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Miralax vs. senna

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/15/2011 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have been experimenting with laxatives to see if I can keep my bowels moving.   Having slow bowels has resulted in chronic upper right quadrant pain - HIDA scan showed low but normal gallbladder function, and abdominal CT showed no abnormalities other than a colon full of stool.  I've been complaining about slow bowels for years and while my stool is rarely hard like you'd expect from constipation, I have finally agreed to use a laxative/stool softener to see if I can keep things moving and relieve this pain.

I used a half dose of sennakot every other night for about two months and that worked well.  I could feel my colon spasms from the senna, and they were uncomfortable at first, but I felt like I was moving my bowels regularly.  Senna is habit-forming, and my GI recommended Miralax (along with others of you here who use these kinds of laxatives) so I have gone to Miralax now that my little bottle of sennakot is gone.

I have used the Miralax three times in the past two weeks.  I drink a full dose at bedtime with a glass of water.  So far the result has been really soft bowel movements that last 3 days or so, along with a crampy feeling in my belly that isn't really relieved by a bowel movement.

I don't like the softness of the stool (hard to clean) and I don't like the crampy belly.  Should I reduce to a half dose?  Is this how the miralax works for those who use this?

Posted 11/15/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I take about 3/4 dose a day. Sometimes more like a full dose, and some days half.

Earlier this year, I was taking about 1/2 dose per day. Some days a full dose. Some days skipping a dose. However, things always seemed to move a little better for me when I found the right daily dose.
Posted 11/15/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kazbern,
I don't have any good advice for you except to say that you are describing my exact symptoms and my bowels are driving me nuts! I went for a couple of years in remission from the Crohns and taking 6 fiber pills and colace every night and I was having bowel movements daily and doing well. Since the current Crohn's flare the constipation is sooo problemmatic. I don't even know if "constipation" is the right term because when I do have a bowel movement the stools are soft and fairly normal looking. My x-ray was full of poop too. I have been taking the entocort. Like you, I have pain right where my ileum is...(cololonscopy and biopsy shows current inflammation) but I also have this constant feeling like I need to have a bowel movement even after I go. I am up to 2 Senokot C pills a day, and if I try to cut back I don't poop at all. I tried stopping the fiber pills and it made it worse, so I started that again. I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't even be taking the Entocort, since it isn't changing my symptoms a bit and keeping me up at night. I hate the idea of getting addicted to laxatives, but I don't know what else to do! I have another appointment next week with my GI, so I'm trying to hold out until then.

I only tried Miralax once and it made me extremely nauseous. I don't know if that was a one time incident and I've been thinking of trying it again. Now I'm not so sure.

Also, I am completely lost as to whether I should be eating high fiber foods and fresh fruit for the constipation, or if that will make the Crohn's inflammation worse. I often feel so lousy from the "full of poop" feeling that I am barely eating and losing weight.

I know I am pirating your post....maybe you just triggered a big rant from me.....Sorry. Hopefully someone will come along and be more helpful than me! I hope you figure this out for the both of us. Thanks
Posted 11/24/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
I take Miralax on a regular basis since 2007 and yes, that is how the stool is for me too. I personally like it that way (even tho it is messier) because at least I "go". You may want to try a half dose and tinker with it until you feel comfortable. I have to take a capful and a half or two capfuls but that is what it took for me to get the results I wanted. I don't know about the crampy feeling in the belly. I never had it. Oh and I don't take it at bedtime. For me, I take it during the day so it moves around in there but again, do what feels right for your body.

Good luck!
Posted 11/25/2011 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks malakai. I did go down to a half dose and it still made me feel awful, but yes, I do move my bowels. I'm just going to have to try another osmotic laxative. The miralax really makes me feel ill. It's beyond a crampy belly - it's just all day nausea-type blech.
Posted 11/25/2011 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Kazbern,
What are you thinking of trying in place of the Miralax? Miralax made me feel nauseous too. I feel terrible, and I think I'm overdosing on Senokot. I'm thinking of trying aloe pills, but I don't know how great they are for me either.
Posted 11/25/2011 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know - milk of magnesia? Prune juice? I haven't given it much thought yet. Will probably take a dose of miralax tonight and feel sick until Sunday.
Posted 11/25/2011 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all.  I have to take laxatives regularly because I have a rectal stricture and have such a difficult time passing anything unless it's almost liquid.  It's really awful.  Anyway, I switch from Miralax, to Milk of Magnesia and also Dulcolax. I try to drink lots of juices too, including prune juice. None of the laxatives cause nausea but I have been told that Miralax can be taken on a regular basis, while the other two should not be taken long term.  By changing them around, I feel safe taking them so often. Sometimes I still feel full after bowel movements and then also hurt so badly from having to strain so much. I have also been reading about low residue diets, which lessen the amount of stool in the colon. I have tried it and find that it is helpful.
Posted 11/25/2011 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
1/2 dose of miralax worked for me when I had constipation for about a year. I took it daily in the evening. By morning it had things moving : ) Miralax has a stool softener already in it. It is more gentle than other laxatives and can be used long term.
Posted 12/8/2011 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
Back to this topic. Last week I thought I had figured out the puzzle. Half dose of miralax taken every other night (MWF). That process gave me awesome results unitl Friday, when I started feeling bowel awareness, shall we say. Saturday was awful and Sunday I was still having BMs, no appetite, etc. etc. Plus joint pain, always fun. so I didn't take another 1/2 dose of miralax until Tuesday night.

I had no bowel movements at all from Sunday until today, Thursday. Strangely I didn't feel backed-up, or even my URQ pain, although I guess I had so many bowel movements last week and weekend that I was pretty empty (though I still felt random masses in my colon all wknd). Anyway, I've had 2 BMs today and they've gone from solid to very soft. I'm still crampy and I'll probably have another BM before the day's over. I just can't figure this miralax thing out.

Maybe a 1/4 dose every other night???
Posted 12/8/2011 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
yep... just keep working at it and even then, sometimes weird things will happen and it'll just not work for some reason. I would say that miralax works for me 90% of the time and then the 10% I just attribute to crohns wierdness. (One time I didn't go for 6 days and I was taking 2 capfuls all 6 days + milk of magnesia + docusate)

I'm happy for you. It sounds like you're getting closer to perfection and i'm glad that your body is able to tolerate it. for me it's a wonder drug! =D

Take care
Posted 12/8/2011 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks malakai. I should also mention that I ate like 6 prunes Tuesday night and last night's dinner was lentil soup. Maybe there are too many factors in here to completely blame the miralax for all the inconsistencies!
Posted 12/8/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Just had Gallbladder surgery yesterday and have had dinner, breakfast and lunch and no BM yet.. I am passing gas though. The nurse said I should wait til Saturday or Sunday and if no BM use Miralax or Senokot. any thoughts?

 

Posted 12/8/2011 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
That's about how long I'd wait, too. I liked sennakot because it causes bowel contractions and I feel like that's what's missing. I did feel those contractions, though, and they were somewhat unpleasant, especially the first time I took the laxative. With the Miralax I don't feel any contractions but apparently the stool is moving successfully through my colon. I am left with incomplete emptying, though, which is giving me crampy feelings following my BMs. I like that less than the crampy feelings before, if that makes any sense.
Posted 12/8/2011 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I like the senna. I was on fentanyl and oxycodone for my knee surgery and got so constipated, I thought I would perforate my colon from the hard stool and the only thing that worked to get things moving was the Senna. I tried Miralax on several occasions but didnt have any luck with it.

Take care!
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