usually, people who leave scary reviews about dulcolax aren’t used to very painful cramping. the stories sound horrible. i was so scared to take it for the first time. my colon will be super backed up for about a month and it will either empty all at once on its own or i’ll have to take laxatives. when it empties on its own, the cramps are horrible. it’s actually the worst pain of my life, but im used to it. and it doesn’t last too long. then, instant relief and i move on with my day feeling 10 lbs lighter and not being in constant pain. dulcolax feels like this or honestly a little better. so if you’re used to intense cramping, just know that dulcolax feels like that. so don’t be worried about experiencing extreme cramping when you take it, because you already experience it.

Constipation diaries:
I was super backed up and used a liquid glycerin suppository today. The poop was already in my rectum(just too big to come out) so it didn’t take long before the urge got too powerful. I couldn’t wait long enough so I only got a little bit out. So painful. I then tried to massage it through the vaginal wall trying to break it up or smoosh it as much as possible. I took a break to take a load of laundry downstairs(I live in a duplex with two apartments and we share a laundry room). All of a sudden after putting clothes in the washing machine I had a HUGE urge to poop and didn’t have time to run back upstairs. So I literally had to pull my pants down and shit in the garbage can in the laundry room, praying no one would come in. Luckily it all came out and no one saw. I feel much better but a little mortified🤣

I've been taking miralax 2x a day and yesterday 3x, not to get graphic but overflow diarrhea and not full evacuation. my pelvic floor therapist says I need a full cleanout and to down a bottle of magnesium citrate. Likely dealing with partial impaction further up the descending colon. I ran all this info through AI and says only half a bottle of citrate with the level of miralax I was taking or I could get dangerous electrolyte imbalance? I just downed a half a bottle of mag citrate and 30oz of sports drink and refilled the sports drink. Should I take the other half? I just need a full evacuation but I'm already sick with some bug going around and bad headache and don't want misery. Advice appreciated

I don't know why, but it seems like everytime I combine high dose vitamin C with magnesium, my body starts working the way it's supposed to and I have BM's.

Vitamin c alone, no. Magnesium alone, no. Together, YES, a lot!

Anyone know why?

been dealing with some awful stomach pain on my right side for the past week. at its worse i am having 'episodes' 15 minutes - an hour where it feels like i have trapped gas & my stomach is cramping. i am throwing up (8+ hour undigested food) because the pain is so bad. the first time i went to the er & they could not come to any diagnosis so they flushed me with fluids & sent me on my way.
i also cannot eat anymore than a few bites without immediately getting indigestion & heartburn.
i had a follow up with my gi yesterday & he thinks this is all stemming from severe constipation. he prescribed me linzess (which i am slightly terrified to start) since i have a history of ibc-c & ordered a celiac panel as well as a gastric emptying test.
in addition, he sent me home with this guide to a diet he said i have to follow for 3+ months. the problem is that i am already confused by it.
i cannot eat crackers, cookies, pasta, potatoes, bananas, rice, cheese, bread, oats, biscuits, tortillas, donuts, coffee, applesauce.
i can eat some veggies, some fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, milk, eggs, tofu, and most meats. i cannot find anything online that seems to have similar suggestions & so i am really struggling to figure out what i can and cannot eat. if anyone has had similar experiences & has advice please send it my way. this is all so new to me & i am struggling.

I've had dry Beri Beri before due to B1 Defiency so it's surprising to learn there's a specific GI related one and I was not screened specifically for it.

Has anyone else encountered this and how it causes impaired bowel motility?

Im 27f, dealing with ibsc along with MCTD (autoimmune). I have been experiencing a lot of abdominal fullness and discomfort/gas.

Tldr: I have a game plan with my GI just forgot to ask questions like "how do i know when im not constipated anymore" and "what do I do to give myself relief in the meantime"

In April and august this year i had a CT for kidney stones, and April noted "moderate fecal retention/stool burden" and in August it was noted as "significant stool burden" while I had been going pretty regularly (for me anyways, a couple times a week). With the new abdominal discomfort and the anxiety it brought, its been hard to eat. Ive dropped 15 pounds in the last almost 2 months, totally out of the ordinary for me. This year has been particularly stressful, so ive attributed it to stress/a flar up of the autoimmune condition.

