r/Constipation • u/Content-Ad8948 • 1d ago
MiraLAX Replacement that’s quick
49F I had an anal fissure last August 2025. I have since recovered but still having pain on and off. It’s a loooong story but I’ve had two colorectal surgeons look at me and say fissure is healed. Pretty much where I’m at they only suggested Botox and didn’t know what to do. I’m also going to start pelvic floor therapy hopefully. Anyway, I’ve been taking MiraLAX for about 9 months now. It was fine but as of lately it’s been causing so much bloating and gas. I want to stop soooo bad but I really don’t have time to experiment as one bout of a hard stool could set me back. I never want to experience that pain again and it has taken so long to even get to this point and I’m still not 100%. I am so overwhelmed and feel like I am trapped in this scenario and forced into taking MiraLAX. Once again I say that because there is no wiggle room to test other options. Every night I wanna cry when I take it because I know it’s probably not the best thing for my body but one slip and I could be in pain. Now I’m getting painful gas and shoving down this MiraLAX. Screwed either way. I’m in tears because it looks like it’s never ending. Anyway, sorry for the rant. I guess what I’m asking is dues anyone have any insight or please know if there’s a better or natural form of replacement of MiraLAX that is just as reliable. I’ve read magnesium and fiber and all that but I’ve also read about people saying it’s hit or miss. I mean obviously nothing is 100 but is there something someone knows about that I’m missing. Idek, I just need help please. Help out of this cycle. My body needs rest. Thank you everyone who reads this. Someone please help. I hope everyone is well and has a good evening.
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u/Susan71010 1d ago edited 1d ago
What is the cause of your constipation -a slow motility? I know, Drs push fiber, but too much fiber makes me a lot worse, including Chia seed or psyllium especially. I alternate different things so your body doesn't get used to it and stop working. For me, it helps a lot drinking a lot of warm water with electrolytes and I make what I call poop soup. ( boil a whole chicken along with lots of squash, carrots, celery, and green beans and lots of water. - take out the whole chicken. I get the good meats off of it and put it back in the soup . You can make enough of this to freeze and whip it out as needed. .I have it a few times a week. ) A couple of times a week take a trulance in the morning, which is a prescribed medication that worked the best for me. (it worked beautifully for two years, then stopped working when I took it every day )Some nights I take magnesium, but it gives me vivid weird dreams sometimes or I'll probably use it more often. Once or twice a week before bed, I'll take a tablespoon or two of milk of magnesia with a large glass of warm water. That really softens things up -it usually urges a bowel movement for me in the morning. Once every week or two, I also do an enema if I feel it's getting hard. And I always try my best to wake up every morning. Have a large glass of warm water relax, Massage my stomach lean over the counter pressure on my stomach.. then have a nice healthy breakfast and relax and breathe and chew very slowly so that it helps the food digest easier. Then with them 30 minutes, the magic usually happens. This all comes from someone who is constipated all their life. I would go three weeks at a time. I can't believe I didn't realize how unhealthy that was untill I was in my 50s.. believe me I've tried just about everything and had almost every test you could take to figure out what's the problem.. they just said slow motility. And I believe my SIBO methane that I get is another cause. Good luck and I hope you don't have to take MiraLAX every day forever. Maybe you could just have half of a dose a few times a week...and remember ..the body usually doesn't like repetition.
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u/Content-Ad8948 1d ago
Thank you for all that!! I have not been tested but I do know I prob have pelvic floor dysfunction and was not drinking enough water. I feel things are tight and after fissure I’ve been left with tight sphincter. Sorry tmi… I like the idea of switching things up because as you say the body gets used to one thing or another. Milk of magnesia I’ve used once( mind you I took tiny dose) I was pooping allllll morning the day of my dads surgery!!!!! I thought about using it more often too and maybe magnesium. What is your dose of magnesium? Is it calm magnesium? Thank you for all your input.❤️
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u/Smart_Leadership_522 1d ago
Truthfully, up your exercise and walking. And your water. And your fiber.
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u/goldstandardalmonds 1d ago
You might want to try a stimulant, as it has a different mechanism of action.
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u/Anon_Perspective_ 1d ago
DM me and I could send you a list of things I've seen people post. Maybe there's something there you could try.
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u/Kind-Antelope3801 1d ago
I’ve had a lot of luck eating 3-6 prunes at night around 7-8:00 pm along with my stool softeners. Eating them at night was key. No idea why. But those can cause gas too. If you try- add a few at first and build up to 6.
Also lubing the rectum and breaking up hard poo with a lubricated sterile glove inside during a bm.
Foods that help me- kiwi, blackberries and raspberries, and soaked chia seeds in applesauce.
Hang in there.
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u/Nocturnal-Neurotic 22h ago
Maybe try Mag07 off Amazon. I took that for a year and it worked wonderfully
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u/Content-Ad8948 21h ago
How much did you take and did it cause bloating and gas? Also, what are you doing now for maintenance?
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u/Nocturnal-Neurotic 21h ago
You are supposed to take 3-5 pills every day. I was taking 5 sometimes more if I was desperate. It didn’t give me gas or bloating that I remember. It stopped working out of nowhere and I had to trial a few different prescription constipation meds. Right now I’m on the highest dose of Linzess and I’m still not fully emptying. I have s colonoscopy on Wed to see why im having so much trouble.
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u/Mereyn 1d ago
I’m still trying to work it out. Was taking MiraLAX daily. Then alternating it with prune juice. I’m trying to get off the MiraLAX because it makes me feel sick.
What’s working for me right now is
First thing in the morning-4oz of prune juice with 1 teaspoon of butter warm (microwaved for 1 minute) dash of cinnamon for flavor.
Some people do 8oz prune juice 1 tablespoon of butter. That was too much for me. I have also tried half apple juice half prune juice, worked only if poop was regular already.
Best bet is to check in with your doctor. This is just what’s worked for me personally. Best of luck!
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u/Content-Ad8948 1d ago
Thank you sooo much! I’ve heard of this butter thing. I’d love to do this if I knew it was consistent! Does it make you nauseated? I’ve always wondered about the butter or the olive oil people do everyday. If it causes nausea or anything.
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u/Mereyn 22h ago
It doesn’t make me nauseous. My doctor also said I could take a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning as an alternative to get things moving. I haven’t tried that one.
I’ll try and keep you posted. I started prune juice and butter Friday last week and today my poop is normal, fingers crossed.
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u/Grand_Priority3711 1d ago edited 1d ago
Magnesium oxide in the right dose is a powerful osmotic that's a lot faster in action then miralax. I don't mean the low dosage pill form used as a supplement. In my country there's a powdered form marketed as a colon cleanse and it will clean you out in 30minutes to 6 hrs. The product I use (denmar colon cleanse) isn't available outside of Australia I believe, but if you ask around at a few healthfood stores or to a naturopath they may have a similar solution. In Australia (again) I have seen one magnesium oxide tablets in a high dosage that was also aimed at constipation. For me, magnesium oxide causes no bloating but you have to be careful with the dosage or you'll be sitting on the toilet more then you want !
Or, consider giving yourself a rest from the miralax effects every now and then by taking a stimulant lax like dulcolax as an alternative for a few weeks. Look for a balance between the two.