freckles
04-01-2007, 04:50 PM
Coming from my own experience with lifelong constipation that is now exacerbated by long term use of narcotics for pain, I believe that there are two components to be overcome in getting constipation under control.
The first is to keep the stool soft enough that it doesn't form hard balls of feces which can then impact much easier than soft stool. These same hard balls become very difficult to pass and create the need for lots of pushing and straining to get them through the lower colon. Some people seem to be able to accomplish the soft state by increasing their fiber and water intake. Others take stool softeners or Rx medications such as Miralax.
However, just keeping the stool soft is not enough to cause a bowel movement for me. The colon needs to be able to create a wave-like motion which forces the feces through the colon and to the outside world. Unfortunately, the narcotics seem to put my colon into a more relaxed state (to sleep) whereby the normal downward movement doesn't occur in the upper colon.
In my case, getting this movement going requires the use of some sort of stimulant or irritant laxative. It's only when I can get the two actions together that I get a satisfactory result.
I posted last week wondering if Miralax worked for everyone. Thanks to all that answered, and for the various ideas presented. After about 5 or 6 days of taking Miralax followed by a day of taking Senna tablets, I finally was able to do what my two-year old grandson does twice a day with no problem: have a bowel movement that came through without straining or pushing.
It certainly was a welcome relief. I stayed off the Miralax for a few days but am now back on it to set up for the next big event. I started taking laxatives again last night and hope by tonight I can get some relief. At this point I'd be happy to "go" twice a week.
Someone posted that Senacot-S was a new laxative for people that take narcotics for pain. I seem to remember looking at the box for Senacot-S in the drug store and the only other ingredient in it was Stool Softener in a small doseage. Since I already take 3 tablets a day of Stool Softener and each is 100 mg of Ducosate Sodium, I didn't think that the small amount of Stool Softener in the Senacot-S would make a sufficient difference for me. Am I incorrect in my thinking?
The first is to keep the stool soft enough that it doesn't form hard balls of feces which can then impact much easier than soft stool. These same hard balls become very difficult to pass and create the need for lots of pushing and straining to get them through the lower colon. Some people seem to be able to accomplish the soft state by increasing their fiber and water intake. Others take stool softeners or Rx medications such as Miralax.
However, just keeping the stool soft is not enough to cause a bowel movement for me. The colon needs to be able to create a wave-like motion which forces the feces through the colon and to the outside world. Unfortunately, the narcotics seem to put my colon into a more relaxed state (to sleep) whereby the normal downward movement doesn't occur in the upper colon.
In my case, getting this movement going requires the use of some sort of stimulant or irritant laxative. It's only when I can get the two actions together that I get a satisfactory result.
I posted last week wondering if Miralax worked for everyone. Thanks to all that answered, and for the various ideas presented. After about 5 or 6 days of taking Miralax followed by a day of taking Senna tablets, I finally was able to do what my two-year old grandson does twice a day with no problem: have a bowel movement that came through without straining or pushing.
It certainly was a welcome relief. I stayed off the Miralax for a few days but am now back on it to set up for the next big event. I started taking laxatives again last night and hope by tonight I can get some relief. At this point I'd be happy to "go" twice a week.
Someone posted that Senacot-S was a new laxative for people that take narcotics for pain. I seem to remember looking at the box for Senacot-S in the drug store and the only other ingredient in it was Stool Softener in a small doseage. Since I already take 3 tablets a day of Stool Softener and each is 100 mg of Ducosate Sodium, I didn't think that the small amount of Stool Softener in the Senacot-S would make a sufficient difference for me. Am I incorrect in my thinking?