How to Wean Off MiraLax

gastroenterologist is no help, he says it's fine to take every day. I'm a healthy 75 except for hemorrhoid I got that has put me on a course of misery. Then last December I had a bowel inflammation, nothing major, CT saw it but WBC wasn't elevated. NP in the overworked community hospital ER put me on augmentin, huge mistake. After five pills, two days worth, I developed a systemic yeast infection that required diflucan and destroyed my bowel biome. I literally couldn't poop so gastroenterologist put me on a cap of miralax in the morning. I changed my diet by reducing fiber somewhat, since that's what caused the inflammation. But because of the bowel biome, without miralax I get sliw motility and more difficult to pass stool, something I haven't had more than once or twice a year, and then the hemorrhoid blows up, it's horrible. So I can't stop the miralax.

Gastroenterologist offered zero advice on how to restore bowel biome, zero. What good are these people! I began taking acidophilus 1billion count tiny pearl. It gave me very unusual stool. I stopped it for 2 days and it's going back to normal now. So acidophilus might not be a good idea. During the antibiotic poisoning I tried Florastor, forget it, unbelievable gas and diarrhea. If I reduce the miralax, stool becomes more difficult to pass. Ordinarily, I'd just deal with it but at this point my anus has had it and I'm having a colonoscopy end of October which will turn it into a horrific ordeal. Trying to get it better for that prep. I know this is alot of info but it's all necessary to understand my dilemma.

Should I go to the Nutrition center and seek dietary guidance? I can't eat prunes, have to be cautious with the amount of fiber, eat salad every lunchtime, actually my diet is so repetitive and I don't enjoy eating at all now. I'm afraid to take the advice of a dietician who doesn't know me and how difficult it is to balance the fiber in my diet. The stinking hemorrhoid and concomitant anal issues are ruining my life. If anyone has had a similar problem, I'd like to know how you got off the miralax. I don't like how gassy it makes me at night. Thanks.

gastroenterologist is no help, he says it's fine to take every day. I'm a healthy 75 except for hemorrhoid I got that has put me on a course of misery. Then last December I had a bowel inflammation, nothing major, CT saw it but WBC wasn't elevated. NP in the overworked community hospital ER put me on augmentin, huge mistake. After five pills, two days worth, I developed a systemic yeast infection that required diflucan and destroyed my bowel biome. I literally couldn't poop so gastroenterologist put me on a cap of miralax in the morning. I changed my diet by reducing fiber somewhat, since that's what caused the inflammation. But because of the bowel biome, without miralax I get sliw motility and more difficult to pass stool, something I haven't had more than once or twice a year, and then the hemorrhoid blows up, it's horrible. So I can't stop the miralax.

Gastroenterologist offered zero advice on how to restore bowel biome, zero. What good are these people! I began taking acidophilus 1billion count tiny pearl. It gave me very unusual stool. I stopped it for 2 days and it's going back to normal now. So acidophilus might not be a good idea. During the antibiotic poisoning I tried Florastor, forget it, unbelievable gas and diarrhea. If I reduce the miralax, stool becomes more difficult to pass. Ordinarily, I'd just deal with it but at this point my anus has had it and I'm having a colonoscopy end of October which will turn it into a horrific ordeal. Trying to get it better for that prep. I know this is alot of info but it's all necessary to understand my dilemma.

Should I go to the Nutrition center and seek dietary guidance? I can't eat prunes, have to be cautious with the amount of fiber, eat salad every lunchtime, actually my diet is so repetitive and I don't enjoy eating at all now. I'm afraid to take the advice of a dietician who doesn't know me and how difficult it is to balance the fiber in my diet. The stinking hemorrhoid and concomitant anal issues are ruining my life. If anyone has had a similar problem, I'd like to know how you got off the miralax. I don't like how gassy it makes me at night. Thanks.

