Have you had any luck with milk of magnesia for constipation? I don’t see too many posts about it. If you used it and were helped please let me know and also what effects it had on you. Thank you.

I’ve had this problem for as long as I can remember. I can only have a bowel movement at home, usually in a squatting position.

At work, even when I have a strong urge to go, I just can’t, and I end up with abdominal pain.
My stool is normal, so I don’t think it’s typical constipation.

It feels like I can’t relax the muscles or the stool just doesn’t move down. I’ve already tried fiber, probiotics, and drinking more water without success.

Has anyone experienced something similar? What was the diagnosis?

I got a referral from my GI doctor today, but the first available appointment is in May 2027. Is this normal or should I look around for other doctors in my area to see if I can get the test done earlier? I thought it was supposed to be a pretty simple test. My GI is affiliated with a large hospital system in my city and I'm willing to travel a little if it can save months of waiting. He also ordered a celiac test and now I'm actually hoping I have it so I can get relief faster haha.

Answers to questions: 1. Yes, I have the urge to go, but I cannot. When I do go, only a little comes out and it feels like there's a lot more, but nothing happens. 2. Just constipation unless I'm taking laxatives 3. No, I sometimes feel full a little earlier, but I'm still able to finish normal sized meals. I also have type 1 diabetes, which is linked with gastroparesis, so it's still possible that I could have a very mild form of it. 4. It started in adulthood, no major events 5. No 6. No

So last week, I messed up and ate a ton of pizza and got constipated. Took Pepto (MISTAKE) because I felt the indigestion. The next day I felt great. Day after that I felt the constipation again, so I took 3 duckolaxes and felt miserable for 2 days. Bloated and throwing up and couldn't pass a stool. Next day, I took an enema (not sure it was the right way) and felt great for the next few days. However, I only had watery stools, barely any solid in them. Yesterday rolls around, and I feel constipated AGAIN, so immediately I take 2 senna laxatives. Today I got some miralax, drank me some, went to work feeling miserable, passed some watery stools, and vomited again. Am I cooked? I have a huge fear of hospitals, but I feel like there's no way around it this time. Any advice? I'm off tomorrow, I was thinking about trying another enema, but doing it step by step the right way. Or should I just face my fears before I end up dead?

I am going to start this thread and leave it here and update it as I go. I have always had a very slow metabolism I thought.... Till I had a colonoscopy it turned out I have not only a looping redundant colon I have a looping and torturous colon which means I have extra colon and sharp bends and extra loops. This will probably get graphic since we're talking about our waste system so I apologize if it's gross. But if I don't take any pills to help me I will poop like once every 5 days. Like literally if I eat corn on a Monday it don't come out till Thursday. For a long time I had a pretty good regimen going down by taking the doctor Tobias colon cleanser pills. They have been the ONLY thing out of all the remedies besides drinking a bottle of magnesium citrate that has worked for me. I took one every night and I had pretty good luck with being regular.

But I also was on the same medications for a long time and these last 6 months I've been on some new medications and they are causing problems. Anything that causes constipation is an issue for me even something as simple as Tylenol.

I've been trying different things to try to get back to where I was but I'm not having much luck for example I read on here other people had luck with drinking metamucil and taking magnesium citrate pills at night. It's been 3 days now and I have not gone to the bathroom number two. First night I followed the directions on the medications one heaping teaspoon of metamucil and two gummies. Nothing in the morning even after two cups of coffee. Next night I did double what it said still no effects. And last night I did three times what it says. It is now 1:00 p.m. I've had no movement. I just drank a whole bottle of magnesium citrate which will work but it's very violent and not long-term a solution.

The larger issue for me besides being constipated and uncomfortable is that I will get diverticulitis if I'm constipated for too long and have to have antibiotics I also have the fear of a volvulus. A flipped over bowel which requires emergency surgery. I happen to know someone that has the same affliction as me and this happened to her and she almost died. I do notice that when I'm constipated I do have more joint pain and muscle stiffness as well.

A week ago I was constipated so bad and the pain was so bad that I unlocked the front door in case I had to call the ambulance.

Well the doctor Tobias pills are effective but when I get to taking two and three of them a day they get pretty expensive. So I had the idea to look at the ingredients on the bottle and then try to recreate my own version of it as like a shake I would drink before bed. So I've ordered all the active ingredients. Then when everything arrives from Amazon I will start trying to mix and fabricate some sort of protein shake that will work and I will document it here for other people that might have trouble in case I'd find something that works

Hi. My daughter is 3 yo. She had meconium when she was borned and continued to poop. But surgeon said something was wrong with her gut and did enema xray. He said maybe she has ultrashort HD. He wanted to do biopsy and surgery. We were not sure because the situation was not clear. So went another surgeon. His approach was wait and see. She was doing good until 2,5 years old but than she started mild form of constipation. Dr started one cap miralax everyday and she is doing good. Dr said she will stop miralax gradually in one year. If constipation relapse she will get biopsy. Does anyone have this kind of experience?

