Bowel question
 

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.:D:o

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

I think I discovered my poopy problem. I have been eating
more sugar free stuff and on the contents it says sugar alcohol.:eek:
I looked it up and the good news is that it's natural and not one
of those evil sugar substitutes.

The Bad news is that it does have about 1/2 the calories of
sugar and if you eat too much of it, IT CAUSES the big D.:eek:

i have a generic Rx of miralax.
the directions say take 1 T mixed in 8 oz of water or juice each nite at bedtime for chronic constipation or as directed.

it's a prescription laxative. the 1st BM should happen in 2-4 days. the drug info says that the patient should 1st have a PE to detect any metabolic, endocrine & neurogenic condition. should include a structural exam of the colon.

pt should be educated about eating fiber, adequate fluid intake and exercise.

it doesn't describe this as a long term solution. the generic name is polyethylene glycol 3350 powder for solution.

hope that answers some Q's. how about seeing a gastroenterologist?

I take Magnesium when I'm having a bad time with cramps and spasticity. So it is good for helping with the MS. If it helps keep you regular, then that is a bonus!

Last week I started using those water inhancers and I am wondering if that could have anything to do with all this. I was using quite a bit to give me a strong taste. I didn't use any at all yesterday but still had diarrhea today. I took a double dose of Pepto Bismol today and I haven't had any problems since. After all this is resolved I may give the inhancers another chance to see if the problem occurs again. I have stuck to water only since I started on my diet Nov 1st and I have been ok with that. Notice I put ok in small letters. I do miss my tea and soft drinks. I use the Crystal light strawberry lemonade and the MIO fruit punch. So they may have to go:(

They may not have to go Doydie, just don't use as much,
especially if they contain sugar alcohol in the enhancers.
Such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, isomalt, maltitol
and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH).

I cut down and no D today.:)

What would we do without the Internet??:D

Magnesium, daily, (make sure it does not contain calcium) . . . check out this fact sheet: link

Eating yogurt regularly can also help. As can moderate exercise such as walking.

Leave all artificial sweeteners on the shelves at the grocery store! My gastroenterologist (I deal with Crohn's/colitis) says they are toxic to the digestive system.

MiraLAX is toxic! I have spent some time investigating this as my partner deals with constipation. Spend a little time googling "miralax toxicity" and you will be better informed about this chemical and what it can do to your body. It can affect the central nervous system . . . and believe me, you don't want to add that to whatever is causing you pain right now! On top of which it will strip your gut of good bacteria . . . just what you are trying to re-establish when you eat yogurt and take probiotics!

Link about MiraLAX



My partner takes the recommended daily dose of MagnaSorb. It contains magnesium chloride and magnesium stearate, some of the more bio-available forms of magnesium. She gets it at a natural/health food store. She finds fresh pineapple (great fiber) and dried chunk coconut help too, also high in fiber. If things get really slow or stopped, she will take one bottle of magnesium citrate (about 10 oz.) that you can get in any pharmacy department. You can even use epsom salts solutions, but we have not tried that. The results can be pretty dramatic, and can include some cramping as you empty out. Don't take magnesium citrate solution if you have to go anywhere . . . once it works you need to be near an available restroom!

I hope that helps. I have the opposite problem permanently: I had to have my entire colon and rectum removed 11 years ago . . . and everything I pass is loose. I take daily immodium and have to avoid the high fiber stuff due to other issues.

I take Calcium every day with Vit D as part of my vitamin therapy my family doc has me on. We have a lot of osteoporosis in our family and my doc wanted me on this. So is Magnesium safe to take with this?? Miralax scares me. I don't want any laxatives.

Magnesium oxide is in the Crystal light powders used to flavor water.

Check your labels carefully. Magnesium Oxide is there for anti-caking of the powder. It will cause a laxative action in some people.

Also sorbitol is often hidden in foods that are not advertised to diabetics as lower sugar. You need to read labels for it as well.
Hershey's has it in some of its Kisses! So does Whitmans and Russell Stover in their caramels and nougats.
Sorbitol besides being a humectant (moisture preserving for foods and candy) is a laxative. It has been implicated in causing symptoms of IBS. When I talked to Hershey's about this on the phone, they said they do not have to put "sorbitol" on the label in a conspicuous location, unless it has 50grams or more per serving. That is the FDA rule. 50grams is quite a bit...so sorbitol is just listed in the ingredients...and easy to overlook.

It is really important these days to read food labels carefully.

I've been having troubles with constipation and a friend. suggested taking a tablespoon of mineral oil each day for a couple days and said that would take care of it....has anyone tried that?

Mineral oil is an old remedy.
It is a product of the oil industry and has fallen out of favor as a remedy taken orally.

Better is extra virgin olive oil. 2 tablespoonfuls of that works for some people. Olive oil has nutrients in it besides...so is more natural.

People vary considerably in response to laxatives. What works for one person, may not be successful for another.

Miralax works great for me, I use the generic. It is also a stool softener. For those who say its toxic, everything nowadays is toxic lol. Use what works