RE: Constipation

December 7, 2000

Others have given you some good ideas; here are others:

Managing Bowel Dysfunction

>

>A Patient Education Pamphlet

>

>http://henry.ee.rochester.edu:8080/users/levinson/bowel.html

>

>For Constipation:

>

>Non-prescription??:

>

I BELIEVE NON-PRESCRIPTION (SOMEONE HELP IF I'M WRONG):

>SennaGen

>SURFAK

>Herb-Lax

>Magnesium Citrate

>Milk of Magnesia

>Glycerin suppositories

>manual extraction with soap enemas

>VegiTabs

>Charcoal caplets

Someone also mentioned licorice helps loosen bowels and has the added

benefit of raising blood pressure (which most need here)

AND PRESCRIPTION:

>Dulcolax

>Pericolace

>Konsyl

>Lomitil

I think these are prescription:

>Miralax

>Nulytely

Rose

----Original Message Follows----

Reply-To: shydrageregroups

To: <shydrageregroups>

Subject: got any ideas?

Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 21:47:38 -0800

Celeste and I are going to see her neurologist on Friday morning. Her two

biggest problems right now seem to be inability to sleep, both getting to

sleep and staying asleep, and constipation. We want to talk to the doctor

about meds for both of these problems. She is currently taking Restoril to

sleep but with moderate success. She is taking nothing for the constipation

now and it drives her crazy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dawn - Celeste O'Neill's sister.

________________________________________________________________________________\

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December 7, 2000

Rose,

I know that colace (ducsolate sodium) is non-prescription and I think

peri-colace is

also.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

January 21, 2001

My husband used dulcolax for a while. It actually allowed a large impaction

to develop. He spent a week in the hospital. We were told that this

medication actually allows the colon to stop working. Now he use Miralax

which is a prescription. The doctors in Memphis and in our home town say

that the best thing about Miralax is that it works while allowing the colon

to continue working as best it can. My husband says that the best thing is

that it has not taste, especially if with a little ice.

Marilyn in TN

----------

>From: cbr@...

>To: shydrageregroups

>Subject: constipation

>Date: Sun, Jan 21, 2001, 11:20 PM

>

>Hi everyone, Is there somewhere I can go where I can read about the

>different strategies people with Shy-Drager or their caregiver's use

>to deal with the chronic constipation problem? Also, has anyone used

>something called a " magic bullet " ? It's got the same ingredient as

>dulcolax but it is in a water soluble base instead of an oil base so

>it is absorbed more quickly and the person is supposed to have a

>quicker action with less tendency to have post evacuation dribbling.

>Has anyone tried it? Thanks for any replies!! Judi

>

January 22, 2001

Judi,

Welcome to the group, sorry you had to join us. MSA patients have this as a

constant problem. All patients are different, however and different remedies.

My wife uses a stool softener called Colace about every other day; some use

" natural " bran and prunes; some use laxitives and some use prescription meds.

There is no " magic bullet " which is the same for every patient. Sorry!

Take care Bill and Charlotte Werre in Virginia

cbr@... wrote:

> Hi everyone, Is there somewhere I can go where I can read about the

> different strategies people with Shy-Drager or their caregiver's use

> to deal with the chronic constipation problem? Also, has anyone used

> something called a " magic bullet " ? It's got the same ingredient as

> dulcolax but it is in a water soluble base instead of an oil base so

> it is absorbed more quickly and the person is supposed to have a

> quicker action with less tendency to have post evacuation dribbling.

> Has anyone tried it? Thanks for any replies!! Judi

>

January 22, 2001

Hi. Before answering this question, I want to thanks Pam Bowers for

starting this site. Her wisdom is demonstrated in my answer that

shows the capabilities of this stie in helping members in ways you

might not automatically think of.

This is a good time to remind folks that this site is not just a way

to chat online. Every message we post also goes into an archive, and

stays there. It is a rich treasure trove, now containing nearly

10,000 postings of wisdom on MSA.

And you don't have to read every note posted from beginning to end to

find something specific. Instead you can search for any notes that

use any word or words, such as " constipation " to find previously

posted messages using your words. How? EASY!

Just go to the website, /group/shydrager, and

click on the word " messages " in the left hand column. On the next

screen you will see an empty box in the upper right hand corner with

the word " go " next to it. Just type the words in which you are

interested in the box and click on " go. " When the search is competed

in seconds, a list of previous messages using your words will appear.

By the way, if you search on " constipation, " one of the messages will

be one I wrote a few months back on an over-the counter treatment

called " Swiss Kriss " that seems to be safe, effective and

inexpensive...though nothing is perfect for everyone.

Hope that this helps. Take care.

