Talk to me about miralax/Stool softeners

[larzhope]

Tmi ahead...

anyone on this regularly? Asking for me, not my kid.

Backstory is that I have always reacted opposite to how foods normally impact people. Things that typically are high fiber and help someone go have the opposite effect on me.

I've recently started eating healthier and have cut out dairy and gluten (I know I have a dairy intolerance, it's always given me loose poops). I'm super happy with the way I've been feeling except my gut. Most doctors have told me to take more fiber which just backs me up more.

The wait right now to see a gastoenterologist is several months so while I'm going to make an appointment, I need some suggestions in the short term, hence the question.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

Miralax isn’t fiber, it pulls water out of your...intestines or somewhere. It helps my son so much but it’s nice and gentle. I’d try that first I think. Good luck!

[mrssandro]

I have taken Miralax in the past and it works. But not on the regular. But since switching my diet to eat more fruit pooping is no longer a issue.

I know you didn't ask but my kid was on Miralax a ton when she was a infant until she was about 3. Her doctors prescribed it due to her FTT and her low tone. So I feel like it's a normal go to product for us when we get stuck which is rare nowadays.

[liverandonions]

Sorry, tmi.


I started ww and am drinking a premier protein shake every day and using protein powder (vital proteins) in my coffee and ended up having so many issues with hard stools, and constipation that i was having bad hemorrhoids and bleeding. Going to the bathroom made me cry. I started stool softeners and didnt see much relief. I started miralax daily and its made a huge difference. It doesn’t make things loose, just makes it easier to go.

[mich1]

My only use of these was after taking narcotics from surgery to deal with the constipation. I was always prescribed Ducolax, but it really wasn’t sufficient. Adding Miralax helped a LOT. I tried it as a last resort as we had it left over in the cabinet from DH’s colonoscopy... I was desperate. The combo worked beautifully for me.

[cuadrado]

Are you drinking enough? If you increase fiber but aren’t adequately hydrated then this can be a cause for constipation. You may also want to try a prebiotic supplement.

[womet]

My H has issues with hard stools because he takes pain medications daily for his fibromyalgia. He was taking stool softeners and miralax, but he found that Raisin Bran worked as well as Miralax. So now, he has a bowl of cereal 4-5 days a week.

[Deleted]

***Not a doctor*** Increase your Magnesium intake. Taking a Magnesium Citrate supplement at a higher dosage than is on the bottle. Most supplements are around 250mg per dose I think, I take 1000mg per day and that keeps me regular.

[larzhope]

Apr 15, 2021 13:25:43 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

***Not a doctor*** Increase your Magnesium intake. Taking a Magnesium Citrate supplement at a higher dosage than is on the bottle. Most supplements are around 250mg per dose I think, I take 1000mg per day and that keeps me regular.

Yeah I actually had to get infusions while I was pregnant because oral megnesium also makes me have hard stool. My gut is such a fun puzzle 🙄

[larzhope]

Apr 15, 2021 13:23:09 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Are you drinking enough? If you increase fiber but aren’t adequately hydrated then this can be a cause for constipation. You may also want to try a prebiotic supplement.

I could definitely try a probiotic (assuming that's what you meant and not prebiotic). I have been drinking about 90oz of water a day, more when I workout. So definitely could be more but it's more than 1/2 my body weight (which is about 75oz daily goal)

[larzhope]

Apr 15, 2021 13:13:11 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Sorry, tmi.


I started ww and am drinking a premier protein shake every day and using protein powder (vital proteins) in my coffee and ended up having so many issues with hard stools, and constipation that i was having bad hemorrhoids and bleeding. Going to the bathroom made me cry. I started stool softeners and didnt see much relief. I started miralax daily and its made a huge difference. It doesn’t make things loose, just makes it easier to go.

What do you mix it in? I typically only drink water.

[Poeticxpassion]

I take the Kirkland brand stool softeners daily and I have for years. They are gentle and effective. I'm taking them due to gastroparesis since I can't eat much fiber in my diet.

[Deleted]

Apr 15, 2021 13:13:11 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Sorry, tmi.


I started ww and am drinking a premier protein shake every day and using protein powder (vital proteins) in my coffee and ended up having so many issues with hard stools, and constipation that i was having bad hemorrhoids and bleeding. Going to the bathroom made me cry. I started stool softeners and didnt see much relief. I started miralax daily and its made a huge difference. It doesn’t make things loose, just makes it easier to go.