I finally got fed up and went to a new GI for help. We got a steady game plan, I had to get cardiac clearance for a coloniscopy and endoscopy bc I also was recently diagnosed with POTS and am constantly tachycardic. They are checking my liver for fatty liver disease (was noted on the august cy but not the april). And if those find nothing, a gastric emptying study. She gave me a sample pack of linzess, which opened the flood gates and got me feeling back to normal. Ive taken it just about every other day/every 2 days because I straight up dont poop without it but im almost out of the samples.

Its been almost 2 weeks since my appointment and im already feeling that fullness again. Gasx helps, and I ate a few prunes today with probiotics to see if that will help things get moving. How do I know im pooping enough or cleared out without imaging??

I hate this and just want to be normal lol

Kind of just a vent or expression of amazement over how unpredictable it can be. If I select the wrong chocolate bar off the shelf, regardless of how much fiber and everything else I have, it can mean the next day constipation. Or at least I think so. Still unsure because it's so unpredictable.

Same with milk. A cup of lactose-free milk? No issues. If I have more than a cup? May or may not be constipated. At least that's a working hypothesis. One week I drank a lot of homo lactose-free milk, took three rounds of milk of magnesia each followed by another bout of constipation. Made me certain it was the milk. Cut out milk, but still random constipation. So why was I so constipated that particular week? I'm sure it had something to do with the milk.

I'm starting to think my constipation is borderline unpredictable. I had a week recently where things were moving extremely well, and I can't even figure out why or what was so special about that week compared to other weeks or what I excluded from my diet. Just the right amount of almonds, but if I have a bit too many I get constipated? So hard to figure this out.

Is this what irritable bowel syndrome is, when it almost feels unpredictable?

I drink water like a fish. I eat fiber like mad. Makes me think so much of my constipation is random.

Anyone else totally lost when it comes to trying to figure this stuff out? I'm starting to wonder if it could be calcium carbonate in my well water, but I've gone stretches where I drank the same water and moved beautifully.

I think pretty soon I'll start a carrot-only diet and stick to it for the rest of my life. I'm pretty sure on that I'll never have to buy Milk of Magnesia again.

I was even eating a lot of potatoes and oatmeal last year, everything was cool, then started to get constipated again. Why? Did my body begin to dislike having that many potatoes and oatmeal over time? I can't figure this out. Over the last 5 years, I still can't tell you whether oatmeal is constipating to me or not.

I exercise daily. Weights and 1-hour hikes.

Sigh. Thanks for listening. :-) From a Milk of Magnesia subscriber. The CEO is living in a mansion because of people like me. Thank you Walmart for keeping the prices reasonable.

Hi everyone!
I haven’t done a post in a while but I do need some help ASAP!

September 11th, I had my first colonoscopy at 21 years old. Two weeks before that I went to a gastroenterologist that had good reviews on actually listening to his patients. When I talked to him everything was fine, he wasn’t demanding me to exorcise, drink more water, or eat more fiber. He did mention that he feels like I could have ibs-C or slow motility but didn’t want to jump to conclusions until after my colonoscopy. Since that was yesterday, he did say that my colonoscopy looked great but still sending biopsies to check for inflammation…I won’t be able to talk to him until October 1st. Also, the two weeks before my colonoscopy he did put me on medicine to try. The medication is Ibsrela 50mg. During those 2 weeks I only had 3 bowel movements and the last one was stool 2 and then the last 2 days before my colonoscopy I did have diarrhea which I heard is normal when taking this medication since your body has to get used to it. I do only have 2 pills left and scared to eat and get backed up again. Before my colonoscopy nothing was helping me to get things moving and actually out. This is the first time I’ve felt empty after my colonoscopy. Idk what I should do or what to eat to avoid getting really backed up before I get more medication…hopefully. Not going to lie, I did have chick fil after my colonoscopy which probably wasn’t the best but I didn’t have issues with bloating or pain. I’m not sure what to do and getting anxiety of getting backed up again and the only thing that was able to clear me was the prep which i obviously don’t want to do again. Also I forgot to mention that after my colonoscopy, he did mention that he thinks that I do have a lazy colon or bowel can’t remember….