> Hi everyone, Is there somewhere I can go where I can read about

the

> different strategies people with Shy-Drager or their caregiver's

use

> to deal with the chronic constipation problem? Also, has anyone

used

> something called a " magic bullet " ? It's got the same ingredient as

> dulcolax but it is in a water soluble base instead of an oil base

so

> it is absorbed more quickly and the person is supposed to have a

> quicker action with less tendency to have post evacuation

dribbling.

> Has anyone tried it? Thanks for any replies!! Judi

January 23, 2001

Jane,

Beware of the fiber pills! Many people have trouble with the things not

dissolving properly in the stomach. In that case they do more harm than good.

Since MSA patients have so many problems anyway, I would not chance the fiber

pills. Push prunes, if someone will eat bran fiber without disguising it, they

will eat anything.

Oat bran is best for the heart, so will the patient eat oatmeal? Prunes or even

prune juice help. Push vegetables and fruits as they contain fiber. You should

cook veggies a little longer so they are softer and easier to swallow, unless

they can't stand mushy veggies (like me) )

" Natural " is not always good. Remember that poison ivy, tobacco, marajuanna,

hemlock, arsenic and many other things are " natural " , but you don't want them in

or on your body.

Take care, Bill and Charlotte

------------------------------------------------------

jhrn123@... wrote:

> For Judi,

> I have had great success with a mixture of bran from the health store and

> add apple sauce I/2 cup of each then add prune juice about 1/2 cup you can

> add more juice if too thick, Start out with 1or 2 tablespoons, If once a

> day doesnt work give AM & PM .As a community nurse in home care I have found

> this to really really work. Now I am using it for my husband..I like it

> because it is all natural food ingredients. I f necessary can give a stool

> softener in addition. Also ther is a new fiber pill out called fiber

> choice if there is a swallowing problem it doesnt have to be taken with

> water.

>

> Jane & Dave in Pa

>

January 23, 2001

I too use Miralax. It's works good and regular. It seems to have no side

effects. (for me anyway).

Good Luck.

----------

>

>To: shydrageregroups

>Subject: Re: constipation

>Date: Mon, Jan 22, 2001, 6:18 AM

>

> We are also big fans of MiraLax. It is a prescription, but it's

> worth it! Rob said recently that he's more regular than he's been in

> a long time, and the best part is that it doesn't taste gross or have

> a yucky texture - just like drinking water.

>

> Carol & Rob (in cold and snowy Lexington, MA)

>

>> My husband used dulcolax for a while. It actually allowed a large

> impaction

>> to develop. He spent a week in the hospital. We were told that this

>> medication actually allows the colon to stop working. Now he use

> Miralax

>> which is a prescription. The doctors in Memphis and in our home

> town say

>> that the best thing about Miralax is that it works while allowing

> the colon

>> to continue working as best it can. My husband says that the best

> thing is

>> that it has not taste, especially if with a little ice.

>>

>> Marilyn in TN

>> ----------

>

January 24, 2002

I wanted to chime in to say that I have had a lot of constipation these

last few weeks! I'm currently at 9 weeks. Last week I went 3 or 4 days

without a BM. The dietician I just saw told me to add more fibrous

veggies. I also decided to take half my prenatal in the am with colace

and half in the pm with colace. Things started moving again last

Saturday and I've had a BM every day since, although it has not been

easy. Can anyone tell me what their dosage is on the colace? I'm

taking 100mg in am and 100mg in pm. I'll ask my OB next week at my

appointment, but was just wondering what others are taking. I took

colace with my first pregnancy pre-op and didn't have any problems

really with constipation. The colace doesn't seem to be helping much

this time.

Vickie

RNY 1-26-01

330/187 and 5'8 "

Edd 8-26-02

January 24, 2002

Sandi,

This is what Walgreens.com lists about it.

The children's laxative. Natural. Gentle. Original root beer taste. Natural,

good-tasting Fletcher's castoria provides gentle, effective relief from the

discomfort of constipation for children of all ages. Trusted by mothers for

generations. Contains no castor oil.

Instructions

Shake well before using.

Less than 2 years ....Consult a doctor.

2 to 5 years ..............1 to 2 teaspoonfuls.

6 to 15 years.............2 to 3 teaspoonfuls.

May be taken up to two times daily.

Active Ingredients

Senna Concentrate 33.3 mg/mL.

Inactive Ingredients

Citric Acid, Flavor, Glycerin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium

Benzoate, Sucrose, Water

Warnings & Precautions

Do not use laxative products when abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting are

present unless directed by a doctor. If you have noticed a sudden change in

bowel habits that persists over a period of 2 weeks, consult a doctor before

using a laxative. Laxative products should not be used for a period longer

than 1 week unless directed by a doctor. Rectal bleeding or failure to have

a bowel movement after use of a laxative may indicate a serious condition.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor. Keep this and all drugs out of the

reach of children. In case of accidental overdose seek professional

assistance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately. As with any drug.

If you are pregnant or nursing a baby seek the advice of a health

professional before using this product.

Merry Shaw