Need to get off miralax

Sorry for your dilemma. I'm the constipated queen. I took Metamucil for 30 some years and Miralax for 5 yrs. after a severe bowel obstruction. By the way, I'm your age.
In July, I decided I can't handle the Miralx any longer. It was controlling me life and I was starting to have accidents not getting to the bathroom in time. My BMs were coming on too quickly. I was confined to me house.
With a G.I.'s help, I take 4 to 5 Senna S, 1 kiwi, 425 mg. magnesium, flax seeds, prunes and prune juice. I know you can't do the prunes. And drink lots of water, which I hate doing. I also use a step stool to have a BM(squatty potty). Sounds weird but it really helps me. Some of us just need that extra help. Dr. said some of us don't open properly on the inside to let the BM pass through and the step stool helps that.
There's a Senna, also. Ones, a stool softener and one a laxative. Senna S is the stool softener.
It took me almost 2 months to start getting a normal routine with BMs. Everything isn't perfect and I do have setbacks.
He also told me it is ok to do a suppository if needed and he recommends Dulcolax. They are expensive but work instantly. Also, hard to open. Each one is wrapped individually.
He said and I agree, most people who are normal have no idea how hard it is for some people to have a BM. He said to do whatever it takes - suppositories, enemas, whatever. It's not going to hurt to do that.

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!

You got it right. The Mediterranean diet, exercising daily (45 min on the treadmill), Colace twice daily, water, Myralax have helped me greatly. I take flaxseed now and then , not daily. All of it has been helping me a lot thank God. My problem with hemorrhoids was taking care by my GI in his office (rubber band) and it was painless. I have stuck to all of these strategies to get better. Not all patients are the same but it has worked good for me. Stay healthy. Thanks.

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. 🙏

I am sorry to have replied to the incorrect person although I did get a lot of information because of it. Thank you!

Wow those hemorrhoids, who knew that was even possible! I lived an entire life before encountering one of those, not as bad as yours but months and months, over a year, of struggling trying to get rid of it. Finally close to that and guess what? I have to get a colonoscopy Oct 25 so here we go again, the prep is going to literally rip me a new **** you know what. :*(

Diet hydration and exercise don't affect my slow motility enough to keep it all flowing normally to prevent the hem from making another appearance. I think part of this is internal but I'm afraid to have banding, I've read too much about it that isn't good. I use Miralax but, since trying acidophilus for about 3 weeks and not having a good experience, my bowel biome seems to have done a self adjustment and I'm now reducing the miralax from a cap a day to everyother day half a cap. I hope your adventure in rear end problems remains boring!

The C is a mystery for me and there doesn’t seem to be any easy answers. Prescription meds worked a day or two then nothing for me. My next colonoscopy is October 31! Praying things aren’t too bad.

I get good results with Slippery Elm powder. I have only used the one made with the inner bark. It supports the mucosa and provides the "slip" and stool softening I need. It comes in powder form, which I prefer, but will also take it in capsule form. I get nausea from Miralax and Colace irritates (but I take it anyway if backed up when traveling). I have had no problems with the slippery elm inner bark powder. Note there is a less expensive "bark" tea sold; that may work also.

Yes, I have something kinda similar. I'm not on Miralax but Metamucil. I just started going to a functional Dr. You may want to look into that. They do more than treat the symptoms with meds. She says to not use Metamucil or Miralax.
They do labs to find out what is going on, what nutrients you are lacking etc. The gut is the main engine running everything. Mine is messed up. They figure out basically how your body can heal itself with the help of diet and supplements. Medical doctors do not like them because they say there is no proof. This is what they are taught. There are actually many studies - 3rd party studies. But yes supplements are big business as my primary Dr. states. (Like big pharma isn't)? I'm getting an EGD and HIDA scan. I already had an abdominal ultrasound. It showed some gallstones, but I guess nothing they think would cause my pains. And also a small spot on my liver. The EGD should be more thorough. The HIDA is more for gallstones specifically.
I feel like I can't eat much of anything. The FODMAP diet is recommended to help figure out what foods to avoid. But at the same time, eventually, this can be reversed. Going to an allergist to see if I am allergic to some foods is recommended also.
So far it is helping for me to go gluten free (my mom is also gluten sensitive). Also, no dairy, and no sugar. That's a lot to take out, and a challenge. I seem to have the same issues as my mom, so I'm using that info. I do have IBS and diverticulitis. But these are newer pains. Trying to heal, and not just throw meds at it.