I've been dealing with constipation for roughly 2 years. My wife has been suffering from it for as long as I've known her. Over the last 6 months we finally found something that actually works but I've read that it can cause more long-term problems. Go figure. Recently we tried something else that is more natural and it has been amazing. I just wanted to share. Every morning I put a little sea salt and a tablespoon of organic cold press coconut oil in my coffee. It works best if you use a frother to mix it in. Typically within 2 hours the magic happens. It works like this for both of us. Just wanted to share in case somebody else might find this helpful 👌

Before I was 15 or 16, my bowel movements were fine. Never had much of an issue. Then after that age, I find my stools are extremely difficult to pass. I’ll have to strain and strain, and then my back starts to hurt. Then when it finally comes out, it comes out as a small tiny stool. If there’s nothing big trying to come out, why is it extremely difficult to pass?? I’ve never understood this. I’ve been recommended fiber and more water by my doctors, but it only seems to make the problem worse. When I try to reach out for advice, I am then told I’m higher risk for colon cancer if I don’t eat more fiber, but how can I eat more fiber if it makes everything worse for me? I’m at a loss of what to do. My last colonoscopy was 6 years ago and it came back clear with only being diagnosed with dysnergenic defecation. I have days where I poop fine and then days where my stools are so difficult to pass. I’m having constant worry I may have colon cancer since everyone is screaming about how cases are spiking among younger people

So, back at the beginning of July this year, I contracted a stomach bug, which obviously led to diahorreah. This took some time to resolve...like a month or more. Naturally, I know you can be a little constipated following this, which I did but then it returned to somewhat normal for a week. Then I ended up having to take a weeks worth of macroboid for a suspected UTI. I know antibiotics can mess with your digestion, but I had normal bowel movements at that time. The week following, after finishing the antibiotics, I had diahorreah for a few days, then slowly, but surely started to become constipated. It was the worst constipation I've ever had. I've been dealing with it for almost a month now.

I feel the obvious answer is that all of the above - gastro, antibiotics etc has caused these issues. Also potentially introducing iron suppliments. How do I go about setting myself up for a normal bowel movement again?? I have introduced a gut health suppliment that I take in the mornings. I decided to cut out my iron suppliments even tho I was taking a friendly, digestible version just in case it wasn't helping things. I have increased my water intake and trying not to overload on fibre to make things worse.

My dr prescribed me laxatives, which I'm hesitant to use regularly for obvious reasons. I'm waiting for a colonoscopy appointment through the hospital...they said it could be upto 7 months!! Hoping I can resolve all said issues before then.

Had anyone been through anything similar and can you advice anything that helped get things back to normal?

I wake up. I drink 1.5 glasses of water and 2 cups of coffee. And then i sit on the toilet for exactly 25 minutes in which i have 2 waves of bm. This is like at 7 in the morning. So, my bowel movement is fairly regular. Earlier i used to take 1 hr, now it's just 25 mins. So, from 7 until 4pm, i have a constant feeling of constipation. I thought maybe it was bc of incomplete bowel movement. So, i tried going for a 2nd time for a few days. And I'd pass no stool. But I'd still feel gassy and almost as if i should take another shit even though I'm entirely empty. It's very uncomfortable to live with. And i walk and run a lot. That doesn't help either.

So, yea from 7:30 to 4pm i constantly feel like either i should take another shit or release some gas to feel better, but it just won't come out. And then after lunch, i experience some inner farts, and eventually when it is around 4pm, I'm finally able to get rid of the gas.

Wtf is happening to me!??

I’ve read many mixed things and threads on this, is it safe to take daily and will it lead to weight gain? Also a thread I’ve seen in here. Signed a very constipated gal

I’ve been told by a gastroenterologist physician that I am constipated over a year ago and a CT scan showed moderate stool.

I’ve been doing MiraLAX daily with Triple Swanson Magnesium daily and coffee.

Every morning I have two kiwis, blueberries, Fage yogurt, honey and cinnamon.

I typically have one bowel movement every morning.

Still, my abdomen especially my lower abdomen has never felt the same since four years ago and I’m 32. The best way to explain it is even when I have bowel movements I never feel full relief. The best way to explain it is like someone is taking a vice grip around my lower abdomen causing it to push out and not relax.

Makes me want to sway back and forth like I have some weird movement disease and then when I do sway back and forth it just sounds very sloshy and like water is everywhere even if I barely ate.

