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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susuthorn | @susuthorn | Oct 14, 2023
In reply to @umerleysmayo "Thank. you so much for the reply. I'll wait until taking the mid-dose linzess for one..." + (show)
@umerleysmayo

Thank. you so much for the reply. I'll wait until taking the mid-dose linzess for one month and if still no results I will ask my GI to up the dosage. I will also add your regimen with lemon etc right now! It's unbelievable what we go through. I went through Triple Negative Breast Cancer Stage 3c not long ago - doing very well now and decided to finally try to kick constipations butt like I did cancer! I think the constipation might be more stubborn after all. Regardless of the constipation, I am grateful to be alive each day and make a point of finding joy every day - I count e-meeting you one of those joys. Thanks again.

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I was diagnosed with an elongated colon, two feet longer than normal. I am 67, never experienced any problems until 7 months ago. Supposedly the condition is congenital- who knows? My initial GI wanted me evaluated for resection surgery - I told him, No Thanks. Now trying to manage on my own. But do have appt with new GI in a week. Fingers crossed! Please take care!

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1 reply
denisef | @denisef | Oct 14, 2023

try taking more miralax. i have had chronic constipation my entire life (since a child) i took laxatives my entire life - sometimes 6-8 at a time and would only go once a week. My GI specialist introduced me to Miralax about 20 years ago - it has been a "lifesaver" You cannot take too much - it is an "inert substance" - just cellulose and works by absorbing water into your colon and this causes you to "go." you will need to "play around with it" to see what is the perfect amount for you. its best to take it with a hot drink. the more fluid you drink the better it works. I have a heaped capful in a 12-16 ounce mug of tea in the morning and the same at night - so two heaped capfuls a day. i go usually ONE time as soon as i get up in the a.m. (a lot) and then i am "done for the day" - no cramps - nothing - works like clockwork. if i have a "loose" stool - then i cut the next dose back to 1/2 cap (rarely happens) but for sure you are not taking enough - and make sure you drink lots of fluids so it will work properly. Hopefully taking more "does the trick" it is MUCH better than taking any laxative since it is an "inert substance" and is not absorbed into your body - just passes right on through.

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denisef | @denisef | Oct 15, 2023
In reply to @susuthorn "I was diagnosed with an elongated colon, two feet longer than normal. I am 67, never..." + (show)
@susuthorn

I was diagnosed with an elongated colon, two feet longer than normal. I am 67, never experienced any problems until 7 months ago. Supposedly the condition is congenital- who knows? My initial GI wanted me evaluated for resection surgery - I told him, No Thanks. Now trying to manage on my own. But do have appt with new GI in a week. Fingers crossed! Please take care!

Jump to this post

i also have an elongated colon - just take more Miralax - it will work if you take enough and drink enough water - increase 1/2 capful at a time - and divide dose between evening/morning so the "flow" is consistent

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2 replies
susuthorn | @susuthorn | Oct 15, 2023
In reply to @denisef "i also have an elongated colon - just take more Miralax - it will work if..." + (show)
@denisef

i also have an elongated colon - just take more Miralax - it will work if you take enough and drink enough water - increase 1/2 capful at a time - and divide dose between evening/morning so the "flow" is consistent

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Thank you. Will try that - trying to maintain with minimal intervention. Also doing low fodmap but not really sure it' works for this condition.

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denisef | @denisef | Oct 15, 2023

AGAIN - just increasing the miralax and fluid intake will work. increase 1/2 cup per day and split dose morning/evening - let me know if it works. if you go "too much" just cut back a bit the next day until you find the perfect amount for you.

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marcia115 | @marcia115 | Oct 15, 2023

umerleysmayo:
I also had issues forever. I have been taking maralax for years, but I Take a full cap in the morning and 1/2 a cap
at night before bed. I have to say it does not work that great! I don't no how a softener would help.
marcia115

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1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @denisef "i also have an elongated colon - just take more Miralax - it will work if..." + (show)
@denisef

i also have an elongated colon - just take more Miralax - it will work if you take enough and drink enough water - increase 1/2 capful at a time - and divide dose between evening/morning so the "flow" is consistent

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Thx Denise. I have found Miralax really helpful too although I have to "push" it along with Dulcolax. That's not recommended by my GI but I 'm 68 and have to do it.

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2 replies
denisef | @denisef | Oct 17, 2023
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Thx Denise. I have found Miralax really helpful too although I have to "push" it along..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Thx Denise. I have found Miralax really helpful too although I have to "push" it along with Dulcolax. That's not recommended by my GI but I 'm 68 and have to do it.

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Just take more Miralax - it cannot hurt you . Dulcolax is a "laxative" that is not good to take on a long term basis. Just take more/drink more f luids with it and split the dose morning/evening so things "keep moving along" i am 69 and have been taking Miralax twice a day since i was 50 - lifesaver - lived on boxes and boxes of laxatives before - Miralax was a "life changer"

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2 replies
m1rmiller | @m1rmiller | Oct 18, 2023
In reply to @marcia115 "umerleysmayo: I also had issues forever. I have been taking maralax for years, but I Take..." + (show)
@marcia115

umerleysmayo:
I also had issues forever. I have been taking maralax for years, but I Take a full cap in the morning and 1/2 a cap
at night before bed. I have to say it does not work that great! I don't no how a softener would help.
marcia115

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I find that senna leaf tea works really well.

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Oct 19, 2023
In reply to @denisef "Just take more Miralax - it cannot hurt you . Dulcolax is a "laxative" that is..." + (show)
@denisef

Just take more Miralax - it cannot hurt you . Dulcolax is a "laxative" that is not good to take on a long term basis. Just take more/drink more f luids with it and split the dose morning/evening so things "keep moving along" i am 69 and have been taking Miralax twice a day since i was 50 - lifesaver - lived on boxes and boxes of laxatives before - Miralax was a "life changer"

Jump to this post

Thanks for your helpful reply Denise. I will try this.

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