Metamucil: the new enemy!

Sorry about that
Interesting how different things affect different people. Miralax is the only thing that keeps me going, and Metamucil makes me dizzy and icky feeling, but is not very effective. I'm sorry you had such a rough time with it.

*hugs*
Gail

nudgie said:

I hope tis helps
I always had problems with consitipation throughout my life until my cancer DX in 2006. What I was told to use for my consitpation by my GI Doc was Milk of Magnesia (sp?). It comes in cherry flavor.

I also try and eat ALOT of fiber foods throughout the day like:

Fiber one bars
Fruits and veggies
Whole grain crackers, snacks, etc.,
Fiber one yogurt
Fiber one cereals

and LOTS, LOTS, LOTS of water. I drink an average of 70-94 ozs of water everyday. Also, exercising helps alot. Walking is good.

Also, please speak with your doctors, especially, your GI Doc since the colon is their speciality. They should be able to tell you what's going on.

Keep us posted.

Nudgie
I think Nudgie has got a good handle on it.

I could not have said it better myself.

I also found time works Krista...the first 2 years after bowel surgery was a living nightmare and I questioned that if this was going to be my Life, then I was not sure I wanted it. I believe in a Quality of Life.

I'm 5 years out of the surgery and it has taken me nearly that long for the new bowel to become what it likely will be unless they wreck it some more one day.

I hate to be that bleak about it, but it has taken me that long to recover. And of course, there are still episodes where it's a rerun just not like before, but every bit as brutal.

On your colonoscopy, that will be tough but in a different way...metamucil I think "gums" you up and you have to drink way too much water - I know how you are feeling.

But the stuff they give you to drink, it should be Colyte, is designed to dump you so not as destructive as the Met...

But Nudgie has got all of the right protocol in her post....she outlined it beautifully.

-Craig

Fiber tablets
I have had constipation so bad I would have to put on gloves and work the s*** out of my anus. Talk about disgusting. But the feces would be so hard (like little rubber balls) and all stacked up right inside my anus that it just could not come out on its own. One time I had to use an enema and that still took a lot of straining on my part. My doctor would only tell me to drink more water and eat more fiber. So I started taking four fiber tablets a day and stool softners in the morning. I've got to say it really helped. I haven't been constipated since I've been doing this. My question is, why didn't my doctor tell me about the tablets?

Debbie

luv3jay said:

Hey Krista!
I had the same
Hey Krista!

I had the same problem for a while then I started using Benefiber daily. It mixes right in with pretty much any liquid and has no consitency or taste. Stool softeners didn't work for me, and Milk of Magnesia tasted awful! I also started drinking PlumSmart, but I don't do that on a regular basis. The benefiber daily works for me. Good luck!

Sheri

Constipation
Which stool softeners have you tried. Colace should be effective, it's basically mineral oil, or simply try mineral oil. Try liquid fiber, they sell it at wall mart, it doesn't taste bad and moves through you very easily. I know your pain though. When you're stopped up the last thing you want is something compounding the internal pressure. Something that I found very effective when I was obstructed was a massager. Six hours before bed I would take three colace and hydrate myself very well. I would take another three colace before bed, then some more water. I had a padded massager that I would lay on. I would fall asleep with it running. Sometime in the middle of the night I would wake up and go. The one time I didn't, I went shortly after breakfast.
If you're on pain killers, you'll need to stop them for a while or try and cut back. If I take one lortab or percocet I'm guaranteed to be blocked for 2-3 days.