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Need to get off miralax

Digestive Health | Last Active: Oct 10 9:56am | Replies (32)

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@farmersmith

Hi ch783e933 @user_ch783e933

I actually have redundant colon and many who have it use drugs like Miramax. For me it wasn't worth it so I did the following:

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 he bet that I would find what worked for me. How to keep a longer than normal pipe with consistent moisture…. My ND also said because my condition was physical, attention would be needed from now.
I tried laxatives and they are not consistent and have side effects like bloating, etc. 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. Don’t give up because it took me 4 months to feel I could depend on being regular. It is worth going natural.
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 take them when I go to bed and once when I get up to pee. I include prunes/prune juice, winter squash, sweet potatoes, rhubarb etc in my diet. I eat cups of steamed vegetables each day. I like to grind 2T chia, 1 T sesame seeds and 2 T flax seeds, then soak in prune juice overnight. I add a T of carob now since it can help regularity. Take half in the morning and half at night. Throw sugar out along with processed and refined foods. Look up foods and drinks that constipate and give them up. Drink lot of water starting with a quart of hot water in the morning - boyscouts. I use warmed up diluted chicken broth at times too. It is soothing to my stomach. 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.
Check out 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 constipation. 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, don't give up and blessings, @farmersmith

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Replies to "Hi ch783e933 @user_ch783e933 I actually have redundant colon and many who have it use drugs like..."

I had a totally unmedicated mid forceps delivery after induction and there is no way in hell I would ever have a colonoscopy without sedation. Wouldn't do that to a dog. I've had 3 colonoscopies, my colon is not redundant.

Can't eat fibrous foods without great care and certainly can't take any fibrous stuff like psyllium ets. metamucil is totally out of the question. When the stool thickens, it slows motility and increases effort to expel it. You can't do that with a persistent hemorrhoid. At my age, hemorrhoidectomy is totally not doable and it doesn't really work anyway. Most of them come back, weeks of real pain, potential infection on surgical site, lots of addictive pain killers which worsen constipation and so another hemorrhoid is born. Not gonna happen. So what worked for you won't work for me, but thanks for the info.