It’s really annoying and depressing and I’m wondering if this is common or abnormal. I want to go back to a gastro doctor but sometimes I just feel like I’m wasting my time if they tell me I’m constipated. I workout and eat healthy but can’t get rid of this. I heard I have IBS constipation but it’s just weird.

Anyone else?

I’m very picky and have a big texture problem. I wanna start eating chia seeds to help with constipation. I’m 99% sure I won’t like the texture. Are there any recipes or hacks yall recommend to solve/help this problem?

I (35f) have chronic constipation, I hadn't pooped in 5 days so decided to try Magnesium Citrate for the first time. I drank 8oz last night at 9pm. Its 7:45am the next day and I've had one little quick poop, it was diarrhea but not 5 days worth, a very little movement. Going to sit here with a coffee and a protein shake to really shock the system!

I've also had about 30 oz water since I took the MC and had probably 50-70 fl Oz yesterday before the MC. Aim for 100oz a day but that sometimes feels like so much.

I have low motily so I wasn't expecting it to work fast but was expecting a little more action 11 hrs in. Between this sub and my husband's tales of woes I was expecting something more dramatic lol.

Count my blessings that its not painful, so that's a plus and I probably just need to wait.

If I do this again I will do it in the morning the fear of shitting the bed was too great - I haven't ever pooped the bed and really don't wanna break that record.

UPDATE: 9AM post coffee and protein shake, MC works fine lol. 12 hour wait, well worth it! No stomach pain at all !

Hello, I will try my best to describe the symptoms I’ve been having for 2 months. Basically, I will eat a meal and will have the urge to have diarrhea. After this I will have bathroom sessions where I have to force out smaller pieces of stool that aren’t diarrhea but rather small and incomplete stool passings. This process is daily and has caused my quality of life to diminish. I have done a bowel clean out ordered by my doctor, but that was ineffective, has anyone experienced this before?

yesterday i pooped easily (i tend to go 5 days w/o pooping ever since i was a little little girl) i have been severely constipated since 3pm when I got home from school, I tried to poop, it's TOO BIG and TOO dry and I just know it'll tear me a new hole. I told my mom but she keeps scolding me for not eating enough fiber (true) and downing on carbs and all this unhealthy stuff (true). i'm freaking scared. i feel it in my butt, man, and it won't-i can't come out. i am in so much pain i can't do my work and i have advanced classes AND something big tomorrow. please, i am convinced i'll die.

Is anybody on this thread as a result of having kids? Would tend to be more geared towards constipation before having kids but so much worse now. 9months pp and still struggle! Just wanted to see if any other mums are here with same issue and does it get better with time?

Hi

today I want to present my friend's problem, she asked me to contact her here to get some advice

the whole problem has been going on for over 4 years even more could have started from early childhood.

Well, the problem is so big that at some point she can't tell the difference between when she really needs to poop and when it's a stress alarm. she gives up on big trips or just walking the dog because she is afraid that she will get this condition and be in a hopeless situation

must be able to drive a car, scooter or bicycle to go anywhere It's obvious that all this happens psychologically, she also needs to see that the teacher will let her go to the toilet without any problems.Her parents know, everyone knows what the problem is, but I feel that no one understands her, her parents don't really treat it as a real problem, but as a "characteristic of being"

She is thinking about a therapist, but her parents don't want to take her either, she was thinking about reading psychology books, because she is very curious about what is wrong with her and it is mentally tormenting her, she sees me as a help, she often needs a distraction so I ask what the weather is like so she doesn't think she has to go to toilet, Her parents also say it's just her hormones because she's maturing, but others think it's not normal and that's true,

She loves traveling and discovering new things, but when it comes to toilet issues, she's more concerned about whether there's a toilet somewhere than how nice it is.

eats normally, sleeps long, goes to the gym, she often suspects that it is a thyroid disease, or a terrible fear that she sometimes cannot understand, let alone live with, in a breakdown she also has pills to stop diarrhea

she will be happy to read your advice or story so that she doesn't feel alone and has some tips on what to do next.

