| blackberrybunny
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Thanks for all the tips, everbody!
My mom bought a big jar of that Miralax, but it didn't help. There is no way she's gonna drink aloe vera juice either, LOL! But lately, her plumbing seems to be, um, 'flowing' again, heh heh. I feel so much better for her! But as her history, this isn't going to last... she'll be having problems again soon. It's from her medicines, we believe, but she needs them, so it's a lose-lose situation..........
thanks again for all your help you guys ! |
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Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:25 pm |
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| dragonessa
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BBB, you could really give Vitamin C a try.... start with 2000 mg and go up in 1000g until 'bowel tolerance' (meaning too loose stools)
FIrst and only thing that has ever worked for me. I am at 9000 daily and my Doc says to keep it up. Its healthy for many reasons.
best wishes! |
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Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:45 pm |
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| Tayloresque
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| Flax seeds and pumpkin seeds may be able to help. Sorry about the late chime in, but I just recently joined this board. I hope your mom is feeling better. |
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Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:44 pm |
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| caffrey
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| As a last resort she could try Castor Oil - that will clean you out faster than you can say 'bowel movement' but I wouldn't call it the most pleasant experience I've ever had! |
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Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:24 pm |
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| barbaras
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| I see that somebody mentioned Miralax as unsuccessful. But I have been constipated for year due to a medication and it was truly a miracle laxative for me. You need to give it at least 3 days to work. Also, are you drinking at least 8 cups of water a day? |
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Thu Jun 14, 2007 3:38 am |
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| poke
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1) Go to the emergency room and they will exray her belly for an obstruction. No big deal. They don't have to look at anything personal.
2) Ditto on the Miralax...it takes 3 days.
3) This diet has more protein then I'm accustomed to, so I had this experience this week. So, I have to go back on probiotics daily. Let me explain:
If she has been on antibiotics after surgery, then she needs to undo their effect on her digestive system. Simply put, antibiotics kill the bacteria in the intestine that digest the food and constipation results.
Over the counter Probiotics undo the antiobiotics effects.
Go to the local vitamin store or health food store and they will have an array of choices. Keep them in the fridge. That alone works for me, maybe adding a strong cup of coffee once in a while. I caution against eating cheese. I love it but its a binder.
Dr A mentions starting a meal with fiber supplement.
Fiber-Sure is good. That might help too.
Good luck!! |
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Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:30 pm |
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| annecolorgreen
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I'm a nurse and I deal with elderly who take lots of pain meds.
#1 Make sure she is drinking WATER--not sure about the diet drinks, but I guess it could be a problem.
#2 Make sure she gets fiber in her diet. Steel cut oats for breakfast is a good way to start the day.
#3 STOOL SOFTENERS should be taken on a regular basis (colace). Start with one in the morning and evening and increase in number up to a max of FOUR twice a day.
#4 Miralax is awesome. Yes, it takes time to work but does not cause cramping and other problems. It could be taken in addition to the colace. It must be taken EVERY day.
I hope this helps. If it doesn't, she may need to look for another doctor who can help her (gastroenterologist???).
~~anne |
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Mon Jun 25, 2007 1:58 am |
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| blackberrybunny
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Thanks for all of your great tips and advice! I have been seeing a commercial on TV about Miralax. However, it didn't seem to make a difference one way or another for my mom.
I forgot to mention that along with the Lortabs, she is also on a pain patch--I think it is called Duragesic? Every other day, a new patch. I think these 2 meds are causing the problems. She has been having IDD (spinal decompression) therapy, which hasn't helped either, so she's still gotta have those pain meds....
She is scheduled for a colonoscopy in three weeks. Hopefully, it won't find anything bad, but might at the same time yield the problem so we can get her plumbing working well again! |
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Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:20 pm |
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| City Girl
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| How long did she take the Miralax? It's not an overnight cure. Like Colace (docusate sodium) she needs to be taking it every day. The idea here is PREVENTION. As AnneColorGreen suggested, she should work up to four Colace per day, and take Miralax every day, along with high fiber and water intake. Give it three or four weeks before concluding that it doesn't work. Glad she's having a colonoscopy to check for underlying issues. |
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Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:29 am |
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| jojo1781
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I know her pain! i suffer from IBS and I first started this diet taking 4 tsp of benefiber 2 xs a day and that was ok untill my body got used to it. There have been times when I wouldnt have a bm for over a week. now I disregard the daily reccomendation for flax. on top of my normal diet I eat at least 8 tbs of flax a day. it is high in fiber and high in (good) oils and guess what? you need oil to poop good! I also drink 80 or more ounces of h2o a day. (I alternate weeks of taking benefiber so I do not become used to it all the time) Without the extra water I do not have good results.
