Re: Hello, and a question about laxatives

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure about the legality of your laxative. Try this:

http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/kb/constipation.htm

I gave this info to a friend of mine who is not on SCD, but has problems with C

and she says it's the best.

PJ

>

> Hi -

> joined the group a minute ago and have been following the diet for a few days.

>

> I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on laxatives, and the potential

" legality " of Aloe Latex (as opposed to e.g. Aloe vera juice, which I know is

illegal). I have been using a product called Aloelax (Aloe latex and fennel) and

am wondering whether this is contraindicated on this diet. I have to, at this

time, use a laxative every day, so if the above is illegal, does anyone know of

one that isn't?

>

> Many thanks-

> Lilian

>

[Guest guest]

Lilian

Aloe latex is also an illegal, besides being more of a stimulant type of laxative which has some long-term use implications. I would stop using it.

I have chronic constipation due to poor digestive motility, and need something to help keep things moving. I've been on Miralax for six years now, and find it helpful. It is an osmotic laxative, so is safe to use over the long-term. It works by retaining water in the stools.

Since Zelnorm was pulled from the market, I've also had to increase my daily magnesium dose. I was supplementing magnesium to help with muscle cramps, but found that I needed more to help with constipation. Extra magnesium has a laxative effect (also makes you drowsy, so I take my magnesium at night), as does extra vitamin C. I can't eat much fruit due to other metabolic issues, so I rely on extra magnesium to help with constipation, along with the Miralax.

And staying hydrated also helps. What also helps is being on SCD for a while. The first two years on SCD had a lot of ups and downs constipation-wise, so I kept water enemas on hand, but eventually my digestion stabilized and I rarely need an enema these days.

My digestion doesn't tolerate fiber (Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction) so I have to be careful with soluble fiber as well as insoluble, but the foods on SCD do provide plenty of both, depending on how your digestion is behaving.

Kim M.

SCD 5+ years

>>>>>>>>>>

I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on laxatives, and the potential "legality" of Aloe Latex (as opposed to e.g. Aloe vera juice, which I know is illegal). I have been using a product called Aloelax (Aloe latex and fennel) and am wondering whether this is contraindicated on this diet. I have to, at this time, use a laxative every day, so if the above is illegal, does anyone know of one that isn't?Many thanks-Lilian

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim-

thanks for posting! I found something on the web where Elaine says it's illegal

not for the usual reasons but because it's a string " catharctic " . I interpreted

this to mean that it would be unsuitable for people with diarrhea, but didn't

see why it would be contraindicated for folks with constipation.

In my case anything that increases volume in the intestine seems to really slow

down motility, so Miralax, Magnesium etc actually often make me worse,

especially if I'm already constipated. I really need something that directly

stimulates motility, so I'm at quite a loss as what to do while waiting for the

diet to take effect. I can't not go until that happens, as that might be

weeks..:^) Prune juice etc has never had any effect on me, neither does vit C.

If you (or anyone else) knows *why* Aloe latex is illegal, please share!

Many thanks-

Lilian

>

> Lilian

>

> Aloe latex is also an illegal, besides being more of a stimulant type of

laxative which has some long-term use implications. I would stop using it.

>

> I have chronic constipation due to poor digestive motility, and need something

to help keep things moving. I've been on Miralax for six years now, and find it

helpful. It is an osmotic laxative, so is safe to use over the long-term. It

works by retaining water in the stools.

>

> Since Zelnorm was pulled from the market, I've also had to increase my daily

magnesium dose. I was supplementing magnesium to help with muscle cramps, but

found that I needed more to help with constipation. Extra magnesium has a

laxative effect (also makes you drowsy, so I take my magnesium at night), as

does extra vitamin C. I can't eat much fruit due to other metabolic issues, so

I rely on extra magnesium to help with constipation, along with the Miralax.

>

> And staying hydrated also helps. What also helps is being on SCD for a while.

The first two years on SCD had a lot of ups and downs constipation-wise, so I

kept water enemas on hand, but eventually my digestion stabilized and I rarely

need an enema these days.

>

> My digestion doesn't tolerate fiber (Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction) so I have

to be careful with soluble fiber as well as insoluble, but the foods on SCD do

provide plenty of both, depending on how your digestion is behaving.

