I can't believe I'm asking this ... I think I've swung the other way!

Hi Treester,
As you've already suspected, your bowel change is probably due to the pregnancy. I think constipation is like the #2 most common "side effect" (if you will) of pregnancy, and probably the #1 complaint of women in their 3rd trimester. First of all, you should talk to your doc about your BM change. Secondly, it might be a great idea to look into a stool softener. Your doctor or pharmacist should have some great ideas for you. I do recall a couple pregnant IBSers run through this board, hopefully they'll pop in to give you some advice.
Good luck!

Treester - yes I've taken 50 mg of Colace, each evening for several years now. It is very, very mild. My GYN doctor of all people suggested I just take a mild stool softener and skip the fiber supplements. Long ago I tried Fiber-con but never really noticed it helped me. I also tried Metamucil just a handful of times but all it did was create more activity (lots of bowel activity, so loud, others could hear it!).

The Colace is so mild, you don't even notice it working. My colon doctor said the 50 mg is considered a pediatric dose. I do know it comes in 100 mg also.

Be careful not to take the peri Colace (it contains the stimulant Sennosides, which could help you, but for now I would suggest plain Colace).

Don't be freaked out by the word laxative on the label. It works unlike any other "laxative", that I've ever tried.

Make sure your OB doctor approves of this medication too.

I hope you feel better soon!

Mary

Post Edited (Marsky) : 9/27/2008 10:29:03 PM (GMT-6)

Treester - I can't believe I'm saying this (to blatantly steal/tweak your topic title!) but yesterday as I came upstairs to my computer to type the exact name of the medication in Colace, I realized all this time I haven't been taking the plain Colace, in 50 mg. My colon doctor had given me samples when I explained that my GYN suggested taking a mild stool softener. When they ran out I couldn't find 50 mg on the pharmacy shelf but the Pharmacist said he could order it. It was still an OTC medication but 50 mg is for children.

Long story short, somewhere along the line I saw that Kroger's carries generic Colace, in 50 mg.

BUT, it contains senna - a stimulant, which induces colon wall contractions!

No wonder my gut has been so noisy.

I went to the pharmacy again and had them order the brand name in 50 mg. It will arrive tomorrow but before I pay for it, I want to read the bottle to make sure there isn't senna in it, at all.

I will never make this mistake again! I did so to save $....and in the end, made my gut overly active when it didn't need to be!

I haven't had the overly active gut feeling day in day out, but at least half the week. Now I'm kicking myself for not reading the fine, fine print.

Let this be a lesson to others out there - if you stray from a name brand and buy generic, compare the two packages side by side before you purchase the generic.

I am hoping by the end of this week I will finally begin to feel better and I will have a quiet gut! Like I used to have...I figured it was a combo of getting older and probably entering menopause! LOL

Sheesh......you learn something everyday....

To get back to your situation - please make sure you can take Colace while pregnant. I'm just not sure if you can or not.

Mary

Post Edited (Marsky) : 9/28/2008 6:11:38 PM (GMT-6)

The plain 100 mg Colace is available everywhere it seems like. But it was too powerful for my touchy gut. I remember now what a hassle it was to order the 50 mg but if the 50 mg helps me as much as it did a few years ago, that is what I'm sticking with. When I tried the 100 mg, I would alternate between 36 hours doses, one morning I'd take it, the following day I'd take it at bedtime. But then I would get all mixed up and a few times take it 12 hours apart, not 36. Or go much longer between doses. That's when somewhere along the line I found or was told about the 50 mg.

But then somehow I thought the Kroger generic brand was the same exact med as plain Colace in 50 mg. Even this Pharmacist tech kept wanting to walk me over to that product. I kept saying - no, that is what I am taking but I want the med w/o senna! Finally, she understood.

Let's just say that before I buy it today, I am reading that label very, very carefully!

Meanwhile I don't know if it's added stress of all this and lost time when I felt awful at times (ruining private time with my hubby, sorry for that lovely detail, while my gut was doing it's wild and wacky thing), I am once again out of whack.

Can't wait to take the plain 50 mg tonight and see what happens!

I did see links recommending Colace after delivering. That also tells me how gentle this product is as well.

As someone pointed out hormones can really be off while pregnant. No wonder you having trouble treester! But at least you know it's temporary!

Mary