I also keep glycerin suppositories at all times in case of emergency (like your poor mom not being able to go and being impacted) as well as fleet brand laxatives.
my daughter (poor thing is only 2) has always had trouble passing bm since 6 months old. I also bought this stuff called Nupercainal which is a numbing cream (It works VERY GOOD, i used it after I had my son who was 8 lbs 12 oz -vaginal delivery- so I could go to the bathroom without the fear of pulling stitches lol) and I put it on her bottom so she would not feel so much pain when trying to pass a hard stool. she takes glycolax (prescription version of miralax same strength though) and with out it she would be in hell! I do not use this anymore as she is now doing fine on just the glycolax |
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Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:10 pm |
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| simismom
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I started SB a week ago and am doing fine, but it was going on 6 days before I had my first BM. In truth, I was so thrilled when they came out with a non-prescription version of Miralax. As I have colon cancer in my family I've had more colonoscopies than normal, my next (in Sept) after only 2 years as I had 2 polyps removed.
Others are correct! It takes sometimes more than a few days for Miralax to work, but the script version is what my gastroenterologist prescribed for me two years ago and it did the trick. Hang in there.
Also, it's true about FLAX and flax seeds... they're in Uncle Sam's cereal which is what I was eating daily for breakfast... but for less expense, now I buy the bulk and add it to whatever... salads, etc. VERY HEALTHFUL!!!!!
One thing I've learned is that you should NEVER neglect symptoms like that, and if your mom is 50 or older she should certainly be having her first colonoscopy... as one person said, the process is totally painless, the drink... not so pleasant, but well worth keeping up with your health (and age!!).
Hope Mom is doing better!!!
simismom
BTW, POLYETHYLENEGLYCOL (sorry for the spelling) that someone suggested IS the generic version of Mira Lax, and you don't need a script now since it came out. Tell your mom to keep taking it EVERY night and it will work, and it's not harsh on your system.
I tried bicodyls as well, every kind of stool softener with no success. |
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Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:35 pm |
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| annecolorgreen
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Quote: after only 2 years as I had 2 polyps removed.
Simismom--just a recommendation--take a baby aspirin every day and it will help with the polyp formation (according to my GI). It helps with other health issues too. Obviously, don't do it if you have bleeding problems.
~~anne |
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Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:04 pm |
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| simismom
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Thanks, Anne. My GI insisted that I have the colonoscopy after 2 years (instead of 5) because of the polyps — my mom had colon cancer but it was diagnosed and treated early.
I do have bouts w/ constipation from time to time, and I think the elimination of morning (healthy) cereals on P1 is not helping me, so I had to take a couple of dulcolax which I don't like to take unless it's an emergency.
My husband has taken baby aspirin every day for years... though I have no heart (or any other) problems, it can't hurt. I will ask my GI what he thinks of that.
sm |
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Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:59 pm |
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| valeen
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Hi I am just getting back on south beach after a long time away.So after reading about your mom I had to agree about the aloe vera juice.It is what I have been using for several years now and the first time was when I was on south beach.I was so bound up and just could not got to the washroom.I used the juice and was regular by the next day.You can get it at walmart or even a health food store it last a very long time and works like a charm and is so good for so many other health issues as well.I have crohn's so I have to be very careful not to bind up.
As for my new attempt with south beach I am now a type two diabetic and would like to hear from others who are on the diet.I lost 60 lbs three years ago and have gained it all back and now I need to do it again.This is the only diet that has ever worked for me so it is what I need to do this time again.If anyone out there wants to tlak or pm me I would love to have a chat or so with you. |
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Mon May 05, 2008 10:53 pm |
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