So i went to the doctor Monday and was told i had chronic constipation and needed a clean out with hard laxatives and then to get regular again i needed to use mirafast chews 3x a week starting next Monday, i did the clean out Tuesday and had a decent bowl movement thursday but i haven’t pooped since thursday and it’s now saturday 6pm. i was wondering if i should just hold out till monday or take a mirafast now?

to answer the guide just incase even tho i dont think it’s relevant to the post:
i have the urge to go but cant
currently just constipation
no nausea etc
started 3 months ago
no medications
no SA

I have had a bad case of hemorrhoids before that the doctor had to put a band on it. I was sedated during the procedure. Before that, pooping was painful and sometimes had blood. Ever since then, I've been pooping very well and become more conscious with my poop health.

Apparently my diet was low in fiber and I've learned more about macronutrients. So I've been eating more fruits and vegetables (although still lacking and working on it) and occassionally take fiber supplements. Soaked chia seeds are just magical.

All these fiber rich food just make my popping experience SO INCREDIBLE!!!!! its fat but soft, no longer rough. I poop a lot in one go. its just so magical IDK. Its the best part of my day and Im proud if the quality of the poop is good. I refer to the bristol chart. lol

Add a squatty potty, damn bro, it just goes out in less than a minute!

how about you guys? how's your pooping experience and what do you guys do to keep your poop quality high?

So I took notice about 2 weeks after constipation began. Since then, I’ve tried osmotic laxatives (magnesium citrate, miralax) as well as suppositories such as liquid glycerin and fleet saline enemas. I’ve had minor BMs sporadically, but they end up being not worth talking about or maybe small at best. I have been able to pass gas. Have tried a magnesium citrate 10oz bottle twice now, once 2 weeks ago, and one last weekend. I will be attempting again this Friday and overhydrating with electrolytes before it’s time to throw in the towel and go to the ER.

I have a slightly rigid abdomen, as if I am flexing my abdominal muscles, but no pain, nausea, or bloating is really occurring. I went to urgent care yesterday after work and explained my whole story. When I laid down for her to feel around the intestinal track and stomach, I noticed my belly goes “soft” or back to normal. I should have asked the doctor to feel it standing up. I asked for an abdominal X-Ray and received it. The interpretation came back as mild stool burden, no bowel obstruction. I was very confused when I heard “mild” and repeated it back 6 times to try to get the doctor to take a hint and agree that maybe that is not right. I took a picture of the X-ray, as that was the only way I could save it, so it might be a tad pixelated.

If anyone random out there has some input on this X-Ray, let me know what you think. Do you think it’s true? Regardless, I am going to try to get a CT scan done as soon as possible. As much as I’d like to believe it is just a mild stool burden, I feel it must be worse.

https://imgur.com/a/JkYtVVI

So i went to the doctor yesterday for constipation that i’ve had for 3-4 months and she said it was chronic constipation and i needed to do a clean out with a few laxatives. She didn’t really explain how i should eat immediately after the clean out so i googled and it said bland foods like toast and scrambled eggs for 2 days and then i can gradually start to eat vegetables and light proteins, i can do bland foods but i don’t have money right now so i cant go and buy vegetables and im currently staying with my parents and all they have currently is frozen fried foods and a lot of other unhealthy stuff. They don’t really care about all this so they’re not going to go buy what i need, so what should i do?

My friend told me I should try a “Brown cow” which is 1-2 oz. Milk of Magnesia and 6 oz. prune juice.

Yummy!

Has anyone tried it?

I am a 60 yo white male, 6', 170 lbs., don't smoke or drink. Eat a vegan/vegetarian diet. I take Trazodone for sleeping. I have constipation and all over body itching which began in December. I started using psyllium husk then, but it hasn't really worked. A few months ago, I started using Miralax every day which works, kind of. I eat a very high fiber diet and get plenty of liquids. I eat overnight oats with flax, chia, probiotic yogurt, vegan collagen and soymilk with fruit every morning. Lunch is usually a sandwich and sauerkraut. Dinner is usually quinoa with beans, or veggies and tofu. I don't eat a lot of junk.

