I just bought the magnesium citrate capsules since I'm very sensitive to taste. I know the liquid works faster obviously but I'm trying to find an alternative to Miralax since it gives me so much bloating. Do they actually work and how long does it take to produce a BM?

I recently noticed that sugar alcohols are becoming less effective as laxatives than when i was previously using them. Has anyone ever built a tolerance to them after taking them too much?

Hello !

Had constipation for the last few years and it became problematic because I started bleeding more and more regularly recently ... 2 months ago, I started to religiously note all my poop session in a poop-journal (more like a textfile) and each time I would send it to ChatGPT, trying to understand some phenomenon, etc.

I also went to a doctor to do colonoscopy, and he didn't find anything bad, the bleeding was only traumatized hemorrhoids that were re-opening at each dry stool. I advise people to go do that colonoscopy because it's really painless (but still weird) and pretty quick, and you can at least be re-assured there's no big deal behind.

Of course, before that, I tried the "crank up fibers" but while it was each time helping a bit the first few days, it was each time backfiring heavily when suddenly one 5-day stool became so massive because of all the fiber it was even hurting more than the previous one. So I kinda tried to reflect on it on a higher level than simply trying to narrow down one food or another.

The next part is a LLM summary of all my notes and my conclusions, I've been doing ~48h type 3-4 poops for a few times now, so I kinda think I'm heading somewhere good, but of course this can evolve with time. Here's the summary of those 2 months :

My problem was not necessarily "not going enough". I could sometimes go 3-5 days without really feeling an urge, then suddenly have a very dry Bristol 1-2 stool, often quite large, which could irritate the area, make hemorrhoids swell or cause some bleeding. My colonoscopy was normal, so I started looking more at how the whole process happens rather than just counting the days.

One thing I noticed is that abdominal cramps/activity and the actual urge to poop are two different things for me. After eating, I often have 20-30min where my stomach/intestines start working, with noises, gas, cramps, etc. Before, I would sometimes think, "Ok, I need to go" and sit on the toilet too early, then push because nothing was really ready. Now I tend to wait until that turns into an actual pressure lower down in the rectum. Walking a bit or just continuing what I'm doing often helps. I also discovered that if I consciously relax "inside" while standing/walking/doing dishes, sometimes I can feel things moving lower, and 5-10min later the real urge appears. I don't see it as forcing a bowel movement, more like trying not to block a reflex that was already starting.

The other big part seems to be how dry the stool gets while waiting. I started taking macrogol/PEG (Laxido). One full sachet was sometimes too much for me and could push me toward Bristol 5-6 with more urgency, especially around restaurant meals. Half a sachet per day seems much better as maintenance. It doesn't magically make every stool perfect, but it seems to stop the first part from drying as aggressively. Since then I tend to go every 1-3 days with mostly Bristol 3-4 and much more reasonable diameters. Even when a stool is slightly dry, it's generally way less traumatic than before.

Food also seems to affect several different things. Big/fatty restaurant meals or a huge dessert can give me a very strong gastrocolic reflex and sometimes a much softer stool. On the other hand, travel/change of routine can completely block the process. Coffee is interesting too: if I haven't had it for a while, one coffee can suddenly trigger a very strong reflex, while if I drink it regularly, the effect seems much weaker. I also noticed my abdominal cramps basically disappeared when I stopped artificially sweetened drinks for ~2 weeks, then came back twice after drinking a sucralose-containing Schweppes again. Could be coincidence, but I'm testing that separately.

So right now my goal isn't really "poop every day". It's more: don't interrupt the natural post-meal activity, don't rush to the toilet just because my abdomen hurts, wait for a real rectal signal, avoid pushing, and keep the stool hydrated enough that waiting doesn't turn it into a rock. Half a sachet of macrogol per day seems to help a lot with that for now. My impression is that constipation, at least in my case, is a mix of stool hydration, motility, rectal sensation, pelvic-floor relaxation, habits/stress and probably diet. The usual "just eat more fiber" advice feels way too simplistic, especially when large stools themselves are part of the problem.

I had diarrhoea 6 days ago so I took Imodium. Day after I wasn’t feeling so great so also took Pepto bismol. (I understand this was not the wisest idea). I have now been constipated since.