>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5+ years

>

> >>>>>>>>>>

> I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on laxatives, and the potential

" legality " of Aloe Latex (as opposed to e.g. Aloe vera juice, which I know is

illegal). I have been using a product called Aloelax (Aloe latex and fennel) and

am wondering whether this is contraindicated on this diet. I have to, at this

time, use a laxative every day, so if the above is illegal, does anyone know of

one that isn't?

>

> Many thanks-

> Lilian

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim-

thank you so much for taking the time to reply. On any list, newbies come in and

ask questions that have been asked so many times before,and I really appreciate

the wilingness to help!

Unfortunately (or fortunately ? :^)I haven't caused this constipation by

long-term laxative use. I started taking herbal laxatives due to gradually

worsening, long-term constipation. Once, I had NO movements for two weeks, and

realized I was already where you *may* end up with laxative use, unable to go

without laxatives. So I thought I might aa well reap the benefits, and avoid the

detrimental effects of chronic C. I think Dr Pimentel " s thoughts about certain

types of intestinal bacteria causing C, some may explain this.

None of the osmotic laxatives work, and as a matter of fact I don't have hard

stool, just low motility. SEnna etc have been too harsh for me, whereas Aloe

latex has helped create regularity with no (discernible) side-effecs. Which is

why I'm still hanging on to hope of using it, or something similar, until the

root cause of C is fixed.

Thanks again for your thoughts and info!

Lili

>

> Lilian

>

> Aloe latex is also an illegal, besides being more of a stimulant type of

laxative which has some long-term use implications. I would stop using it.

>

> I have chronic constipation due to poor digestive motility, and need something

to help keep things moving. I've been on Miralax for six years now, and find it

helpful. It is an osmotic laxative, so is safe to use over the long-term. It

works by retaining water in the stools.

>

> Since Zelnorm was pulled from the market, I've also had to increase my daily

magnesium dose. I was supplementing magnesium to help with muscle cramps, but

found that I needed more to help with constipation. Extra magnesium has a

laxative effect (also makes you drowsy, so I take my magnesium at night), as

does extra vitamin C. I can't eat much fruit due to other metabolic issues, so

I rely on extra magnesium to help with constipation, along with the Miralax.

>

> And staying hydrated also helps. What also helps is being on SCD for a while.

The first two years on SCD had a lot of ups and downs constipation-wise, so I

kept water enemas on hand, but eventually my digestion stabilized and I rarely

need an enema these days.

>

> My digestion doesn't tolerate fiber (Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction) so I have

to be careful with soluble fiber as well as insoluble, but the foods on SCD do

provide plenty of both, depending on how your digestion is behaving.

>

> Kim M.

> SCD 5+ years

>

> >>>>>>>>>>

> I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on laxatives, and the potential

" legality " of Aloe Latex (as opposed to e.g. Aloe vera juice, which I know is

illegal). I have been using a product called Aloelax (Aloe latex and fennel) and

am wondering whether this is contraindicated on this diet. I have to, at this

time, use a laxative every day, so if the above is illegal, does anyone know of

one that isn't?

>

> Many thanks-

> Lilian

>

[Guest guest]

Lili

We always have the choice to continue to use a particular supplement or medication even knowing some of the possible effects. If you are comfortable using aloe latex, then you can choose to continue. There aren't many options for slow or impaired digestive motility, and if you've tried them all with no improvement or worse side-effects, then you have to make tough choices.

Just be aware that continuing to use aloe latex may impact your healing to some degree, or cause other long-term damage.

All we can do is make the best choice for ourselves once we've done the research, had all the tests, and looked into all the options currently available.

Who knows, after a year or two on SCD you may find that your digestive motility improves to the point you can stop using aloe latex. I never thought I'd be able to function without Zelnorm (it was pulled from the market two years ago), but I have, and I attribute a good portion of that success to being on SCD for a long time. Sometimes we can get our bodies to improve [grin].

Kim M.

SCD 5+ years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

None of the osmotic laxatives work, and as a matter of fact I don't have hard stool, just low motility. SEnna etc have been too harsh for me, whereas Aloe latex has helped create regularity with no (discernible) side-effecs. Which is why I'm still hanging on to hope of using it, or something similar, until the root cause of C is fixed.Thanks again for your thoughts and info!Lili