i have had my problems too with constipation. what has helped me is... morning; Bigelow green tea with ginger and probiotics, senna stool softener -2 pills, nature valley magnesium citrate 2 pills, Colace- 2pills, then at night before bed i mix powder MiraLAX and Bigelow lavender chamomile probiotic tea ...plus my dietician has me drinking around 100 oz of fluid every day...i try to exercise everyday-walk, go to gym twice a week, SOMETHING...i was going every 3 or 4 days between poops but in the last 3 weeks i go almost every day

I hate to be simplistic, but having dealt with this all my life, I find that I can keep it largely under control with 100 oz. of liquid a day (that includes the milk you put in your cereal), fairly strenuous exercise (i.e. not a gentle walk) for an hour, six days a week, and once a week take Phillips Milk of Magnesia (yeah... I know it's gross, but have something like pretzels or crackers nearby to take immediately after swallowing the nasty stuff and the taste doesn't seem to linger - do try to swallow it all at once and try to take the maximum dosage). Good luck!

I've had luck with Dulcolax (bisacodyl) - but have to limit the times I use it because it is habit forming. I do avoid hard stool by taking Miralax each night before bed. It's a battle....... Days where nothing happens, and then one day when too much happens. I'm sure you know what I mean.......

I've also tried magnesium citrate in liquid form in a bottle. That does the trick, but it is NOT gentle! The powder magnesium citrate, like Calm, I would avoid. Way too strong. That stuff is just for colonoscopy prep.

You can get magnesium citrate liquid again. Search for the Bluebonnet brand.

I noticed that you mentioned taking Reglan. I would avoid that. Very constipating.
You can also try some type of oil at bedtime. Mineral, olive. I do 1 tbsp. Not as bad as you would think. Pretty much tasteless.
Smooth Move Tea will also do it for me. How long you let it steep determines how strong it will be. I’m pretty resistant and it works for me in a matter of hours. If I’m really backed up, I’ll drink a cup of warm prune juice with a pat of melted butter first. Gag! But, between those two things I can almost guarantee, you will definitely have relief soon!

Gastrochic,

I know what you're going through. One thing that helps is Miralax - one dose every night with water at bedtime. It won't work miracles, but at a minimum I think it prevents hard stools and lessens the need for stimulant laxatives. I wait about 5 days between taking a stimulant. I'd like to stop that but don't have much of a choice. anyway, things go more smoothly if you take my meaning.

Good luck. It's very frustrating.

Joe

Constipation virtually stopped when I stopped taking Ondansetron for nausea. I am not a health care professional and not suggesting this will work for you as I am just sharing my personal experience. Please check with your health care professional before changing any medications.

When you are constipated, sometimes adding fiber supplements just adds to the bulk in your system which can be a problem if you have hard stools. What works for me, recommended by my GI Dr, is fiber twice a day (psyllium or Citrucel) close to lunch and dinner time. (My Dr said Citrucel is less likely to cause excess gas.) In between the fiber, about mid-day, I take a dose of Miralax. I've found I can take slightly less than recommended for best results. I was also taking 4 oz of prune juice in the morning but stopped because of it's high sugar content.

Apparently an old midwife remedy for constipation for expectant mothers.

Has anyone used enemas regularly for elimination?