My bowels have been irregular for a long time. Before I started my diet I could either be constipated or diarrhea and have some near misses. When I started my diet I became constipated. I name my BMs since I feel like I am going into labor each time. I can go 3 - 4 days between stools. I started Colace and have to take 4 twice a day. This was how I was with each of my pregnancys. I drink 8-10 glasses of water a day and fresh fruits and veggies and only whole grain breads, pasta. So my doctor suggested Miralax. I do not want to be in a laxative habit. But I'm afraid if I go to Miralax alone that it might happen. Any advice???

I suggest you buy a good probiotic. Be sure and get one with a high cfu count--50 billion or more. A dose or two of good fat like flax oil or coconut oil daily might also help.

What do probiotics do. I here all about them o TV but all that is propoganda. So I want to know what they REALLY do

Try 400 mg. of magnesium at night. It helps with constipation (and even sleep too! ) If I don't take it, I definitely notice it's worse.

What to do if you have the opposite problem.. Consistently
soft and runny. This is pretty much the norm for me now.
Could it be my Prozac? Do I use the opposite of Colace,
which would be Imodium?

I suppose my diet change to healthier, lower fat and high
in fiber food, is making me regular. What? Too much fiber,
fruit, vegies? I don't get cramps or anything.

I thought I would ask my question here, instead of starting
another poop thread.

Natalie8 is right. 400 mg of Magnesium per day helps keep me “regular.” it is also known to have other benefits for those of us with MS.

i've taken miralax in the past and it worked well.
i don't think imodium is very good. i can't remember why exactly but a pharmacist might know.

it is better to use a stool softener rather than a laxative. i think the bowel can get used to the laxative and then you do need it. another good Q for a pharmacist.

Probiotics help restore natural levels of flora in the gut. It can help both diarrhea (that's why I use them) and constipation (why my daughter uses them).

Thanks 4eyes, what are the best Probiotics?

So I guess Sally and I are the pooper questioners today. So IS Miralax considered a laxative and if so should it be given only in case of constipation and how do you define constipation.

What else does Magnesium do for MS