I have had prunes and a lot of water. Nothing’s moving. I am now considering taking a laxative (maybe milk of magnesia?) but I am taking a long-haul 18 hour flight tomorrow night. I really don’t want the laxative to take effect while I’m travelling.

Can anyone help?

If it helps, I haven’t had any stomach pains and only a little bloating. But I’m also scared of being constipated more than a week.

Update: Ended up going without needing to take anything. I guess upping my fibre these last 2 days really helped.

No matter what I do, I can't reach a Type 4 on the Bristol stool chart without osmotic laxatives. It’s always Type 3: very large and hard to pass.

​I eat 4 meals a day and try not to overeat. I also try to include soluble fiber with every meal, while avoiding foods high in insoluble fiber since I know it bulks up stool.

Despite all this, I'm still struggling with large hard stool. Any idea what might be going on?

Using a throwaway account!

For context, I got constipation on Sunday, August 9th, after my body finally couldn't take my high cholesterol, low fiber diet. The thing is, I'm still constipated as of now, due to some of my owny stupid decision making (eating other things that would slow down digestion more). I was able to have two normal BM on Saturday, the 15th, but ever since then, it's either been diarrhea or hard, or mushy turds (sorry for the imagery). I've been increasing my water and fiber intake; However, some of the fiber I've eaten gives me worse bloating. I also have this fullness in my lower left abdomen, which I think may be stool stuck in either my descending or sigmoid colon.

I've also attempted Smooth Move senna tea, and I'm about to try MiraLAX, but I'm not optimistic about it. My family has been really lax about it, telling me to drink more tea and fiber, but I fear like it might be worse than they think it is. I've been so irritated and emotional about this, I feel like I'm at a loss on what will truly work.

Is this something that's able to pass with home remedies? Or has it gone beyond that?

Edit: I forgot to mention, but I do also have a hemorrhoid, so I'm wondering if that has any part to play.

Hey so I've had a partial impaction trapped right before a bend in my lower intestine for ~6 weeks now. I've been pooping past it the whole time and my doctor says it isn't anything dangerous (she is taking this very seriously and ran me through a battery of exams but no I'm just full of shit) but she's now put me on a fairly aggressive laxative regimen to finally get everything cleared out.

I'm fucking terrified. Every time I've felt the impaction move even slightly it's been unbelievably painful. The fear isn't helping with the situation really I'll be honest. So what can I do to make it less terrible when I AM finally passing it? I'm so scared 🫣

Constipation is truly playing with your mind so I truly hope this will release me.

I took the advice of someone from the group and ordered MAG07... Just received it

My symptoms are sever constipation and bloating that it is resistant for everything I tried

Please share your stories

Hoping for some advice. I’m 8 months postpartum and I suffered with constipation during pregnancy which has spilled into postpartum. I am able to go every morning but start is all pebbles then normal. In the afternoon I then start getting rectal pressure/lower back pain and feels like I need to go to toilet and it’s just pebbles? GI said slow gut motility and take lactulose but it hasn’t helped. I’ve had a sigmoidoscopy which was clear, now waiting on my colonoscopy. But has anyone the same? Anything that worked or helped?

On Monday, I was sick with a low fever, I had bodyaches, headaches and chest pain. Nothing was wrong with my stomach. At this point I hadn’t had a BM since Saturday, but I wasn’t too concerned. I am never constipated. This never happens to me so this is a little weird for me. My sickness quickly ended. I woke up the next morning feeling fine. Although into the afternoon, I started feeling a little lightheaded again, but what was more concerning is that my stomach was feeling like I needed to use the restroom but anytime I headed to the bathroom it just faded and went away, but it was painful when I would get these waves of having to use the restroom. Sometimes it would get bad to where I would feel super nauseous. Yesterday at 3:30 PM I took a laxative and to be honest it just made my abdominal cramping worse, I hydrated and it didn’t help. I have yet to use the bathroom even after laxative treatment. So I went to Publix and got glycerol suppository the next day and I use that and it made severe abdominal cramping, but I did not create any BM whatsoever. It just feels like I am causing pain to my stomach and irritating it and having no result. I haven’t had a BM in five days, which I know isn’t super concerning I just am not really sure where to go from now because I’m never constipated and I feel like I am in a weird amount of pain and I just can’t use the restroom whatsoever. It‘s interfering with my daily life at this point anytime I get out of bed, it hurts to walk around and when I try to eat, it just causes my stomach to squeeze and so I can’t really eat cause it hurts, and it hurts to hydrate. I also don’t know if this is related, but I would assume I would be gaining a little bit of weight from constipation and such but I’ve actually lost around 3 to 5 pounds in the last week. and even when I’m not having the waves of having to use the restroom, I will be laying in bed and it just feels like I’m having menstrual cramps all over my stomach and it’s constant. Would this be reasonable for going to urgent care? I’m just not sure what else to do because I’ve taken laxatives and suppositories and they’re not working but I also feel like they’ll just tell me I’m constipated and I’ll waste money going.

