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Posted 4/24/2012 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I hav been on calcium and vitamind d for a while but i am so constipated all the time now with small bms.. hard to go.. blood from pushing. I dont tolerate fruits and veggies well.. i started metamucil last week i would think it should be naking my stools normal by now or no? I am still on the vitamin d 2000to and calcium 6000means a day. So what should i do to get bms to stay normal.. should i give the metamucil some time?
Posted 4/24/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Typing from my phone so there are some misspellings.. calcium is 600.
Posted 4/24/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Are you drinking enough water? Hydration is key to good bm's.
Posted 4/24/2012 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes drinking water.
Posted 4/24/2012 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes drinking water.
Posted 4/24/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
I was in the same situation a few weeks ago. The following is what my dr reccommended: I've been trying it and it has helped. Also, you can search on this forum for what others say about psyllium husk, psyllium seed. I use psyllium husk. Either powder in my protein shakes or in capsule form. And it also helps. I did research on it and it is used as a moderator. If one is constipated- it helps to move things along and out, kind of like a laxative. But it also works if one is having diarhea problems to help bulk up the stool.

Written by my dr: Magnesium supplements can be very helpful for constipation. Magnesium Citrate 250 milligrams capsules is what I generally recommend. Here's the trick to remember; the healing effect of magnesium is “dosage specific” and not everyone is the same. You need to take your dosage to what's called “Bowel Tolerance”. When you take TOO MUCH magnesium, you'll get too loose of a bowel. But you can't know what TOO MUCH is for your body until you take it to this point and then back off a little.
So start out with about 500 milligrams (mgs) of Magnesium Citrate in capsule or powder form. (Powder is cheaper but doesn't taste so hot). Take this in the evening with your evening meal or before bed with water. If you have a nice, smooth (no hard lumps) bowel movement, then just stay at 500 mgs a day. If not, then increase it the next day to 750 mgs. Then again to 1000 mgs if needed. Some need this amount, others will find the 500 mgs is too much and need to back off to 250 mgs. No problem, do what works for you and do it daily.

Posted 4/24/2012 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Why calcium? I would stop taking that supplement and see what happens.
Posted 4/24/2012 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Vitamin d deficiency is why i take it. I take magnesium its combined with the calcium pill it is 500.
Posted 4/24/2012 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
You can just take the vitamin D alone.

Are you able to tolerate dried fruits? How about prune juice?
Posted 4/24/2012 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
I think you need the calcium to help your body absorb the vit d.

they had me take some miralax to help get things moving.

good luck.
Posted 4/24/2012 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
how long were you on the miralax?  I am not stopping the vitamin d or calcium anytime sooner.
Posted 4/24/2012 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
No, you don't need the calcium to absorb vitamin D.  Here is some information about calcium supplements that you might find helpful.  Note the paragraph that talks about possible GI side effects from taking calcium ("Some individuals who take calcium supplements might experience gastrointestinal side effects including gas, bloating, constipation, or a combination of these symptoms").

 I take miralax regularly also.

Posted 4/25/2012 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe I will start the miralax. Thanks!
Posted 4/25/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to push back a little more msm. Before adding another medication to your day, why not just stop the calcium for a week and see if it makes a difference?
Posted 4/25/2012 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, my first post on here as ive just registered, i also am looking for some advice on constipation problems with u/c, ive only been diagnosed three months ago and things are a bit sketchy for me. I seem to be getting a lot of pain in my left and right side along with serious constipation, also i have arthritis problems in my neck/ upper spine and am taking tramadol for that problem, would they cause constipation problems? also i`m having serious problems not sleeping, can anyone advise me is this a side effect of the Asacol i`m taking, i`m also taking prednisolone. Hope you don`t mind me asking so many questions, its just all new to me, many thanks for any help you can give me
Posted 4/25/2012 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
SONBERT, the insomnia is from the prednisone. The pain in your right and left side is from the inflammation in your colon, probably, although your DR and you should talk about that. The constipation is probably from the tramadol. If you are having pain in your neck and upper back, could it be because you are tense? Would a therapeutic massage and physical therapy help? Or have you been diagnosed with disc problems there? Many people with IBD get joint pain, but I don't remember hearing too many folks complain about neck pain from this illness.
Posted 4/25/2012 8:46 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
SONBERT, the insomnia is from the prednisone. The pain in your right and left side is from the inflammation in your colon, probably, although your DR and you should talk about that. The constipation is probably from the tramadol. If you are having pain in your neck and upper back, could it be because you are tense? Would a therapeutic massage and physical therapy help? Or have you been diagnosed with disc problems there? Many people with IBD get joint pain, but I don't remember hearing too many folks complain about neck pain from this illness.



Firstly many thanks for your reply, the neck and upper spine pain is due to suffering from arthritis, which i`m taking the Tramadol for. Im back at the hospital in two weeks for the results of the recent colonoscopy i had, so i`ll raise the points with the dr then on the pain in the left and right hand side, i took a laxative last night/ early hours to relieve the constipation, which seemed to have eased the problem today. The insomnia really is getting to me, i`m just not sleeping at all, maybe grabbing a couple of hours through the day, but not at all at night. Once again many thanks for your reply, much appreciated.
Posted 4/25/2012 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
You should start your own thread, SONBERT. Ask the forum about strategies for minimizing insomnia while taking pred. There are some good ones out there, including asking your DR for a sleep aid while you're still on high doses of steroid.
Posted 4/25/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)

kazbern said...
You should start your own thread, SONBERT. Ask the forum about strategies for minimizing insomnia while taking pred. There are some good ones out there, including asking your DR for a sleep aid while you're still on high doses of steroid.



Thanks for the advice, as i said i`m new to the forum so just finding my way around. Many thanks.
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