Thanks Lanny, but, what I'm looking for is something I can take for the constipation that works in a "normal" way. I'm looking for something that will give me a regular bile movement on a regular basis. Castor oil will make the biles move but it's always in a diarrhea form. There just has to be something available that can be taken in a certain dosage that will work without the extremes of constipation or diarrhea. Is what I want just wishful thinking or what? LoL

I still have this issue but not to the degree I did. Some suggestions I have tried. Is stool softners. These take time though but they are safer then laxatives. Magnesium, I take glycinate but also the oxide to help with the bowel issues. Items like fiber supplements back me up more. Some foods that are high in fiber do that as well. Fiber one cereal or even beans just bloat me but don't help move the bowels. Even with adequate fluids. Healthy fats I feel have helped too. I agree that lack of activity also does not help with bowel issues plus the meds. For me coffee helps I think the most. People who feel prunes help I was suggested baby prune food as it is easier to get down if you don't like the taste.

There's a new product on TV. A juice that is 'Plum...." (something) in regular and 'lite' sweetener. It starts with a man saying he can't wait weeks for fortified yogurt to work, so he drinks this juice. Could be a prune juice of some sort.

Extra virgin olive oil works, and so do avocados. Those are two food sources to help the GI tract along.

Well, my Urogyn wasn't a big fan of Miralax but still wanted me to keep the bowels moving...daily (female issues). So, fiber and water it was and it did work. Then again, I don't take a lot of meds. Anyway, one of my pain docs prescribed Lactulose and that worked even better when I have had a "bout". I haven't had to take it for a long time now though. The only thing is be careful if diabetic. But what I liked about it was is that it seemed easier and worked faster.

There is also sorbitol.... Nursing homes use sorbitol pretty often.

I hate to recommend it tho, because diabetics has problems at the nerve endings with sorbitol...and I am unsure taking it orally is safe because of that.

Miralax is one thing I have not tried, but my mom swears by it.

I have been trying to find a solution for all this as well, but something that is not pill form or liquid--which certainly doesn't leave much, I know.

My mom says that Miralax has no taste, but 99% of the liquids I drink are water, and I always taste the things that others claim are tasteless. Not only do the liquid things taste disgusting, but they so often make me sick to my stomach because I just can't get them down. Liquid pain medicine after surgery was the worst--I'd rather just deal with the pain.

I'm on the fentanyl patch and oxycodone 3 times a day as well as amitriptyline, steroids, and a whole other host of medicines. I can never remember which ones specifically contribute to constipation, but many of them do.

Everything I've tried so far hasn't really worked. I've thought about trying Miralax, but am really afraid of trying it in water because I seem to taste the "tasteless".

I've heard before that extra virgin olive oil works wonders as someone stated, but I don't quite get it--am I supposed to just take a drink from the bottle? Okay, I'm not serious--but how in the world is someone supposed to get enough oil in them to do any good? I don't eat anything that has been fried in oil... or even has oil in/on it.

I will be interested to see if anyone else comes here and has some good suggestions or advice.. it's definitely not a fun side effect to deal with.

Re the 'extra virgin olive oil' - how much does one take... 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon...more, less, or what???

for the olive oil.... 1-2 tablespoonfuls. If you eat salads, you can add it there.

Years ago I had a young man with a kidney transplant, who was very constipated. His mother was not getting a call back from the surgeon, and she was afraid to use anything that would cramp him, or stress his kidney (like a Fleet enema).

I settled on sorbitol for him, and told her to call me back. Well, their Italian grandmother came to the rescue... The gal called me back and said 2 tablespoonfuls of the extra virgin olive oil did the trick!
http://www.drugs.com/npp/olive-oil.html
That article gives contents, and virgin olive seems higher in oil content than extra. So virgin may work and cost less.

I find guacamole very effective for me... but then I don't use opiates, or other constipating drugs except for dilitiazem.

Thanks for that mrsD...but do you know the answer to this: Should 400 mg of magnesium be enough, or should I increase the dose? Or maybe my question should be: how much is safe to try?