I have hypothyroidism which contributes to constipation. I drink approximately 50+ ounces of water everyday (my only drink in addition to my orange juice and coffee at breakfast daily. I have been eating the Mediterranean diet which has improved my bowel movements and have lost weight (180 lbs down to 156 lbs). I exercise 1 hr walking on treadmill on a weekly basis. My GI recommended me to take Myralax daily (3/4 cap) after I went to visit him to check my hemorrhoids that were bothering me. Since I bled from one of them he performed a Rubber Band Ligation right at the office same day of visit. Painless. Then he told me to take one Colace cap twice a day. So far I have been having good Bowel movements without discomfort. My nutritionist told me keep doing what I have been doing in addition to add Ground Flax Seed to my yogurt and oh boy you really get bowel movements but no diarrhea. Having hemorrhoids is not pleasant but all of this has been working for me. My quality of life definitely has changed, I am now 72 yrs old but sticking to everything I have been doing to avoid constipation changes anyone. Now if I travel the first things I make sure to put in my carry on are my constipation meds, before it was bathing suits, sun blockers and shorts. Everything changes but I prefer to feel good and not constipated. I wish all of you who are going through so much good health and a good life.

gastroenterologist is no help, he says it's fine to take every day. I'm a healthy 75 except for hemorrhoid I got that has put me on a course of misery. Then last December I had a bowel inflammation, nothing major, CT saw it but WBC wasn't elevated. NP in the overworked community hospital ER put me on augmentin, huge mistake. After five pills, two days worth, I developed a systemic yeast infection that required diflucan and destroyed my bowel biome. I literally couldn't poop so gastroenterologist put me on a cap of miralax in the morning. I changed my diet by reducing fiber somewhat, since that's what caused the inflammation. But because of the bowel biome, without miralax I get sliw motility and more difficult to pass stool, something I haven't had more than once or twice a year, and then the hemorrhoid blows up, it's horrible. So I can't stop the miralax.

Gastroenterologist offered zero advice on how to restore bowel biome, zero. What good are these people! I began taking acidophilus 1billion count tiny pearl. It gave me very unusual stool. I stopped it for 2 days and it's going back to normal now. So acidophilus might not be a good idea. During the antibiotic poisoning I tried Florastor, forget it, unbelievable gas and diarrhea. If I reduce the miralax, stool becomes more difficult to pass. Ordinarily, I'd just deal with it but at this point my anus has had it and I'm having a colonoscopy end of October which will turn it into a horrific ordeal. Trying to get it better for that prep. I know this is alot of info but it's all necessary to understand my dilemma.

Should I go to the Nutrition center and seek dietary guidance? I can't eat prunes, have to be cautious with the amount of fiber, eat salad every lunchtime, actually my diet is so repetitive and I don't enjoy eating at all now. I'm afraid to take the advice of a dietician who doesn't know me and how difficult it is to balance the fiber in my diet. The stinking hemorrhoid and concomitant anal issues are ruining my life. If anyone has had a similar problem, I'd like to know how you got off the miralax. I don't like how gassy it makes me at night. Thanks.

I am your age and have chronic constipation. I just wanted to clarify your routine so I do it correctly because I definitely am in need. My doctor told me to take Miralax but it’s not doable on a daily basis. It wasn’t predictable at all for me and it caused a lot of stomach pain. That said…Colace capsule twice daily, flaxseed in my yogurt, lots of water, and exercise daily. Is that your routine??? Also, it sounds like having hemorrhoids removed was a big help. I also have hemorrhoids and I’m seeing a new gastroenterologist in a few weeks. (I was surprised when I had an colonoscopy in March and my old doctor didn’t remove them at the time, as that is what my previous Gastro did when I had that exam.🤷‍♀️) if it will make a difference, I will push for it if he doesn’t suggest it. Sorry, just realized saying push for it sounds awkward.😬 thanks for the help and I’m glad you found something that works for you! I’m hoping the same!

First of all, you're talking to the wrong person. If he wants a thread, he should start one. Second, if you want to understand Miralax, how it works, how to take it, how safe it is, go to You Tube and watch Your Friendly Proctologist, Dr. Chung, in California. He has a recent video dedicated to Miralax, its safety and how to use it. If it caused you stomach pain, you may have been taking too much. He also pointed out something I didn't know and my gastroenterologist never mentioned: eat first before taking it. Miralax is designed to work with food in the digestive system. I was taking it first thing in the morning. I have since begun to take it after breakfast and might begin after lunch, which is a large meal for me. The Miralax then has something to work with, bind with, and is far less likely to cause extra bowel movements or even diarrhea. You begin with a teaspoon a day and go from there to the level your body accepts. It appears you may have taken it incorrectly. Just because something is OTC doesn't mean it doesn't have dosage and method of use instructions.

