10 replies to this topic

[jessikagurl101]

I've been having problems with constipation the last few weeks. But before I even start, please don't tell me, "OMG you could have a blockage you need to go to the doctor asap!", because I did go to my doc and he told me to take Miralax. I've heard great things about it online and on this website that it's a godsend and works so well. Well, it's not working for me at all. I've been taking it since Saturday and nothing. Initally after I take it I hear a little bit of gurgling in my stomach but nothing that indicticates I need to have a BM. You might come to the conclusion that I might be impacted or something but I know that I'm not because when I try to go to the bathroom, I am expelling little bits and pieces... just nothing substantial. So I know for a fact I'm not impacted, it's just the muscles in my intestines won't move so I can get out alot of poop. Besides going to the doc, any suggestions?

[gnaed]

I've been having problems with constipation the last few weeks. But before I even start, please don't tell me, "OMG you could have a blockage you need to go to the doctor asap!", because I did go to my doc and he told me to take Miralax. I've heard great things about it online and on this website that it's a godsend and works so well. Well, it's not working for me at all. I've been taking it since Saturday and nothing. Initally after I take it I hear a little bit of gurgling in my stomach but nothing that indicticates I need to have a BM. You might come to the conclusion that I might be impacted or something but I know that I'm not because when I try to go to the bathroom, I am expelling little bits and pieces... just nothing substantial. So I know for a fact I'm not impacted, it's just the muscles in my intestines won't move so I can get out alot of poop. Besides going to the doc, any suggestions?

When I got really (and I mean really really) desperate, I used an enema. It worked, but yuck.

[islandmama]

I had surgery on the same date (1/31) and am having the same issue. Miralax has not worked for me either. I have had to use laxatives for the past few weeks. This week, I took a different tact and I started on probiotics today and I am trying sooooo hard to make sure that I get all my water in for the day. Still no luck. Any suggestions??

[cinwa]

Besides calling your doc - continue with the Miralax and up your fluids beyond all belief. Miralax works to increase the amount of water in the intestinal tract to stimulate bowel movements - if you're not getting enough fluids inside you, it can't do it's job effectively.

Question! Are those little bits and pieces firm or soft? If they're firm, a glycerine suppository can help lubricate the area.

But if you see no improvement in the next day or so then you have no option but to call the doc.

[vballmom32]

I am in the same boat as you.

I take a colace daily
miralax daily

every 3rd day if no BM I take Milk of Magnesia

and sometimes I use a suppository which works right away...where M.O.M. takes a couple of hours

I see the Doc on Friday and will see what they tell me and give you all an update.

Joyce

[mistymee]

And another note: just because you can expel some poo does not mean you're not impacted. My son once had diarrhea that passed by his impacted stool. He was so impacted they nearly opened him up in an emergency surgery so.. pooing isn't a sign you're not impacted.

And also- you can safely take two to three doses a day of miralax, according to my GI doc.. check with yours to see if they okay that for you.

Miralax, mixed with a gallon of water is the same exact medication as is used for a bowel prep before surgery & colonoscopies called "Go Lightly"...(in a higher dose than for the OTC)

[Pookie89]

I didn't know go lightly and miralax were the same thing. I guarantee, if that's the case, when you up your dose of miralax you WILL go. I don't know the dose difference but go lightly has explosive results...someone on here posted the salt water concentration that induces bowel movements pretty rapidly. You could either search it or google it to get the ratio of water to sea salt...I have this problem too from time to time.

[mistymee]

I didn't know go lightly and miralax were the same thing. I guarantee, if that's the case, when you up your dose of miralax you WILL go. I don't know the dose difference but go lightly has explosive results...someone on here posted the salt water concentration that induces bowel movements pretty rapidly. You could either search it or google it to get the ratio of water to sea salt...I have this problem too from time to time.

I didn't know either, till I was hospitalized last Aug/Sept and they made me drink a gallon of that stuff for a colonoscopy....and they didn't decide that until a few hours after they'd made me drink barium for four hours straight during the small bowel follow through.... ugh.. they totally should've done the colonoscopy FIRST.... I was up drinking that stuff all night and the barium just stopped me up so it took a lot longer to work.. but work it did! I really did think it impossible to drink a gallon of that stuff but... .. ugh.. bad, bad memories.

I also had to drink a gallon of it the day before I swallowed the camera last year for my camera endoscope... at least now I know- start it hours earlier than is typical due to how slow we are vs a 'normal' person.

But yep... it is, and if a few days of one dose miralax isn't working, add another for a day or so.. and still nothing, a third is how my doc wants me deal. He does not like the other laxatives as they're harsher and can cause other problems. I've not had to go to three dose so far, thank goodness.

[jessikagurl101]

And another note: just because you can expel some poo does not mean you're not impacted. My son once had diarrhea that passed by his impacted stool. He was so impacted they nearly opened him up in an emergency surgery so.. pooing isn't a sign you're not impacted.

And also- you can safely take two to three doses a day of miralax, according to my GI doc.. check with yours to see if they okay that for you.

Miralax, mixed with a gallon of water is the same exact medication as is used for a bowel prep before surgery & colonoscopies called "Go Lightly"...(in a higher dose than for the OTC)

Do you know how much MOM I can take? It has worked for me in the past, but I took ALOT of it. This was before surgery though, I took one dose (4 tbs) then waited a day, nothing then took another dose. So I had taken roughly half the bottle in 2 days but by the 3rd day I was going alot. Could I do this again? I'm scared cause I know my body works differently now.

[mistymee]

Do you know how much MOM I can take? It has worked for me in the past, but I took ALOT of it. This was before surgery though, I took one dose (4 tbs) then waited a day, nothing then took another dose. So I had taken roughly half the bottle in 2 days but by the 3rd day I was going alot. Could I do this again? I'm scared cause I know my body works differently now.

Can't help you there... My doc was very emphatic that I wasn't to take MOM and I never have.. He doesn't even want me taking stool softeners... For him, there is nothing safer and more effective than Miralax.. though you might need more than one dose a day.

[bambinari]

I swear by miralax. Take a gallon of that and it will help.