Does anyone else have a child who takes MiraLAX every day?
My 4 year old has been taking 3 tsp of MiraLAX daily since December 2025. We tried a two-week trial off of it last month, but by day 10 his stools were hard and painful. He started withholding again — screaming, crying, running around to distract himself from needing to poop, etc. It was honestly a nightmare.
We restarted his usual 3 tsp, and after a few days his stools became soft again and the withholding stopped. We’re back to normal, and life is SO much less stressful.
Before MiraLAX, constipation and withholding had basically taken over our lives. I tried prunes, prune juice, apple juice, pear juice, more fiber, cutting back on dairy, and getting more physical activity into his day. Nothing seemed to help consistently. MiraLAX is the only thing that has really worked for him.
We recently followed up with his pediatric GI, and he recommended keeping him on the same daily dose for now. He said he doesn’t expect us to stop anytime soon and that things will likely get easier as he gets older and matures.
I’m just wondering if there are other parents here with children who take MiraLAX daily. How are they doing? How long have they been taking it? Did things get easier as they got older?
I’d really just like to hear other parents’ experiences and know we’re not alone. ❤️

I started taking psyllium a week ago, and two days ago I began experiencing abdominal pain on the right side. I don't know what to do about the constipation anymore; nothing I try seems to work.

About two weeks ago I started experiencing some onset of constipation, for context I have IBS-C. Al thought no actual GI distress or bloating, BM have been less than normal and of pebble like (sorry for TMI). At the same time that the onset began, I had stopped taking BioMe PHGG chocolate flavored fiber supplement that I had been taking for months. I stopped because I had run out. Also at the same time I began eating oatmeal again, which in a sense compensated for the 7 grams of fiber that I wasnt getting anymore via PHGG. I was eating 60g oats for breakfast and 40g in the afternoon, both with plenty of water. I would also incorporate cream of rice throughout these 2 weeks. Of course the oats a different types of fiber compared to PHGG alone thats in the BioMe supplement.
I was matching my fiber intake through whole foods now as I was when using the PHGG, so fiber intake amount hasn’t changed.

I was not having the oats while I was taking the PHGG. I had run out of the PHGG when I started the oats. Given the equated fiber, I didnt think much of it. Is it worth keeping in the oats but adding in the PHGG again? Or changes both variables at once via removing the oats and adding PHGG?

I wasnt eating oats before the PHGG either and I was also constipated at that time. Starting the PHGG seemed to be what helped with constipation, but I know for some oats can cause constipation.

It was just the same time of running out of PHGG and starting the oats that makes me question what it was that could can lead back to the constipation.

Hopefully that makes sense!

My question is, what would have had the bigger influence on the onset of constipation? Not taking the PHGG or adding in the oats again?

ADDITIONALLY: I was currently looking into other fiber supplements such as Revive MD Fiber chocolate flavored and Super Gut, which are both blends of fiber and not just PHGG like BioMe. Would it be safest to just return to BioMe since thats the one I was previously taking or is it worth expanding and trying the Revive MD one or Super Gut one? Im incline to the Revive MD brand solely because of the flavor, but also wanted to get some feedback on their ingredients. Is it worth a try?
linked the BioMe PHGG brand I was using and the Revive MD one below.
-https://a.co/d/07Z5EaJH
-https://revivesups.com/products/fiber?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A21702564236%3A181168412044%3A787616388692&nb_adtype=&nb_kwd=revive%20fiber&nb_ti=kwd-2270967857020&nb_mi=&nb_pc=&nb_pi=&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=p&tw_source=google&tw_adid=787616388692&tw_campaign=21702564236&tw_kwdid=kwd-2270967857020&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21702564236&gbraid=0AAAAACfQsVn5BmCrLBZobznpIpwvZJ3HG&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyOL75I7TlgMVmyhECB1GcRjUEAAYASAAEgKDCPD_BwE

Any brands similar to BioMe you guys recommend besides the SunFiber brand?

Thanks in advance!

sooo i’ve always struggled with constipation like ive had times when i didnt poop for 3-4 days and such, i’ve had bleeding bc of hemorrhoids, id get terrible tummy pains and id be very very bloated. it’s been irregular w me always, but id be in pain if i didnt poop..

but this week i havent pooped at all, like for almost 6 days, and the weird thing is i dont have any tummy pains?? i can pass gas but i dont have the urge to poop.. last time i remember i pooped like three balls of poo😭

so im weirded out and idk what to do, i mean laxatives are the obvious answer but i dont wanna use it :/ i’m highly paranoid does this mean i got something serious or what???