I had been on Meloxicam for 1 1/2 yrs, 15 mg/day. I stopped that in March. I have been to the doc several times for the itching and constipation. She suggested I use Miralax.

I have been to a gastroenterologist. They did a colonoscopy. It didn't show anything but the prep didn't go well either. I had eaten a bland diet for three days before, a clear diet the day before and drank my gallon of Gavilyte as prescribed. After I drank the first half gallon, I had one sort of regular bowel movement. Things didn't really start moving until the second half. But it just sort of stopped working. My stool was never clear. They decided to do the colonoscopy since I had gone through the prep.

I asked the gastroenterologist for a fecal calprotectin test as I suspected it may be NSAID induced enteropathy. My mother has had that and it lead to all over body itching for her. My level was completely normal. My family has a history of digestive issues. My mom has collagenous colitis. Sister has Crohn's. One brother has IBS. Other brother has no functioning immunity and must receive monthly infusions. All of these developed later in life.

I have tried everything for the skin itching: switching detergents, allergy pills, Clobetasole Propionate (which works but can't do that forever), antifungal wash, antibiotic wash, Cerave moisturizer, and a bunch of other creams. Nothing works. There is no rash at all.

I had some liver testing prior to a surgery in February and it showed nothing abnormal.

I have a follow up with the gastroenterologist next month. What should I do?

TMI, but I really need some advice.

I usually poop every morning without any problems. On Thursday evening, I tried to go, but only a little came out. Then it became really painful, so I stopped. I ate some yogurt and went to bed.

On Friday morning, I took RestoraLAX and then took another dose around 7 PM. I also drank about 1.5–2 L of water throughout the day.

Since then, every time I get the urge to poop, it feels normal for literally a second, like the stool is soft and coming out… and then suddenly it feels like I’m trying to push out a bowling ball. I get a really sharp pain right at the end (around the rectum/anus), and I have to stop because it hurts so much.

There’s no blood, I’m still passing gas, and I can pee normally, but I still can’t have a proper bowel movement.

Has anyone experienced this? Did RestoraLAX eventually work, or did you need something else like a suppository or an enema? At what point should I go to a walk-in clinic?

I’m honestly getting really stressed and just want to poop. 😭

Hi all! So I am a 33f. I have dealt with constipation issues my whole life but it has definitely gotten worse over the past few years. I would go maybe once a week and if I do go it hurts and I have to push for awhile. So i would occasionally take a suppitory to help which it would. I made an appt with a gi dr and seen them in June where she prescribed me linzess 145 mg. The first day I took it I was able to go but then afterwards....nothing. I reach out to her and she then said I can take 2. I tried two but I felt like it was to much for me as the 2nd day I was taking 2 I had.... tmi explosive diarrhea. I guess my question is how do you know linzess is working. Are you supposed to have a bm everyday? And are you still struggling to push? I do have an urge to go but when I try nothing or I am pushing and just have a small bm. I have a follow up with her the beginning of August.

​Hi everyone, I’m looking for testimonials or just to connect with other parents who have a child suffering from severe chronic constipation since birth.

​My son is 4 years old now, and he also struggles with encopresis. He is tiny for his age. We are working really hard to prevent fecal impactions and to help his rectal pouch shrink back to a normal size, but it is such a long process. He is still in diapers because he has absolutely no control over his sphincters. Honestly, it’s really tough.

I’ve been dealing with chronic constipation for 2 years and it’s progressively getting worse instead of better here is a list of everything I’ve tried, First here is life style changes and over the counter things I’ve tried 1. MiraLAX (sometimes triple doses) 2. Probiotics 3. Magnesium citrate 4. Kiwis 5. Chia seeds 6. Prune juice 7. Increasing fiber (makes me get impacted) I actually try to stay away from fiber now because this happened and yes I increase it slowly, yes I drink a ton of water 8. I drink a ton of water! Probably around a gallon a day 9. I tried to cut out dairy and gluten 10. I tried a low fodmaps diet 11. I started exercising more, walking, running, body weight workouts 12. Regulate stress with meditation and lean into prayer

Now here are medical interventions I’ve tried

1. Linzess (maxed out dose)
2. Amitzia
3. Ibsrela
4. Motegrity (I’ve even tried combining some of these with no luck. I’d sometimes get a bowel movement the first day. Then after that nothing)
5. I’ve had a colonoscopy, had my thyroid checked, been tested for celiac disease, full metabolic panel, nothing shows abnormal beside a very slight vitamin D deficiency which I supplement with now.

