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**Sequoia** · 02-09-2012, 04:21 PM

Here is what Tara Palmer, MSWorld's professional nutritionist, recommends:

Originally posted by nutritiontara

salt water flush

A correct biochemical way to facilitate bowel movements is to strengthen the bowel wall...its only a muscle and needs to be able to hold water in the bowel (you can drink all the water you want but if you can't hold the water there it won't be available to hydrate the BM).
Sodium holds water in the bowel:

Salt flush: 1/2tsp sea salt in ~8oz water first thing in the morning, lay back down on right side for 15-20 minutes.Then get up for the day. Do this for 1-2-3 weeks. You'll know when you're getting more regular.

And if things get slow again, do it again. The sodium also helps strengthen the bowel wall by contracting the muscles.
Bulking agents actually weaken the bowel wall by just "pushing" things through- does nothing to stimulate the contractions -necessary to make a muscle stronger.

You can go to the "Tara's Nutrition & Supplement Notebook" forum and use the Search This Forum feature to find more threads on constipation. You can also start a new thread of your own if you like.

http://www.msworld.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=70

**rdmc** · 02-10-2012, 01:39 AM

Have you tried Miralax...you can buy it over the counter. You can adjust the dose according to what works for you...it initially takes a few days to work. It's what they give for a colon cleanse before a colonoscopy. some people get on with the standard dose, but when my sister was going through breast cancer treatments and was having a major problem with constipation, they had her take it 3 times a day. It's not a laxative, it draws water into the bowel.

After surgery, when I've gotten desperate, my doc would recommend magnesium citrate...also available o/c...it's quick acting, but the effects are drastic. I take a daily dose of magnesium powder dissolved in water and it works for me (brand name is Calm)

Hope you find a solution.

**opiegirl** · 02-10-2012, 08:57 PM

My Dr. has me on a magnesium drink called "CALM" it works great on my bowels and helps me sleep at night too. It's made by Natural Vitality and I buy it at the health food store.

Hope you feel better soon.

**jumpinjiminy** · 02-10-2012, 09:46 PM

Hi Jasper. So sorry you're going through this. I went through a brief spell when none of the oral intake remedies worked. It had been two weeks without action before I realized things weren't moving and seriously backing up. Some gem of a person here shared their experience with a bowel retraining program and recommended a suppository/Milk of Magnesia combo that did the trick.

The situation was getting urgent and words can't express the relief of getting things moving again. It was the only thing that worked for me. After about six weeks to two months with this combo, things started working on their own again.

Best wishes, Jasper. I hope you find something that works for you too.

**dennissr** · 02-11-2012, 10:02 PM

Many of the drugs we take for symptom relief either dry us out or affect the nerves which affect our motility.

When I am in trouble I eliminate the one I think is most responsible.

**rdmc** · 02-12-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by opiegirl View Post

My Dr. has me on a magnesium drink called "CALM" it works great on my bowels and helps me sleep at night too. It's made by Natural Vitality and I buy it at the health food store.

Hope you feel better soon.

Opie, don't know if you saw my post, but I now use Calm too. I used to use Miralax, but the magnesium drink works just as well, and does have added benefits.

**NYJenn** · 02-13-2012, 10:47 PM

My latest intervention to prevent constipation: a stool softener in the AM, and adding fiber, and more fruits and veggies. I will let you know how it works...

Milk of Magnesia helps, too.

**Ihb7337** · 02-21-2012, 09:46 PM

Hi jasper. So sorry to hear of your difficulties. I have irritable bowel syndrome, over and above having MS and have had to treat the IBS since 2004 or 2005? Can't remember exact year but anyway....my doctor put me on myralax ( also known as polyethylene glycol 3350 powder) and I have been on it every day since. You take a cap full mixed in a drink ( I put it in my coffee in the morning) every day, I think it's best in the morning? But not sure about that. The cap full is 17 grams of med. you may not notice results immediately (like the first day) but after a few days, you should notice something I would hope. This med is an osmotic which means it grabs water from within the body and, with this med, it brings the water into the intestinal tract, hydrating the area helping waste move through

Have a question though jasper.....have you gone to a gastroenterologist for this? This type of doc only focuses on the gastro tract and they are the most current on meds that might help, plus, getting a full eval from one of these docs might be a really good idea. I'm sure your neuro is a great doc, but getting an opinion from a specialist might help you. That is where I ended up and I am so happy I did!!

Hope you find some help for this. I know how miserable this can be! Take care.....ilsa

**ladibabe** · 03-02-2012, 06:57 PM

get a fleet.. They have great projects that work

**jersey-in-pa** · 03-05-2012, 12:18 PM

Being that I take so much medication

if my eating schedule is interrupted, I don't "go". I have a very clean diet (no red meat) lots of beans, fruit, little "junk" food, excersize

I have had great SUCESS from Senna tea daily *evening* The next morning, I start w/ a cup of HOT water, have breakfast and, knock on wood, have a satisfying BM

You can get senna teabags at any health food store. Or you can buy it as loose *need tea infuser* tea.
Don't steep for TOO long or it might get too strong and bring cramping

I follow the directions on the box. Steep, covered for 15minutes. I put 1 tea of sugar in it and the next day, I am good to "go"

I hope you feel better soon

**Scooter24** · 03-06-2012, 11:09 AM

Rcvd an email today regarding a study for those with this problem, it lists locations for it.

**study URL removed by Moderator in compliance with MSWorld guidelines. go to UserCP > Edit Your Details to put in your profile**

**Cindarelly** · 03-06-2012, 12:15 PM

Have you tried Miralax? it is good

**Scooter24** · 03-06-2012, 03:15 PM

How is it that a study can be listed at the top of this page yet when I attempt to let others know about a different study the link is removed? Guess you have to be a paying party to help others.

**Abe Munder the Wheeled Wonder** · 03-14-2012, 09:51 PM

Prunes daily

Always been a problem, and I have tried all kinds of things. Last year I had a couple of wretched out-of-my-mind experiences.

The difference today is prunes. I had heard about prune juice, but it did nothing for me the times I've tried it. No, what I'm talking about is eating prunes daily, systematically, and building up. In weeks I worked up to nine a day, somewhere between 5-7 grams of fiber, with a lot of water. Since then, I've cut way back because I didn't want to lose effectiveness, and now I eat them more strategically.

I keep track (it is that much of a problem), and learned they work not as a laxative (more) but as a softener (easier). In any event, no more agony, and they are completely healthy and natural, better for me than the prescriptions and over the counter meds I had to buy for years.

Just kicking my experience into the knowledge bank, hope that wasn't too gorey.

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I am desperate - severe constipation - please help!!

I am desperate - severe constipation - please help!!

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