Hi.

I have friends who try Miralax and they said it works wonders.

I myself do the benefiber thing. Two teaspoons in my coffee in the morning, and two teaspoons in a glass of water in the pm. You would NEVER know you are taking this stuff. It is clear and dissolves completely. You just can't put it in any kind of soda. So I use a packet of something called True Orange which are crystals and pour two little packets in a glass of water, and BAM, you have an orange drink with no sugar, no nothing. Very refreshing. I add my benefiber to this.

I do take stool softeners sometimes, but no laxatives. I GO EVERY DAY.

so give it a try.
Melody

Thanks Melody. I am going to stop at the store on the way home and pick up the benefiber. I just can't help but wonder what is going on. I have never been like this before. Yesterday for example, I even ate 2 salads, a bowl of fresh strawberries and drank 3 bottles of water. Hope the benefiber works. I don't want to go the laxative route and be tied to my house for fear it will kick in when I am not close to a bathroom!! Yikes.....

I use Clear & Natural by Metamucil (used to be called 'Free & Clear') , @ 1/2 dosage of Benefiber (1 tsp per dose= 5 grams fiber vs 2 tsp Benefiber) & about the same cost for volume (about $12 for 11.5 oz bottle) so its 1/2 as expensive.
Gabapentin/Neurontin, & Lyrica/pregabalin, as well a pain meds - can be constipating, too.

Well, you're eating like a champ, you're drinking water like a champ, but your digestive system hasn't caught up with this yet.

Keep eating and drinking and give it a few days (I mean, once you begin benefiber). I would also be taking a cup of activia or any yogurt with live cultures). Unless you are allergic to dairy. Then I can' help you. lol

But between all these things, YOUR DIGESTIVE TRACT usually kicks in and you go every day.

If not, try asking your primary care and see what he says.

I researched the benefiber (as well as other similar products), and they work by forming and stool and having it pass out so it looks like Dr. Oz says IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK. Like snakes or pipes.

And the stool softeners make it so you go effortlessly. No straining. We all know that one should never strain on the toilet bowl.

I've been trying to get my 78 year old friend to start taking benefiber. She NEVER goes to the bathroom. She's all stopped up and she doesn't believe in anything but laxatives. But they don't work any more on her. She's been on them for year. I tried to explain (gently) to her that when one becomes dependent on laxatives, it affects the muscle that let's you GO to the bathroom and sooner or later, you can take all the laxatives you want to take but your body won't respond. This is what I believe is happening to her and I can't imagine how uncomfortable this must be like.

But she won't believe me. Oh well, nothing I can do, but GO every morning myself.

lol

Be well and HAPPY GOING!!!

Melody
P.S Please update and let me know if the Benefiber helped you. I feel like their Goodwill ambassador lol

The Miralax is good with Benefiber. Miralax sucks up moisture. I was on a combo of Miralax, Benefiber and Senna. While I was on substantial opiates....nada worked. I am surprised to here Cymbalta is causing this.

Have you been checked for autonomic neuropathy?

Fish Oil capsules [IF they're not too fishy?], Too many of those? Maybe a combo of that and magnesium? And you won't be able to publicly 'contain yourself!' Then work out which does what best and in what quantities.

I am truly surprised that docs, hospitals and rehab facilities don't ever take this aspect into consideration when prescribing pain killers! A few years ago I went in for a surgery and once the anathestic wore off they started in on the pain pills...I politely asked the nurse for ducolax or senecot or 'something' to help offset the possible issue? Nurse went [rightly so] Not in the orders! I replied well can you ask someone? DUH!?????? I got some softener med [don't recall which-but don't care] that helped...wouldn't 'DO' to over strain with stitches in you, now would it?

When and HOW do docs get enlightening 'litebulb' moments were it not for us?

Now, KP? Start writing up your medical HISTORY! Keep it to one page [docs have very short attention spans?] First list big things [Conditions] you have been diagnosed with- such as past surgeries, broken bones, thyroid, eye whatever w/a start time of month/year. Then list all Medications: ALL of them you take daily and how often + which of your docs prescribed it/or what it is for. Next: A list of your docs, their phone #'s and their specialties... so current doc can call them and consult about you. Also? Before you go in June? [not so long from now, really, you know?] Get copies of as many tests done on you since onset as you can get your hands on! Bring copies of those copies and keep the others for yourself. Also Any X-rays, MRI's Sono's and Dexa's or anything else. Get copies to bring and later return or keep for the future. I ALWAYS keep a copy of this 'history' with me in my purse. I always bring an updated copy [if there are changes] whenever I go to any doc + copies [for their records] of most recent blood work or other key test reports. That way, I don't get the same tests done several times over and over. I also get the blood work done at one lab and that way, all the results are done with the same hi/low 'values' that can vary from lab to lab.
Keep asking questions! There isn't one that's a silly one! I know, as I've asked some doozies here myself! Hugs and hope and good things soon! 's - j