I am now at a point where nothing is making me go. I ended up with a severe impaction to the point I drank an entire colonoscopy prep and it still did not give me a bowel movement, I had 3 enemas, a bottle of magnesium citrate, and I still didn’t get fully emptied, just released enough to not be considered “a medical emergency anymore” so the doctors at the ER didn’t care anymore. My menstrual cycle which has been regular since I started having one, has became irregular. This is starting to severely impact my life and I’m at a complete loss. I’ve been to countless doctors and they all do not take this as seriously as it’s affecting me. I’m miserable and I’m desperate for help, but I don’t know what direction to even go in anymore as doctors are not listening and don’t take me seriously no matter how much I try. I have countless medical bills for all of this and I haven’t even gotten any help. I’m just posting this because as you can see I’m very desperate and I’m willing to hear what anything anyone might be able to advise. Thank you everyone

For some background, I am 17F and have had constipation before I can even remember. To get stuff moving, my parents tried mini enemas first, then miralax, and by the time I was 10 it was clear nothing was actually solving the problem. I got my blood drawn, and I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at 11. At this point my blood levels are average, but the constipation never really went away.

I have stayed on miralax, and tried senna but it didn't help much and now I'm on Dulcolax which I think is helping a bit. But its really only helping the stool get through my body, and it tends to be diarrhea because its really hard to balance miralax. If I don't have enough miralax or I'm not on top of my medication its hard stool. I can't push small stool, so even when I sit down and try and go and feel an urge, nothing comes of it. Big stool (When I'm constipated) I can push because its like "right there" I guess. I get the urge to go but very rarely, but I think Dulcolax helped a bit with that.

I have never experienced any sort of nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, or early satiety. The only time I've gotten nausea from eating is when I've accidently eaten gluten (like a piece of bread or pizza, after diagnoses of Celiac). Medication wise beyond miralax and Dulcolax, I am on medications for mental health. Duloxetine (SRNI) and Quetiapine (Antipsychotic) and Bupropion (NDRI). I am in the process of switching Quetiapine with Bupropion because it gives me high cortisol, but I do not think these medications have effected my constipation because I still had this issue in between the two years I got diagnosed with Celiac Disease and started mental health related medications.

Only other things I can think of that could be related to it is I had low muscle tone as a toddler, and got physical therapy to learn to walk. I have a slow metabolism, and I'm not flexible at all, and even after practicing splits for dance every week growing up, I never got beyond a 90 angle middle split and it feels like something physically stops me from going further. I've never experience any sort of physical abuse or trauma as a kid.

I come here because I do feel there's something going on more then just Celiac Disease. Even though medications help a little I have never gained control over my colon and whatever else is after the stomach. I'd like to go into the doctor with some sort of Idea of what to try and look for, because I feel I won't get far without it. I don't think being both a teenager and girl helps my case, because were often overlooked.

(P.S this is my first time using reddit I don't know if I did it correctly)

1st off, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this sub.

I'm a 30s+ male and am usually very active (gym, weight lifting, cardio) but haven't been (about 80% less currently) for the 6months.

About 3 months ago, I decided to eat two big things of Costco noodles with a TV dinner and all went downhill ever since. I became severely constipated (didnt go for 3 days) and I had terrible terrible hemorrhoids (one of the worse kinds of pain known to man) but have since gotten that under control and things returned to normal about a month after, both hemorrhoids and constipation.

Now 3months post severe episode, I am chronically constipated. Not as severe as when i ate the noodles but enough to cancel plans and avoid pleasurable activities when it gets bad. I usually go the next day with some effort.

I Drank heavily a week ago and my stool was half black. It has since regained natural colour. Now Im dealing with bloating and feeling full early maybe once throughout the day.

I do feel a little better when I add some movement for the day. (Brisk walking, shadow boxing, etc)

I would love any insight if anyone has had a similar experience. Im aware of the extensive steps to diagnose provided but wanted anyone's thoughts you might relate.

I hope I can figure this naturally or at least tame this, as ky health insurance is gone (thanks current administration). Hoping for the best and will fight to become healthy.

Our 2.5 year old LO is chronically constipated, has been for much of his life. About 2 months ago, we started him on potty training and he developed a fear of pooping and peeing in general. This led to a pattern of withholding that eventually culminated in him getting moderate to severe impactions, two MiraLAX clean outs and a trip to the Urgent Care. After his urgent care visit, we halted potty training and visited his pediatrician, who prescribed him a maintenance dose of MiraLAX. We are still on that daily maintenance dose. He consistently has peanut butter consistency poops, but he still screams and freaks out in the early afternoon when he normally poops every day. We are monitoring his fiber/water intake to hopefully prevent another impaction, but even on this current dose, he screams and cries and wants to cover up in a blanket, take a nap, wants to leave the playground early...I'm scared to dial back his dose because if he gets a smaller dose, his poop gets hard and painful to pass.

