Constipation Help
 

I'm curious as to exactly, which products you've personally used that have worked for you ...

Thanks :(

novilax works like a charm

Novilax does work. Make sure you are eating those 2 cups of lettuce and 2 cups of vegetables each lunch and dinner. Good luck.

Thanks guys. :(

Well I just found this on FaceBook :)


http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/3...8610058021.jpg

Nice!

I use a stool softener called Cleanse More, a herbal product from the natural food store. I also add chia seeds to my puddings and shakes 2-3 times per week to help maintain.

My coach recommended "Smooth Move" tea, and it works great! It hAs Seneca in it, a mild stimulant ( not a laxative ). Cheap and easy to find at Target!

Magnesium citrate also works well. The bottle (it's in a glass bottle) says your first bm will be in 6-12 hours. Well mine was like within 30 minutes with bm's for 6-12 hours. Make sure you are close to a bathroom!

Thank Yoooooooou!!
 

brvsfan - I have to say - the words 'thank you' aren't enough.

Listen - I've never in my life heard of magnesium citrate. Ran out and bought a bottle.

This is after about 9 days of trying almost everything I could think of and recommendations from friends and family.

Things like a colace/dulcolax, the smooth move teas, metamucil, etc. All money down the drain.

I drank the magnesium cirate and felt the weight of the world lifed off my shoulders. This stuff does the job like clock work. OMG - I'm so happy. My first good night's rest in days.

Thanks so much for this recommendation! :hug:

:carrot:
I am so glad that it worked for you! I actually went to the doctor with stomach pain (I was having regular BM's at the time) on time and that is what she recommended. I now keep a bottle in my house just in case!

I like to take the natural route whenever possible and the Smooth Move tea works best for me.

Yes brvsfan - it worked amazingly well. And no wonder - after a little more reading, I came to find out it's really sort like the last resort for constipation. If magnesium citrate doesn't help you - it's almost like, nothing will.

It's what the dr gives you before a colonoscopy or surgery to completely cleanse the bowels.

Thanks again! :hug:

Constipation- there's gotta be a better way
 

I tried searching posts in all of the IP forum, but didn't get enough answers. In my 6th week, and have had problems since Wk 1. I've been taking novi-lax daily for 5 days and still don't have good results. Took 2 at night and 1 in am, had a lot of gas. Tried the smooth move and same thing. I eat all the veggies..and drink over 64 oz water. I think the problem for me, and many of us on IP, is we aren't getting enough fiber and fruit to help maintain "normal bowel function"
Yes, we can take ducolax or mag citrate, but using it habitually could affect the intestinal tract long term ("loose explosive BM's for one). My clinic advised against metamucil (I think it has added carbs, even though manufacturer says they aren't absorbed.) So, coaches, please, what is available to us, that is "natural" and effective??

One other thought...does anyone know if there is any lactose, or lactose-like substance in the IP packets? I have a mild case of lactose intolerance, and the gas and bloating I have now is similar to how I felt until I switched to lactaid (lactose free milk).

A big problem also is the amount of calcium in the supplements. I had to cut down on that.

It is actually a myth that the bowel becomes dependent on things like senna. If you need it, take it.

Is the magnesium citrite on the pharmacy shelves?

personally i took "natural calm" a magnesium powder, it worked for me for a month but then started to lose its effect. i now take 1 novalax in the AM and 1 in the PM and my BM has regulated itself. hope this helps!

Yes, it is. I'd gotten mine from CVS but it's pretty much all over at the major drug stores.

It worked WONDERS! for me when nothing else did: smooth moves tea, colace, prune juice, metamucil and the natmag my coach suggested ... all did nothing for me. After nearly 3 weeks of ****, the magnesium citrate was like heaven.

With the Magnesium Citrate, are you drinking the liquid, or taking the pills?

Yes, plus many grocery stores carry it too.

Liquid

Hi marlenesuer

I use Mag 07. It is very gentle on the system. I haven't experienced any stomach cramps at all. I take 3 to 4 pills at bedtime and the next day tada. :carrot:

Constipation
 

Thanks everyone for your input. The intestines can get dependent on use of stimulants ..I spent the first 5 years of my visiting nurse work, helping older pts who had used laxatives habitually, who had major problems with impactions and or explosive stools. Since Mag Citrate has a lot of sodium in it, and is a stimulant, I,m going to look into Mag7 since I don't know what that is. I'll keep you posted. Also interesting comment on effect of Calcium tabs and constipation. Will explore this option as well.

follow up to last post
 

So with my WI# 6 on Fri, and no BM by Thurs, I resorted to 2 tabs ducolax and lost 3.4 lbs for the weigh in. Am still looking for better management and will keep you posted.