Seeking Advice for Consistent Bowel Movement Routine

Currently, I'm taking Miralax daily and drinking apple juice with it, but it's not working as well as it did a few months ago. I don't always have a BM every day, and with my history of constipation and having a severe bowel obstruction last October, which caused my ostomy, I really need to find a good regimen to make sure that I have a bowel movement every day. Does anyone have any tips that will help? I appreciate anything that you could suggest. I am new here and looking to get some good advice and make some friends.

G-Day ChiMom,

I would look at your diet first, and are you eating enough? I have an ileostomy, so I am not able to answer your question very well, but others will join in soon.

Regards, IGGIE

That could be an issue. Some days I don't eat as much.

Sorry to be so blunt, but a doctor once said to me, "If you don't eat, you don't shit, and if you don't shit, you die."

Regards, IGGIE

You gotta eat to have output. The trick you have to figure out for yourself, as we all do, is what works for you.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

What is your output like? I've had days with a lot of output followed by days with little to none. I figure I'm "emptied out."

Also, if you have a descending or sigmoid colostomy, you might consider irrigation. I don't do this myself, but some people swear by it, and it might ease your mind.

Welcome from Oz 🇦🇺

Welcome.

Instead of Miralax, you could try Milk of Magnesium. They gave me some in the hospital, no more than the size of a coffee creamer, and whoa baby!

Do you have a colostomy or an ileostomy? That makes a difference in how often you have output.

G-Day infinitycastle,

Good luck for Monday. I hope it all goes well for you.

Regards, IGGIE

It's on Thursday I have the surgery. Eek. 4 days from today.

Take care

Infinity Castle, I wish you the best of luck for a successful surgery and a quick recovery.

Hi ChiMom, If you have a history of constipation, and you still have your colon, it's not likely that things will be any different with a colostomy, depending on what is causing the constipation, that is. Did you have to use laxatives daily before you got your ostomy? I had decades of what was diagnosed as constipation until my colon perforated, and I ended up with an emergency surgery and a colostomy. It did not solve my problem with 'constipation' because what was really happening was that my colon did not function properly, and I spent a year using laxatives (Miralax) until I got an ileostomy, bypassing my colon entirely. That was when things improved for me 100%. How different is your diet and liquid intake now compared to pre-ostomy? How different is your laxative use now, versus pre-ostomy? Did you ever discover what was causing your constipation before your bowel obstruction? I was finally diagnosed with 'colonic inertia,' which means the muscles of the colon don't function properly to move stool along. I'm not saying that is what is happening with you, but your case sounds an awful lot like mine. On days when you don't have output, are you in discomfort? It might just be, like others have mentioned, that you aren't eating enough. For some people, a daily bowel movement isn't even normal. What was your 'normal' pre-ostomy? If you still have your colon, it shouldn't be much different now.

Terry

Hi ChiMom,

I, too, have constipation and use several aids to help with BM's daily. I mix 3 heaping teaspoons of chia seeds in a glass with 8 ounces of warm water… let it sit for about 5 minutes or so. I then mix it into a half cup of mint tea and add 1 tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. I drink this before eating breakfast. At the same time, I use acacia Senegal from Heather's Tummy Care products and drink that after eating with my vitamins. You may find this product by going online to Heather's Tummy Care and learn how to use it. You add it in increments. I believe it is also called gum of Arabic.

This regimen and eating well with healthy foods work very well for me. One can also use more chia seeds depending upon your specific needs.

Hope this helps like it does for me daily. Much luck.

Gaia💐

Hi all, I am seeing great info here. Try to keep track of your food diary, noting which foods are good and bad so that you do not eat the bad ones. Some people hate McDonald's; I was testing out my stoma, and there were no problems. How do you compromise with those people who hate McDonald's (it is my favorite place to go)? I'm just looking for any tips.

I also bought a Calorie Counter book that might help. You can find them in bookshops.

 Shazy