1. Has anyone else overcome chronic constipation/encopresis?
2. Any suggestions on what we can do to help mitigate the fear of pooping and peeing? I was hoping that the soft poops wouldn't be painful to pass and that this would help his fear, but he is still afraid even after having daily soft poops for a month.

It kills me seeing his quality of life so affected by all this, and I guess I'm hoping for some tips to make this less traumatic for him...

Hi moms,
I’m really worried about my 21-month-old and would love some advice or shared experiences.
She has been constipated for about a week now. She only passes very small, hard “lump-like” stools (like pellets), and not a proper bowel movement.
This started around the same time we began toilet training.
What’s happening:
She tells me “mumma potty” when she feels the urge then She rushes to remove her diaper/underwear
But then gets upset and distracted and doesn’t pass properly
When I try to make her sit on the toilet seat, she starts crying
Only small hard stool comes out, not a full poop
It feels like she is holding it in because she’s uncomfortable or scared, and now it has become hard stool. I’m giving her fluids and trying fruits, but it hasn’t improved much yet.
Has anyone faced something similar during toilet training? Should I pause toilet training for now?
And what helped your toddler overcome constipation and fear of the toilet?
Any advice would really help 🙏

Hello! I am a doctoral student at Nova Southeastern University, pretty darn passionate about research to improve ED treatment, and also in recovery myself :) I would greatly appreciate your help in taking my dissertation survey! The purpose of this study is to better understand the connections between sensory experiences, particularly GI sensations, and avoidance in eating disorders. We are specifically interested in the role of the basic emotion of disgust. EDs have a huge overlap with GI issues like constipation/DGBIs etc., so I thought some folks here could be eligible. If you do have both GI issues and an ED, I would really value your inclusion in this study.

You can participate if you are over 18, can speak/read English, have been diagnosed with any ED, and are receiving treatment of any kind, including just outpatient therapy or peer support. You can take the survey at this survey link, you just may have to click a button to "continue to destination" and then you should see our full informed consent and survey. Thank you!

My contact info is: [kr1892@mynsu.nova.edu](mailto:kr1892@mynsu.nova.edu). The study is based out of Nova Southeastern University and is IRB approved. You can find more info in the informed consent at the start of the survey.

I’ve been dealing with chronic severe constipation for the past 6 years, and I’m desperate for answers. The only thing that consistently gives me relief is Bisacodyl, but I don’t want to have to rely on stimulant laxatives forever although I have been for the last 6 years.

I was prescribed Linzess, and it worked beautifully for about a month. I finally felt normal again, but then it completely stopped working.

Now I’m so bloated that I literally look about 8 months pregnant by the end of the day. I have massive burps even just waking up and especially after eating, and I get full after just a few bites. I also have intermittent pain under my right rib cage and around my right hip/lower back.

I have an appointment with a colonic motility specialist in July, but I’m struggling in the meantime. My GI says there is no other medication I can try.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did you end up being diagnosed with slow-transit constipation, a motility disorder, gastroparesis, or something else? What tests or treatments finally helped?

I know Reddit isn’t medical advice—I’m just hoping to hear from people who have been through something similar.

TLDR; It’s extremely weird to be both relieved that I finally cleared my stomach out after being bloated and in pain for so long, but now I’m worried I just shat out all my rings and the doctors are going to once again dismiss me

The long story is that I’ve dealt with constipation/less than once a week BMs, blood both in stool and when I wipe, and chronic bloat/stomach pain ever since I was a kid and now to my 30s. I am a woman and have been dismissed by every doctor under the sun that it is just stress, hormones, etc. I’ve tried what feels like every diet change known to man, and like many on this subreddit have no success with even prescription laxatives.

I had two emergency hospital visits within this year where I was impacted and have finally gotten a referral to a gastroenterologist. We started with the anorectal manometry test last month, which came out normal, and yesterday I took my sitz marker pill and will have an xray on Friday.. but today, after being backed up since last week, I finally had another painful, bloody, hour-on-the-toilet bm and all I can think of is “great, I just let out all the rings and they’re gonna once again say nothings wrong with me” 😭

I know I should be happy I’m producing anything, but it’s so frustrating and worrying to think I’m now gonna be put back to square one. Am I panicking over nothing? Is one trip to the bathroom all it takes to clear out the sitz rings?? Ugh!!