Same, except i was having issues despite eating mountains of fruits and veggies, exercising daily, taking fiber and hydrating. My PCP and Gastro, after confirming there was nothing medically wrong, advised me to take MiraLax daily. OMG, it has improved my life SO MUCH! I didnt know you could take it daily and wish i had known years ago. Like PP said, it just keeps things gently moving along.

It can be $$$, so i buy LaxaClear at Costco which lasts quite a while, even with daily use.

[liverandonions]

Apr 15, 2021 13:35:13 GMT -5 larzhope said:

Apr 15, 2021 13:13:11 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Sorry, tmi.


I started ww and am drinking a premier protein shake every day and using protein powder (vital proteins) in my coffee and ended up having so many issues with hard stools, and constipation that i was having bad hemorrhoids and bleeding. Going to the bathroom made me cry. I started stool softeners and didnt see much relief. I started miralax daily and its made a huge difference. It doesn’t make things loose, just makes it easier to go.

What do you mix it in? I typically only drink water.

I put it in my coffee and don't notice it at all. 

[liverandonions]

Apr 15, 2021 13:59:43 GMT -5 @peep said:

Apr 15, 2021 13:13:11 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Sorry, tmi.


I started ww and am drinking a premier protein shake every day and using protein powder (vital proteins) in my coffee and ended up having so many issues with hard stools, and constipation that i was having bad hemorrhoids and bleeding. Going to the bathroom made me cry. I started stool softeners and didnt see much relief. I started miralax daily and its made a huge difference. It doesn’t make things loose, just makes it easier to go.

Same, except i was having issues despite eating mountains of fruits and veggies, exercising daily, taking fiber and hydrating. My PCP and Gastro, after confirming there was nothing medically wrong, advised me to take MiraLax daily. OMG, it has improved my life SO MUCH! I didnt know you could take it daily and wish i had known years ago. Like PP said, it just keeps things gently moving along.

It can be $$$, so i buy LaxaClear at Costco which lasts quite a while, even with daily use.

My mom has an HSA that she has to use or lose so she buys it for me lol 

[Aloe Vera]

I take Miralax (Target brand) daily because no matter what I try, I am constipated.
It needs to be taken everyday and it takes a few days to work. I usually maintain with half a dose/day.

[bugandbibs]

One of the reasons that constipation can be so hard to treat is that the bowel can get stretched and decrease it's ability to move stool through, which can create a pocket where stool sits and get dehydrated and then even harder to push out. It's a cycle that can be really hard to treat if chronic (no matter the reason).

Daily miralax helps stop the cycle by making it easier for the stool burden to be removed from the body. As the colon stays empty, it can regain it's elasticity and function better. When I work with families where chronic constipation has become an issue, typically what we have them do is a full clean out (miralax 2-3x/day) until stools are very runny and then back off to a maintenance dose. Usually 1/2 to 1 dose a day (looking to achieve a daily bowel movement that is mashed potato like in texture). This allows the colon to return to normal. Once you can achieve an easy bowel movement daily on 1/2 capful, then you can think about going off of it. Some people can never go off of it depending on the root cause of their constipation. Others can break the cycle and may just need occasional use. I spend so much time talking about poop in my job, lol.

[cuadrado]

Apr 15, 2021 13:33:26 GMT -5 larzhope said:

Apr 15, 2021 13:23:09 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Are you drinking enough? If you increase fiber but aren’t adequately hydrated then this can be a cause for constipation. You may also want to try a prebiotic supplement.

I could definitely try a probiotic (assuming that's what you meant and not prebiotic). I have been drinking about 90oz of water a day, more when I workout. So definitely could be more but it's more than 1/2 my body weight (which is about 75oz daily goal)

 I meant a prebiotic. Something like Regular Girl can be helpful for constipation (I'm a dietitian). 

[mplsmom23]

I deal with constipation issues too. After going to a gastro, getting a colonoscopy and testing for a bunch of things, he recommended I use Miralax. After playing around with the dose a bit I have been taking 1/2 a dose a day for several years now and it’s helped tremendously. I mix it into a small cup of apple cranberry juice every morning. Other than that I just drink water.

