Problem with Chronic constipation

@william1543 So sorry to hear!
I also tried olive oil - upon going to sleep and/or waking - to no avail.
I think I'll try Magnesium Citrate liquid next, even though I know it is not for "regular/daily" use.

So many of us suffer from chronic constipation = all ages, but mostly those of us over 70yo. You would think medical science would pay attention and find a solution - think of all the people they would help while making a ton of money!! I've tried MiraLAX, Metamucil, Benefiber, occasional Milk of Magnesia and Dulcolax, enemas, and none have provided sustainable relief. Colonoscopy was clean, except my GI doc said I had a tight anal sphincter; but no helpful suggestions. Good idea, someone suggested, to find a geriatric doctor. . . and I agree with other comments, that most doctors don't listen, just prescribe more meds and tests.

@berekann: you didn’t include stool softeners or 64oz. filtered water on your list of items for constipation relief. Dosage: Stool softeners 240mg at bedtime with full glass of filtered water. Hope this helps!

@dbamos1945 thanks - I’ve read several places recently that Colace doesn’t work, so don’t bother- but maybe there are other ones that do? I’ll look into it!

I had mentioned a few months ago that I’m on MiraLAX powder missed with magnesium powder at 6:30 pm without fail and lots of water. I also get up at 5 am without fail take Linzess with lots of warmed water like 6 cups or more. Half hour later eat my breakfast. Eat well and drink fluids and active. I started on the “Vibrant Capsule” in January. It is a metal battery operated pill that you turn on in a pod then you take it nightly. It stimulates your intestines and doesn’t come on until it reaches the large intestines. It vibrates and stimulates peristalsis the normal rhythmic movement of a normal intestine. I have some adhesions from history of endometriosis. Long story on that! I have no to slow movement due to adhesions and lack peristalsis and for whatever unknown reasons, im hypothyroid but it is managed. Im on NO pain meds or other meds that slows your gut down. My gut shut down at age 36 and I’m almost 66. Well this Vibrant’s Capsule has helped me actually get some of my stool into my large intestine and with all the other stuff I take I’d say I’ve had a 40-50% improvement maybe 4 out of 7 days. To me this is significant. I did a Sitz study before I started all the stuff for constipation and those pills I took barely moved and the CT’s and MRI’s I’ve had showed lots of poop near and around my Cecum. I can tell when the vibrant capsule gets there it has to work hard. I can hear it and feel it. I am normal weight but don’t have a big stomach. It’s 89 dollars a month. It’s expensive. I’m on Medicare and of course they don’t cover it. The company is called Eversana. The Major thing remember is that it it a metal pill with a tiny weeny battery in it so you CANT HAVE AN MRI!!!! I wear a medical alert bracelet that says no MRI and have a medical card that explains all this in my wallet. MRI’S are powerful magnets and they would pull the vibrant pills right out your intestines and cause major bleeding and possibly death. If you need and MRI you’d have to take serious amounts of laxatives, enemy’s and have c rays to make sure you have zero caps in your intestines. You take one capsule 5 out of seven days. I skip Tuesdays and Saturdays. I get my Linzess for free now so I can justify paying for the Vibrant Capsule. The Linzess wasn’t working enough and I didn’t want to switch to the other Med that starts with an M that can cause suicidal ideations, so forget that! I live frugally so I can manage to pay for this. Maybe by the time I’m 75 all the meds and this pill with be generic and I will be rich, LOL!!!!
Yes to avoid a colon resection is a pain but I know people that have had one and now they poop on themselves and are afraid to eat out. At least once I go in the morning I’m done. Takes a lot to get me there though for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look into it and if you try it let me know your progress. My gastro Dr won’t prescribe it. He’s a chicken and just wants to do Colonoscopies and endoscopies by the millions to make a big buck. I get my prescription from a GP. You will have to Google Drs in your area that prescribe it. There aren’t many and I live near the Houston area. I’d say it’s been around about 3-4 years and FDA approved.

This seems counterintuitive and I was really surprised when my GI doc told me - too much fiber actually causes constipation. When you are constipated, you should decrease the fiber, because it clogs up the gut. Decrease fiber, increase fluids and use miralax during those times. When you have diarrhea is when you should take in fiber, as it will firm up your stool. I was also told that same thing by my PCP. Has been working for me.

@lylii The problem is that some changes take 3 days to work. Miralax worked wonderfully for me for several days, all alone. Then, soon after that, it turned into a loose stool, coming out whenever it wanted to. So you quit Miralax and once again you have constipation. None of it makes any sense.

@phxbarb Yes, I understand. I've experienced the same thing. Hard to know what to do! Luckily, mine will go a little longer on the changes, so I've been able to manage mine a little easier. I hope you can find something that works - it is so frustrating!

phxbarb ,
I recently made a "sea change" type discovery about my constipation. I'm 93 and have been fighting it for many years. Not one of the zillion doctors I've had suggested Yogurt. I recently started taking Yoplait Yogurt , one a day, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with 12 ozs. of water, and was amazed by the results. Instead of the push and pray operation my stomach has been operating like a Swiss watch with almost daily, normal BM's.
No, I don't work for Yoplait,
Hope this helps.
Tadueo