Further, as per hemorrhoidectomy or banding, these procedures are far from benign. I have heard, and read, many accounts where banding caused enormous discomfort, huge anxiety, pain for weeks, and the band actually fell off into the toilet the next day. If an internal hemorrhoid has an external expression, banding the internal will cause the external expression to BALLOON into an unwieldy, highly painful and very difficult to deal with hemorrhoid. Not all hemorrhoids "go away", nor is any procedure to rid onself of them a small thing to be taken lightly. Colorectal surgeons are the persons who should be doing these procedures, not gastroenterologists. Hemorrhoidectomies themselves are excruciating procedures that take WEEKS to heal. Infection is possible, extreme pain is ALWAYS the result, serious pain medication is REQUIRED for at least TWO weeks and WILL cause constipation which will, then, result in MORE hemorrhoids. This is SURGERY. No one gets up and goes on about their merry way. There are people who suffer horrifically after hemorrhoidectomy. The best colorectal surgeon/proctologist is going to tell you these things and be honest about the dreadful experience of trying to deal with the aftermath and, if s/he doesn't, that's not a doctor you can trust.

Colace is fine to take in lieu of Miralax although its safety in the long run is something I don't know, having studied Miralax and there is no safety issue with that medication. Flax seed is something a great many people take. If you have diverticulosis, it isn't a good idea. In fact, despite contrary information, seeds and certain fruits and even vegetables DO contribute to diverticulitis. If you doubt that, talk to a few ER physicians. Just as fiber is not the answer for many people who have slow bowel transit or IBS C because it makes things WORSE, although far too many doctors give very poor advice regarding it, the MYTH that food/diet does not create diverticulitis is RAMPANT and WRONG.

First of all, you're talking to the wrong person. If he wants a thread, he should start one. Second, if you want to understand Miralax, how it works, how to take it, how safe it is, go to You Tube and watch Your Friendly Proctologist, Dr. Chung, in California. He has a recent video dedicated to Miralax, its safety and how to use it. If it caused you stomach pain, you may have been taking too much. He also pointed out something I didn't know and my gastroenterologist never mentioned: eat first before taking it. Miralax is designed to work with food in the digestive system. I was taking it first thing in the morning. I have since begun to take it after breakfast and might begin after lunch, which is a large meal for me. The Miralax then has something to work with, bind with, and is far less likely to cause extra bowel movements or even diarrhea. You begin with a teaspoon a day and go from there to the level your body accepts. It appears you may have taken it incorrectly. Just because something is OTC doesn't mean it doesn't have dosage and method of use instructions.

Further, as per hemorrhoidectomy or banding, these procedures are far from benign. I have heard, and read, many accounts where banding caused enormous discomfort, huge anxiety, pain for weeks, and the band actually fell off into the toilet the next day. If an internal hemorrhoid has an external expression, banding the internal will cause the external expression to BALLOON into an unwieldy, highly painful and very difficult to deal with hemorrhoid. Not all hemorrhoids "go away", nor is any procedure to rid onself of them a small thing to be taken lightly. Colorectal surgeons are the persons who should be doing these procedures, not gastroenterologists. Hemorrhoidectomies themselves are excruciating procedures that take WEEKS to heal. Infection is possible, extreme pain is ALWAYS the result, serious pain medication is REQUIRED for at least TWO weeks and WILL cause constipation which will, then, result in MORE hemorrhoids. This is SURGERY. No one gets up and goes on about their merry way. There are people who suffer horrifically after hemorrhoidectomy. The best colorectal surgeon/proctologist is going to tell you these things and be honest about the dreadful experience of trying to deal with the aftermath and, if s/he doesn't, that's not a doctor you can trust.

Colace is fine to take in lieu of Miralax although its safety in the long run is something I don't know, having studied Miralax and there is no safety issue with that medication. Flax seed is something a great many people take. If you have diverticulosis, it isn't a good idea. In fact, despite contrary information, seeds and certain fruits and even vegetables DO contribute to diverticulitis. If you doubt that, talk to a few ER physicians. Just as fiber is not the answer for many people who have slow bowel transit or IBS C because it makes things WORSE, although far too many doctors give very poor advice regarding it, the MYTH that food/diet does not create diverticulitis is RAMPANT and WRONG.