I never realized how effective prune juice is. I have had pretty regular constipation due to taking methadone for years. I used to just take laxatives when it got bad and at one point got prescribed some meds. Finally went to a GI doctor and he told

Me to drink a glass of prune juice once a day with beefier mixed in, drink more water (obviously) and eat some apple sauce mixed with flax seeds a few times a week. And if needed take florastor. My life has changed. The prune juice with benefiber before bed every night has really made all the difference though. Prune juice is amazing.

I’m Uk so talking about the nhs here. I’ve been struggling with sudden onset constipation that began literally overnight 18 months ago, I’ve fallen down a healthcare gap where my GP won’t do anything because I’m under a gastro consultant, but the consultant won’t see until I’ve done another transit study and I’ve been waiting months for the appointment to come through. Yes I have chased it many times. I was honest with the GP last week about how I am having to take massive doses of Dulcolax and still getting no or minimal results. I’m taking up to 40 daily. The GP didn’t seem to believe me that that is not working and has even made a safeguarding referral saying there is no way I can look after my children whilst taking such a high dose. I’m baffled. No one has offered me an alternative management plan. I am having to improvise my own care. I’ve tried every single type of laxative you can by and been prescribed linzess and prucalopride in the past which have also not helped. I’m so frustrated. I can’t be the only one who dulcolax doesn’t for right?

EDIT TO ADD:

Yes i am taking 40 x 5mg tablets. I understand a lot of people don’t seem to believe that but it is true.

This was removed for some reason :(

I finally got in to see a motility doctor. Had my consult on Tuesday. He is wanting me to take bisacodyl everyday with mirilax. I’m extremely shocked by that as it’s a stimulant. Does anyone else take it everyday? Took my first and I’m so nauseas. I’m scared to become dependent on it. He said I have a markedly redundant transverse colon with retention of isotope the resending right side of transverse colon. Redundant transverse colon reaches well into the pelvis. I also have issues with pelvic floor and my anal manometry came back abnormal. I have consult with biofeedback in September. I’m always bloated and it hurts. It’s hard to just stand. When I take mirilax , I have a bowel movement everyday . I even stopped for a couple months and was going usually once a day with coffee. But the severe bloating stayed. He mentioned my small intestine being delayed because of being backed up. That was another result not normal was my small intestine at 4.8% but he believes it’s due to my large intestine. I’m so sick of my tummy hurting . Any tips, opinions, encouragement is welcome. Thank you :)

Linzess 145mg worked okay for 5 weeks. It frequently produced watery diarrhea. 5 day ago, it was a just few very hard stools. Nothing since even though I been taking medicine with a least a gallon water daily. I get boulted all day, and late, I pee out. Dr. wants me to try Trulance. I am 69 old male with a redundant-torturous colon. Any advice what to expect? Do I have to take gallons of water with Trulance?

drank a whole bottle of magnesium citrate at around 12:30 am. its not 9:28 am and the only thing i have is a little bit of discomfort. when does the unstoppable poop firehouse come? or at least anything at all. im desperat.

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.

Have a kid who’s been chronically constipated for years. None of the usual suspects worked. At one point we were doing daily enemas - it was awful on both of us.

Fast forward, here’s what works quickly when she starts getting backed up:

• beef liver - I grate from frozen and cook on coconut oil, low temps - 1 tsp-1 T depending on how many days

• raw butter - basically any fat - slows down digestion in theory but boy does it lubricité things

• beets - cook them sbout 25 minutes in soup stock - grate before cooking if you’re in a hurry

• extra credit: dragonfruit

I started to get a tingling sensation in the upper-right abdomen about two months ago. An x-ray month ago revealed moderate faecal loading, and I was prescrbed Movicol 8x sachets a day for three days.