[cuadrado]

If this is helpful to anyone in this thread, these are the top causes of constipation I typically see with clients:

- Anxiety (this one is huge)
- Not eating enough
- Eating disorder
- Too low carb / not enough fiber
- Dehydration
- Hypothyroidism - check full thyroid panel, not just TSH
- Pelvic floor issues

Also not incredibly common but celiac disease can sometimes cause constipation

Having chronic constipation is not normal and taking Miralax can provide relief but it likely masking a deeper issue.

[Deleted]

Apr 15, 2021 13:25:43 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

***Not a doctor*** Increase your Magnesium intake. Taking a Magnesium Citrate supplement at a higher dosage than is on the bottle. Most supplements are around 250mg per dose I think, I take 1000mg per day and that keeps me regular.

I second magnesium citrate.

I take it as an occasional laxative and it works perfectly every time.

My credentials are frequent constipation since childhood. Magnesium citrate was my white horse.

[icedcoffee]

I've been putting 1 teaspoon of benefiber in my coffee for the past couple months ever since I had an issue with hemmorhoids. This is by rec of a GI doctor. It works well for poop purposes. I have gone easily every day since I started, but ***TMI ALERT*** I've noticed I have horrendous gas lately. Not 100% sure it's related or it's something else, but I think there's a good chance it's from that.

[foundmylazybum]

I was on chemo last year and it messed me up.

During that time I just had to use straight senna laxatives which you want to really use occasionally. They do work but they work in a specific way that if you use them to often they mess with the natural squeezing action of the colon.

Now, I take a Probiotic daily and eat prebiotic type foods. If I get constipated, colace works really well to soften stool. It's the first, most gentle option.


If there is a change in bowel habits, that's something you definitely want to get checked out. It can be a sign of colon cancer.

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2021 8:21:51 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I've been putting 1 teaspoon of benefiber in my coffee for the past couple months ever since I had an issue with hemmorhoids. This is by rec of a GI doctor. It works well for poop purposes. I have gone easily every day since I started, but ***TMI ALERT*** I've noticed I have horrendous gas lately. Not 100% sure it's related or it's something else, but I think there's a good chance it's from that.

I do believe excess fiber can cause gas so probably 😄

[gault]

I take miralax almost every day (im post-bariatric surgery). It might be a good fit for you, no fiber.

[basilosaurus]

Most people I know take colace, not anything fiberous. Obviously do what you can with diet and hydration, but if you need help beyond that, colace. People share all their tmi with me, even before the rn.

I wish (ok not really) I had this problem. Se asia here. I think it's been weeks since a normal bm for me. My whole body hurts, especially the hole, and that's with a bum gun. So maybe try eating street food and drinking from the tap? Or maybe just too much shitty beer. (Kidding about the water. I drink filtered. Most apartments come with a machine).

[larzhope]

well for anyone that is wondering how this turned out... after miralax, magnesium citrate (drank an entire bottle), a trip to urgent care and an enema, I was finally able to go. It was worse than childbirth (too bad I couldn't get an epidural!). Now starting daily miralax to hopefully keep on top of this while I heal and beyond. Thanks for all the advice folks.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2021 16:46:39 GMT -5 larzhope said:

well for anyone that is wondering how this turned out... after miralax, magnesium citrate (drank an entire bottle), a trip to urgent care and an enema, I was finally able to go. It was worse than childbirth (too bad I couldn't get an epidural!). Now starting daily miralax to hopefully keep on top of this while I heal and beyond. Thanks for all the advice folks.

You poor thing. This is misery. Definitely take the Miralax, at least until youre regular again. I am the type who doesnt even like to take aspirin, but the daily Miralax has made life so much better! (I'm assumimg here that youve sought medical counsel, as i did, and ruled out any serioua medical issues.)

Also, there's a tea called Smooth Move (lol) that really helps keep things moving if you need a little extra help.

[Aloe Vera]

Apr 18, 2021 16:46:39 GMT -5 larzhope said:

well for anyone that is wondering how this turned out... after miralax, magnesium citrate (drank an entire bottle), a trip to urgent care and an enema, I was finally able to go. It was worse than childbirth (too bad I couldn't get an epidural!). Now starting daily miralax to hopefully keep on top of this while I heal and beyond. Thanks for all the advice folks.

Wow, what an ordeal. I am glad things are good now. Don't forget your Miralax! If I skip a day or 2,  it's back to square 1 and it takes days to go back to normal.