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My stool softeners and miralax aren't working, how come?

Posted by pb0o7 @pb0o7, Mar 21, 2023

I've been struggling with stomach issues for a long time now and it runs in my family. I went to the hospital recently and had to have a GI clean out through an NG tube. When I was discharged from the hospital they told me to take one stool softener at night and one stool softener in the morning and one capful of miralax each day. But it stopped working. I'm in a crazy amount of pain. I had a CT scan done when I was in the hospital, it showed I had stool stuck almost half way through my colon. But before my stay in the hospital, I had been to many other hospitals. No one could find anything, until I had that CT scan. iv had both scopes done, but the doctor didn't see anything wrong. I have no clue if it has something to do with it but I have really bad hashimoto. I have no idea what to do now. Please help me with what I should do next. Please and thank you.

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riflemanz64 | @riflemanz64 | May 5 8:02am

Try Miralax and fiber powder mixed together. Shredded wheat and bran is good along with brussel sprouts.

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notmoff | @notmoff | May 6 9:41am
In reply to @sanok1957 "I have Low Thyroid and taking Levothyroxine for almost 30 years now. I had most of..." + (show)
@sanok1957

I have Low Thyroid and taking Levothyroxine for almost 30 years now. I had most of the classic symptoms, especially constipation. I discovered that I need to take the Levo very early in the morning, more than an hour before I actually get out of bed. Of course, on an empty stomach and only with water. Also, be sure that you are storing the Levo away from heat and light and moisture. Best to keep it in the original RX bottle. My go-to breakfast is 1 minute Oatmeal with whole chia seeds, ground flax seeds, added fiber cereal (Bob’s Red Mill) and a small amount of nuts, honey, and milk.
Start with 1/2 serving of the oats, 1 teaspoon of the fiber/ flax/ chia. Add 1/3 cup of water. Microwave for 1 minute. Then add the honey & nuts. (Honey is more healthy if not microwaved.) Add a splash of milk and a dab of butter to your taste. I also change it up by adding Vanilla Extract or some other flavoring on occasion, and changing the nuts to suit my mood. The amounts of the additions can be customized for your needs and tastes at any time. Chia seeds absorb lots of moisture in your gut, so they help keep the waste matter soft. (Drink lots of water to help it do that) Also note: ground Flax seeds should be stored in the fridge. By doing this, I went from a BM every 3 to 4 days, to EVERY MORNING! I hope this helps you, too!

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Thanks for the helpful ideas.

I have heard that like flax seed, chia seed should be ground and both stored in the freezer to reduce oxidation.

I use the full 2T suggested dose of CALM in the evening, perhaps because my elongated colon creates an extra challenge.

I need to drink more water.

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marquis113 | @marquis113 | May 6 5:36pm
In reply to @dragonfly123 "drink more water, lots more water....add electrolyte powder, magnesium and potassium, if you have hashimoto's vitamin..." + (show)
@dragonfly123

drink more water, lots more water....add electrolyte powder, magnesium and potassium, if you have hashimoto's vitamin D3, and you might want to add a good multivitamin, including the B complex, particularly folic acid and B12

also I found that things like miralax and stool softener, should be used occasionally, not all the time, once I stopped using them, things got a lot better

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Stay away from B complex if you have neuropathy. I found that a good probiotics has helped. I also take lactulose.

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dragonfly123 | @dragonfly123 | May 6 9:22pm

ACTUALLY most of the B vitamins help neuropathy, and in part, neuropathy can be caused by a deficit of B vitamims, B 12 in particular, neurons need it...so to say that, above it's the opposite of good medical advice. I don't say this to armchair warrior argue or dis ya; but anyone reading my have neuropathy, stop their B complex, and it gets worse...
to agree with you, B 6; large quantities over time, can contribute to neuropathy...so maybe part way right, but/and...

Lewis

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | May 7 7:28am
In reply to @sallyw133 "Miralax will draw water into your colon but will not make things move. You can do..." + (show)
@sallyw133

Miralax will draw water into your colon but will not make things move. You can do a stimulant lax like dulcolax or senocot which will usually produce a big clean out. Sometimes I add-in just a half tsp of Calm magnesium powder with the Miralax. The combo works for me. I do Miralax in am and calm in pm.

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Hey Sally, what is Calm magnesium? I've tried magnesium to treat CIC and it's all or nothing. I'm sure I'm using the wrong stuff or the wrong dose, maybe both.

Thanks! Joe

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1 reply
sallyw133 | @sallyw133 | May 7 7:53am
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Hey Sally, what is Calm magnesium? I've tried magnesium to treat CIC and it's all or..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Hey Sally, what is Calm magnesium? I've tried magnesium to treat CIC and it's all or nothing. I'm sure I'm using the wrong stuff or the wrong dose, maybe both.

Thanks! Joe

Jump to this post

It’s called Calm Magnesium powder. It’s basically mag citrate but I like it bc it’s a powder not a pill so you can take any amt. Right now I’m in kind of a “mess” so I’m experimenting, as we often are with this! I do use Mestinon, a pres med I take to help “move” things, but I’m adding in 1/4 cap if Miralax in am and 1/2 tsp Calm at night. Those are both really low doses both with the Mestinon are starting to work for me. You may need higher amts of both or one. Are youbseeing a gi? If not, might want to consider as advice on here helps but really should seek professional help & possible testing for slow motility. Good luck!

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