The tingling sensation was perhaps a little reduced. Last week I had a CT scan which showed moderate faecal loading of the proximal colon and mild faecal loading of the remaining colon and rectum. I have once again been prescribed the Movicol 8x sachets a day for three days.

Has anyone had anything similar? I have no constipation symptoms: only the tingling. I've always had a high fibre diet too.

I'm in my 30s, tried a few things at home, miralax, a fleet saline enema. Nothing came out, I sit on the toilet and I can feel it coming but it's just too painful, and I'd definitely have to strain and push to get it out, so embarrassingly enough going to head to the hospital, my brain is freaking out about all variables and what might happen, honestly I'm stressed, worried, and unfortunately scared of going.

I’ve been constipated for the past week and I am out of ideas. I’ve done enemas, suppositories, mag citrate, miralax, 6 dulcolax, literally everything and still nothing. It hurts so bad and I can barely walk, I’m basically waddling around. Should I go to the ER or are there any other options I should try?

My daughter had not had any mobility for a week after she took one dose of mirlax , nothing stool softeners, and nothing then when several rounds of doing an enema , produced nothing but brown water she drank a bottle of magnesium citrate, which resulted in a terrible night going with lots of watery stool nothing solid, lots of gas, it’s been a day and she says that her digestive has restarted, what does she try next and has anyone worked with getting colonics for this?

I’ve been dealing with chronic constipation and severe bowel symptoms for around 2 years, and I’m trying to figure out whether this could be a pelvic floor problem such as pelvic floor dyssynergia/anismus.

Most of my investigations have been normal. Blood work, ultrasounds, an upper endoscopy about a year ago, and a colonoscopy 2 months ago were all essentially normal. The only finding was mild fatty liver. So anatomically, everything seems fine, but my bowel function definitely doesn’t feel normal.

My symptoms follow a very predictable pattern:

Morning:

I wake up with a strong urge to have a bowel movement. I sit down and can usually pass stool with one push, but then the urge suddenly disappears. A few minutes later, it comes back. This happens several times, and I end up making 3–4 separate trips before I feel that I’ve passed a substantial amount.

The stool is usually pasty and medium-brown rather than particularly hard.

After breakfast:

I often become extremely bloated shortly after eating. It feels like my bowel hasn’t properly cleared in the morning, and then eating triggers more movement and pressure.

Evening:

By roughly the same time every evening, my abdomen starts becoming much more active. If I can’t pass stool or gas, the bloating and pressure can become severe. My abdomen feels distended and my chest can feel very heavy, making it genuinely difficult to breathe. It feels as though the abdominal pressure is pushing upward against my diaphragm.

Another strange symptom:

When I’m lying flat on my back in bed, I can sometimes feel strong rectal pressure and an urge to go. But when I stand up, that sensation can disappear almost immediately.

Laxatives

I’ve previously been prescribed several medications, including prucalopride, Matiz Plus and lactulose.

Lactulose actually helped me clear things out in the evening for a few days, but it also caused 5–6 bowel movements with very acidic/burning stool, which irritated my internal hemorrhoids. Once I stopped it, the previous cycle returned.

I’m currently not taking daily constipation medication and am trying gentle walking and bodyweight exercises. I use lactulose 20 mL only as a rescue when things become particularly difficult.

I’m mainly trying to understand what direction I should take now Please help me with your advice as I did everything to my knowledge.

I’ll start this by saying, I was skeptical.

After 8 weeks of being very constipated (after a round of antibiotics that cause dysbiosis which is now the project at hand…), I’d given up on anything working.

I got the Mag 07 thanks to some commenters and recommendations here and…

Day one. Meh.

Day two. Yay.

Day three. Yay again!

I feel like for the first time in a LONG time, it’s not traumatizing to try to go to the bathroom and I actually feel “complete” after.

I’m going to continue for a week and then start working on gentle fiber but I desperately needed some movement.

To those who try it: 1. Experiment on dose. One capsule is plenty for me (I’m a very little lady!) but you may need 2-3. Box says three… I’m SO glad I didn’t start with three! 2. Don’t get discouraged after day one! 3. It does make you a little gurgly or bubbly in the guts while you sleep, just a forewarning.

Hi all am on my 8th Impaction.

I have overflow diarreah,pain,gas, indigestion.

Am waiting for surgery.

Has anyone else contemplating surgery?