Safe to take a laxative?

[Kittee]

My pill test is on Monday, and I'm feeling kinda uhm...backed up. Would it be safe to take a laxative you think? I haven't had a chance to ask the DR. yet about Crohns and laxatives.

I know that's prolly a really stupid question right?:lol:

 

[Jeff D.]

My doctor has me take miralax whenever I get backed up. It doesn't bother my stomach at all and I always seem to go really easy afterwards. It's like you have one push and then all of a sudden the contents of your intestines seem to be emptied out. I go on what's called "miralax treatment" which is five doses of miralax every hour. It always empties me. Ask your GI though first.

 

[Kittee]

kk guess I will forgo the laxative tonight. I just hate this "bloated" feeling.

 

[Jeff D.]

I know what you mean. I have always suffered from constipation. It's terrible but letting your GI know will lead to less hassle if you end up feeling sick from it. Your GI won't be mad and most will be happy that you are trying something new. Good luck

 

[Creepy Lurker]

Mixing laxatives and strictures can be a bit dodgy sometimes. It can sometimes make blockages worse!

 

[drew_wymore]

Creepy is spot on. I took quite a few laxatives before I realized I had an obstruction and it wasn't pleasant. You might want to look into Magnesium Citrate, its a liquid laxative thats really cheap, like 2 bucks a bottle at Walgreens. I only use it if I'm having really bad bloating and backup and it works darn nearly instantly.

I hope you get to feeling better soon!

 

[Kev]

Well, if you can't contact a dr's office for advice on this; one fairly reliable source you can turn to is your local pharmacist. Explain the situation, ask if they know of a mild, natural based laxative... or a mild, natural, water soluble form of fibre... After my resection, I asked my GI IF I could take anything if I became backed up/constipated (had this horrible notion it might occur whilst my stitches were still fresh... pictured my sewn-up colon coming apart at the seams, as it were - thankfully it didnt' happen)
Anyway, he advised a natural, MILD, overnite laxative would be safe for me. Bear in mind, post surgery, I was completely inflamation free... colon was in the 'best' shape ever. Other things you can do is decrease eating solids... switch to liquid or soft diet only.. and increase the fluids you drink.