Right now, I’m regular and normal….but who knows for how long. During my C phase I took my Miralax with dinner nightly. No pain, just jello.

When C started my 1 external hemorrhoid became thrombosed! Omg…..the pain was indescribable. By the time I got to Urgent Care for incision (several days after it appeared) it burst on its own before I got on the exam table. I didn’t feel it burst. It took a few weeks to heal, but dissolved and so far hasn’t resurfaced. I saw a colorectal surgeon and there’s nothing left there.

This is my primary reason to avoid C. For now, diet, hydration and exercise are working. 🙏

gastroenterologist is no help, he says it's fine to take every day. I'm a healthy 75 except for hemorrhoid I got that has put me on a course of misery. Then last December I had a bowel inflammation, nothing major, CT saw it but WBC wasn't elevated. NP in the overworked community hospital ER put me on augmentin, huge mistake. After five pills, two days worth, I developed a systemic yeast infection that required diflucan and destroyed my bowel biome. I literally couldn't poop so gastroenterologist put me on a cap of miralax in the morning. I changed my diet by reducing fiber somewhat, since that's what caused the inflammation. But because of the bowel biome, without miralax I get sliw motility and more difficult to pass stool, something I haven't had more than once or twice a year, and then the hemorrhoid blows up, it's horrible. So I can't stop the miralax.

Gastroenterologist offered zero advice on how to restore bowel biome, zero. What good are these people! I began taking acidophilus 1billion count tiny pearl. It gave me very unusual stool. I stopped it for 2 days and it's going back to normal now. So acidophilus might not be a good idea. During the antibiotic poisoning I tried Florastor, forget it, unbelievable gas and diarrhea. If I reduce the miralax, stool becomes more difficult to pass. Ordinarily, I'd just deal with it but at this point my anus has had it and I'm having a colonoscopy end of October which will turn it into a horrific ordeal. Trying to get it better for that prep. I know this is alot of info but it's all necessary to understand my dilemma.

Should I go to the Nutrition center and seek dietary guidance? I can't eat prunes, have to be cautious with the amount of fiber, eat salad every lunchtime, actually my diet is so repetitive and I don't enjoy eating at all now. I'm afraid to take the advice of a dietician who doesn't know me and how difficult it is to balance the fiber in my diet. The stinking hemorrhoid and concomitant anal issues are ruining my life. If anyone has had a similar problem, I'd like to know how you got off the miralax. I don't like how gassy it makes me at night. Thanks.

gastroenterologist is no help, he says it's fine to take every day. I'm a healthy 75 except for hemorrhoid I got that has put me on a course of misery. Then last December I had a bowel inflammation, nothing major, CT saw it but WBC wasn't elevated. NP in the overworked community hospital ER put me on augmentin, huge mistake. After five pills, two days worth, I developed a systemic yeast infection that required diflucan and destroyed my bowel biome. I literally couldn't poop so gastroenterologist put me on a cap of miralax in the morning. I changed my diet by reducing fiber somewhat, since that's what caused the inflammation. But because of the bowel biome, without miralax I get sliw motility and more difficult to pass stool, something I haven't had more than once or twice a year, and then the hemorrhoid blows up, it's horrible. So I can't stop the miralax.

Gastroenterologist offered zero advice on how to restore bowel biome, zero. What good are these people! I began taking acidophilus 1billion count tiny pearl. It gave me very unusual stool. I stopped it for 2 days and it's going back to normal now. So acidophilus might not be a good idea. During the antibiotic poisoning I tried Florastor, forget it, unbelievable gas and diarrhea. If I reduce the miralax, stool becomes more difficult to pass. Ordinarily, I'd just deal with it but at this point my anus has had it and I'm having a colonoscopy end of October which will turn it into a horrific ordeal. Trying to get it better for that prep. I know this is alot of info but it's all necessary to understand my dilemma.

Should I go to the Nutrition center and seek dietary guidance? I can't eat prunes, have to be cautious with the amount of fiber, eat salad every lunchtime, actually my diet is so repetitive and I don't enjoy eating at all now. I'm afraid to take the advice of a dietician who doesn't know me and how difficult it is to balance the fiber in my diet. The stinking hemorrhoid and concomitant anal issues are ruining my life. If anyone has had a similar problem, I'd like to know how you got off the miralax. I don't like how gassy it makes me at night. Thanks.