1. < Digestive Health

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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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 21, 2023
In reply to @jerrysgirl3 "I have tried Miralax, Dulcilax, stool softeners, drinking more water (although now I can't because of..." + (show)
@jerrysgirl3

I have tried Miralax, Dulcilax, stool softeners, drinking more water (although now I can't because of a major issue with low blood sodium). Nothing has helped. Phillips Milk of Magnesia helps a little bit takes a long time to work! I even take Betaine HCL with Pepsin to help metabolize my food since my sigmoid colon was taken. I've had issues my whole life. I have recently used a Fleet liquid glycerin suppository (a little plastic bottle) which worked OK. But went to Gastro doctor this week as I'm really concerned with "lack of movement" and was given Motegrity (prucalopride) and took it yesterday at 2:30 pm and by 5 pm I was on the phone with his office having just had a bowel movement that was not forceful or explosive but emptied me!! I'm hoping now that I'm cleared out I won't be having such bad problems anymore. I will not rely on pills or meds to help me go other then once in a while. Just as information, I have always found taking laxatives dehydrated me, thus making my condition worse!

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jerrysgirl,

Are you using the Dulcolax with bisacodyl (the stimulant version)? That's the aggressive approach. I take one dose of Miralax at bedtime, then take Dulcolax a few hours later. I'll almost certainly have BMs the next day. Regular use of bisacodyl though is not recommended.

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @debstummy2023 "Hi, so what does Motegrity do?? I've never heard of it. Thanks, Deb" + (show)
@debstummy2023

Hi, so what does Motegrity do?? I've never heard of it. Thanks, Deb

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Motegrity is supposed to work by stimulating the peristaltic motion of your intestines, that is, the normal contractions that keep things moving along. Like a lot of the prescription constipation meds, it is very expensive.

I've used it but can't say it helps a lot. But everyone is different and if you can afford it and your Dr agrees, may be worth a try.

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1 reply
irr4et | @irr4et | Oct 22, 2023

To the poor soul who has Parkinson’s Disease, bless your heart. I have had slow bowels too so I’ll share what my drs have advised me to do: stay on Miralax 1/2 glass am, other half pm. Take 2 Mag Oxide that has some calcium in with it, at bedtime. Eat Kiwi fruit or two prunes and ground Chiaseed for two types of fiber, each am. Drink half ur wt in filtered water that has minerals. Walk a lot. If no BM’s, start taking Senacot-S wh has both softener and stimulant. Or Colace 2 in 1 - same.

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1 reply
irr4et | @irr4et | Oct 22, 2023

One more thing- if Senacot-S doesn’t wk, as your dr for a trial of Linzess or Amitzia.

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foundryrat743 | @foundryrat743 | Oct 23, 2023
In reply to @irr4et "To the poor soul who has Parkinson’s Disease, bless your heart. I have had slow bowels..." + (show)
@irr4et

To the poor soul who has Parkinson’s Disease, bless your heart. I have had slow bowels too so I’ll share what my drs have advised me to do: stay on Miralax 1/2 glass am, other half pm. Take 2 Mag Oxide that has some calcium in with it, at bedtime. Eat Kiwi fruit or two prunes and ground Chiaseed for two types of fiber, each am. Drink half ur wt in filtered water that has minerals. Walk a lot. If no BM’s, start taking Senacot-S wh has both softener and stimulant. Or Colace 2 in 1 - same.

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Thank you for your advice! I do prunes every day, but Kiwi and Chiaseed I have not tried! Parkinson’s can be very difficult to deal with, as it is, so any advice I can get, to help with slow peristalsis is a bonus! My Doc stated Miralax, and a fiber supplement ( like Metamucil ), every day, as his only advice.,Thanks for your kind words and excellent advice! Doug

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2 replies
irr4et | @irr4et | Oct 23, 2023

I do agree with ur Dr that u should stay on Miralax.

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irr4et | @irr4et | Oct 23, 2023

And u are welcome! Many prayers for you!

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irr4et | @irr4et | Oct 25, 2023

Have you been checked for parasites? They can cause the walls of the intestines and colon to not move much.
Please drink half ur wt in filtered water each day. Also, a high quality magnesium oxide has a good laxative effect. Don’t buy cheap supplements by the way. Look for the GMP seal on all supplements. Look for ratings on the internet. Avoid ingredients like Titanium Oxide and dyes covering tablets.

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debstummy2023 | @debstummy2023 | Oct 25, 2023
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Motegrity is supposed to work by stimulating the peristaltic motion of your intestines, that is, the..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Motegrity is supposed to work by stimulating the peristaltic motion of your intestines, that is, the normal contractions that keep things moving along. Like a lot of the prescription constipation meds, it is very expensive.

I've used it but can't say it helps a lot. But everyone is different and if you can afford it and your Dr agrees, may be worth a try.

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Thanks

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csage1010 (Sue) | @csage1010 | Oct 26, 2023
In reply to @foundryrat743 "Thank you for your advice! I do prunes every day, but Kiwi and Chiaseed I have..." + (show)
@foundryrat743

Thank you for your advice! I do prunes every day, but Kiwi and Chiaseed I have not tried! Parkinson’s can be very difficult to deal with, as it is, so any advice I can get, to help with slow peristalsis is a bonus! My Doc stated Miralax, and a fiber supplement ( like Metamucil ), every day, as his only advice.,Thanks for your kind words and excellent advice! Doug

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Chia seed has worked wonders for me where most other remedies failed. I make a pudding with 3 TBSP chia seeds and 1 cup liquid of choice. Let it sit refrigerated overnight. Add your favorite toppings. All kinds of chia pudding recipes on lines

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