I was very constipated during oral chemo, so I was given a prescription for lactolose. I took it along with Senna-s for stool softener. Only once did I resort to magnesium citrate and it caused explosive diarrhea, but it certainly cleaned out my colon.

Sounds silly I know, but my doctor put me on Milk of Magnesia with warm water and that night I exploded... cleans you out at least.
Now, I take dried prunes and dried fruit before bed with a glass of water and it seems to work ok in the morning. No fun I know... good luck

It's just cruel to have CIC💩 I get x-rays every few months, for past 6+ yrs, only one time I was actually not on overload, every other time, the X-rays showed moderate to severe fecal load. I also have elevated calcium and Hyperparathyroidism (surgery is next month), it has really reduced my smooth muscle function in my intestines, small and large. So, I have to keep myself almost complete diarrhea, since I have no muscle contractions to push out the poop. I take miralax every day, 1-2x , 3 capfuls. I am terrified of getting a blockage in anus, where digital removal is required, by me, to dig out a hole big enough for the rest of the poop to come out. I also don't like having a small bowel partial obstruction, that nasal gastric tube is awful!!!!! At this point I consider diarrhea my best friend. Guess I am very lucky to be retired and not need to leave the house much.

I am the same way. GI doctor finally put me on Linnea’s. It has and is working wonders so far.

I can recommend a home remedy for constipation that my mom always gave me. I'm 78 and still use it. It's natural but may be a little harsh. It's a teaspoon or more, if needed, of baking soda (the kind you cook with – Arm and Hammer) dissolved in a glass of water. Drink the whole glass. You may want to squeeze a little lemon juice in it to make it taste better. It tastes awful, but it works. Stay near the bathroom. It works fairly fast. By the way, this also helps get rid of gas and bloating. After it works, try and drink a lot of water to keep from being dehydrated.

Eating certain foods also helps such as prunes, fruit, nuts etc. But you probably already know that.
I hope this helps you.
PML

Have you tried prune juice three times a day? Or an enema. I have dealt with constipation over the years. And when nothing else works I use a saline enema. Works every time. Thank God. Good luck. Let me know how you make out. 😊😊😊😊😊

Hi @razelrosey,
Disclaimer: This is only my experience going natural. I have used organic, integrative, functional, holistic Naturopathic doctor's advice along with my MD’s since the early 1980's. There is science in alternatives too. Because I work closely with my ND, he told me to study the Migrating Motor Complex and Osmotic Gradient and bet that I would find what worked for me. I had a longer thank normal pipe that needed consistent moisture….
I have tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. And all say for occasional use. They disrupt the system if take continuously. I liked a response from a co-redundant colon person: “It’s physical” so regular constipation suggestions may not work.
Last Dec the doc had me do non sedated colonoscopy. He could get through my colon as I watched on TV. I had had a baby years ago (natural and could stand pain) so figured I could stand it – it was no big deal. Most people in world don't get put out. Very interesting and it helped allow the scope to get through because I relaxed. No wonder I had been constipation on and off starting in my teens. I’m now in my early 70’s.
OptiMag and K2+ Potassium are great supps. I often take them when I go to bed and once if I get up to pee. Be sure to include prunes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in your diet. I like to grind 2T chia, T of sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. Take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out, processed and refined foods and drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - Boy Scouts. Coffee and Smooth Move are my back ups. I don't like coffee and never have drunk it much but it usually works for me in a pinch. Thankfully I only need coffee a few times a month.
Helpful research of biological processes that take place in our gut:
- Migrating Motor complex which is the electroactivity in the GI tract during meals and fasting
- Osmotic gradient. If too much water is pulled into the colon, diarrhea results. If not enough water is pulled into the colon constipation results. Balance of minerals is important. Magnesium, potassium and sodium brings water into the colon. I have found balancing these help prevent constipated. I have to watch my calcium intake because it tends to encourage constipation. Calcium carbonate seems to be the most constipating. I depend on blood work from time to time to make sure my minerals are balanced.
Good luck, @farmersmith

Thank you for the information that you sent to me many of the things that you’ve talked about. I have tried right now. I’m under control because I’m taking so much medication that if I wasn’t under control, I would be in serious trouble still working on my issues and will continue to work on my

I read all the comments and don’t really know which one to reply to as everyone seems to have chronic constipation and a good suggestion for its relief. I must say I was glad to hear that someone else had a negative experience with Metamucil. My gastroenterologist swears by it and I can say it worked for the first week or two after my colonoscopy cleanse, but it then started to feel like it was actually backing me up more. I would take stool softeners to help and when I was finally able to go, there were mucousy looking chunks in my BM’s. I could only assume that is the fiber and Metamucil?? Has anyone ever experienced this because I would love to know if my assumption is right or not. My gastroenterologist is harder to get in touch with than the president, so I’m kind of on my own in this also. I am afraid to develop a dependence on laxatives and even stool softeners, but it gets so uncomfortable, as you all know. After the weirdness of the stool produced by Metamucil, I stopped taking it. I’m now eating so much fiber every day, I could fall into the “too much” category. I believe that’s over 70 g a day and I think I better start calculating because I am eating a lot! So, I know it’s an old remedy but I decided to try it nonetheless… Prune juice. I read start with 4 ounces but of course I started with the entire 7 1/2 ounce small can the first time. Honestly, it was blissful to go about five hours later with a little rumbling but little stomach pain and and be able to fully empty my bowels. That’s not something I feel often! This has only been for a week, and I have continued to take at least 6 to 7 ounces daily. After the first time, it hasn’t acted quickly, but within a day, I am having the closest to a normal BM I have had in years. I start the day Orowheat gut health bread that has 24 g of fiber in a two slice serving and then oatmeal with berries, walnuts and chopped dates. I can’t seem to keep fruit fresh unless I want to go to the store every day, so I’ve leaned more towards dried fruit, which is helping the bread and oatmeal to do the trick . If anyone has any other suggestions, I would love to hear them. I’m hoping with this concoction I’ve got going. I can keep going for a while! Good luck to everyone out there with whatever relief you are able to find. You would have to deal with this to know how miserable it is, and I’m excited for this group because this is not exactly something you can talk about with your neighbors.☹️

Metamucil (even though I drink plenty of water) makes me so gassy that I feel like I can’t leave my home. Prune juice I have tried, but just 4 oz gives me intestinal cramping, just too uncomfortable. Miralax seems to work but I can’t seem to get on a regular schedule with it. Taking it every third day is not enough and every other day is too much. Also the Miralax doesn’t do much for motility. Is a good stool softener but I really have trouble emptying my bowel.