralax and colace plus fiber, saying there's a combinatoin of these for everyone which will work. (the cause of the constipation being the drugs plus the loss of nerves from the spinal cyst).

He's mostly right. You can take up to 6 Colace a day, or more if you wanted. There's no upper limit on this stool softener. Likewise, while one dose of Miralax might work for some, or alternate days, which I did for quite a while, it's okay to take several doses a day, as all it does is increase the water content of what's passing through.

While some people don't think fiber is so good for people with slowed movement, his view is that anything which adds bulk without hardness stimulates movement.

So, since the surgery, I've switched to this protocol, and it mostly works.

Again, staying away from stimulants like senna is important for as long as you can possibly do that, because of its result in melanosis coli. That includes Dulcolax.

When in the hospital, after the surgery, whwen nothing was moving for 5 days, they finally intervened by giving me Miralax every two hours until there was a result, and...there was a result.

So I think he's probably onto something here.

And less calories than prunes!

lizajane, did your dr say what in the herbal laxative caused the blackness? i take a cleansing type everyday. it is for more than colon. cleanses other systems too. but i sure dont want to keep taking a product that could cause other problems.

my constipation "cures"
 

Constipation has been a part of my life, and I didn't even know it. When I was in the hospital a year and a half ago (for an acute attack of porphyria), which included severe constipation, a nurse told me to eat peanut butter. (Sorry for those who have peanut allergies.) I chosoe natural peanut better (the kind where the oil sits on top) and it's not an immediate cure, but sure enough, the next day things right themselves.

Like others, I've also found drinking extra water and exercise to be helpful. Lastly, I drink a small amount of coffee. I know that caffeine is supposed to be a no-no, but as long as I drink enough juice and water, things even out. I think it's the stimulant in coffee that works.

Go with the flow, I say! :D

purple pal in Wisconsin

Wow....stay away a couple of days and look at all the replies...but I hate to say everything and I mean everything I have tried is not producing much:(
I have no choice but call my GP on monday and ask for miralax and maybe Reglan??
I know I must do something soon or I will end up in the hospital with a impaction and that would be horrible:(
Thanks for everyone that took the time to reply...maybe something said here will help someone!!

I have had this problem too. I have tried everything--including that nasty citrus liquid Magnesium citrate. It may work, but it can also make things flow around the road block.......I needed something that works everyday. A friend told me about Dr. Schulze's Intestinal Formula #1. It works, and I have never gotten crampy from it. The doctor's at the hosptal said it was fine to take.

melanosis coli...
 

typically results from Senna type laxatives.

http://www.medicinenet.com/melanosis_coli/article.htm

There has been a "movement" away from the use of these for that reason.:p

In long term care, the most common laxative now is Miralax, now available in generic called Glycolax.

Don't underestimate prunes/dates/figs...these are high in nutrients and do help some people.

I haven't seen anyone mention glycerine suppositories yet.

They help a lot so that there is less straining and pushing, and less time sitting on the toilet.

For me, the worst part of having constipation in the amount of time I was sitting in the bathroom trying to get things going... because of my muscle and joint problems I was getting pain flares in my hips, legs, and back areas anytime I had to sit there for more than 10 minutes... so for me, the glycerine solved that part of the problem.

Thanks again everyone....still battling and I had sis go to walgreens sat. and pick up exlax and ducolax supp so was able to move a bit....also I went ahead and ordered what BarnBum is using since it was so cheap...and if this does not work then off to the doctor.
I hate going to doctors so that is last resort.
Liz, I really know what you mean about the sitting, it kills me...causing leg cramps and all sorts of new pain:(
Thanks again!