Alternatives to enemas for pharmaceutical caused constipation

I have a question for everyone. Has anyone tried a combination of Fibercon and Miralax? Does it work and is it comfortable?

Recently I went in for my annual wellness check and asked my doctor about severe constipation caused by Ozempic. I have been on Ozempic for over a year and I am currently on the maximum dose of 2Mg per week. It has been a miracle drug for my diabetes, I have lost 27 pounds and my A1c is 6.3. The downside is that it causes weird constipation. If I wait until my body decides it needs to have a bowel movement I get excruciating gut cramps and have to find a toilet quickly. Then I usually fill the bowel. The cramps and more bowel movements ensue throughout the day.

The only way to prevent it is to take a preventive enema when I feel I am backing up. My endocrinologist is OK with this method. Since I like enemas I think it is OK also. However, I would like to feel normal again, and quite frankly there are times when an enema just isn’t a possibility. So last week my GP wanted me to start taking 3 caplets of Fibercon with each meal and a full dose of Miralax each evening. This seems like a lot to me.

So my question is has anyone tried this or a similar regimen? If I still get the gut cramps I’ll go back to pre-emptive soapsuds enemas.

Ok, my first experience was not good. After 3 days I was more constipated than when I started with no bowel movement. At the end of the day I gave up and used an enema. Because of my full bowel it had to be 2, the first was about 15 oz. and cleared my rectum. I refilled the bucket and took the whole 1500Ml's, I felt great afterwards and this morning. I will try again and report back.

My laxative regimen was 3 fibercon twice a day and one full dose of miralax.

The downside to this it is extremely time consumming and uncomfortable. Each dose of laxative is accompanied by at least 10Oz. of water repeated three times a day. Feeling of being bloated after each dose.

I just keep thinking that an enema takes about 40 minutes and has about 10 minutes of discomfort associated with it and only needs to be repeated about once a week. The problem is it takes planning and oportunity, my wife is extremely anti-enema and I don't like the criticism. But, the misery from the laxatives have to diminish for me to follow this regimen (and also work).

I take Miralax and lactulose, I am severly constipated 99 percent of time. Having one small bowel movement about every 2 or 3 weeks unassisted. With Miralax & lactulose administered via oral syringe 1 hour before meals means I am unable to retain stool, my bowels are on automatic once the medication is onboard and I am fed, I have no choice, I will fill my diaper when the medication makes me.

The medication leaves you completely unable to participate in any meaningful way other than to 100 percent compliance, you will have multiple bowel movements, usually between 1 1/2 & 2 hours post meal, you will completely lose the ability to choose and begin substantially filling your diaper (your bowel movements will be unstoppable very large and very soft) I have a host of other health issues that means my body is reliant on my staff interventions and allied health professionals to keep me as well as possible.

If constipation is a huge issue you really need a good doctor intervention, it can be life changing. I went from maybe 2 X’s a month to 5X’s a day day. I am sure a lot of messes is not something an average person wants or needs ( I didn’t ?) but once it happens and you start feeling better and don’t ever have to think about needing to go, it happens when it needs to without your input. Leaving you lots of time to do fun things instead of trying to invent a way for your bowels to move . I went thru oral and rectal laxatives, stool softeners, enemas and suppositories, manual disempaction and all kinds of wicked and painful procedures before finding my happy place.

I have digestive issues from my teeth to my butthole. GERD, gastritis, IBS, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids... that I know of. Everything that I do now has been discussed and approved by my doctors, I recommend you do the same with yours.

I take one serving of Metamucil in the morning to help with my IBS. Depending on which variety you choose, that could be between one teaspoon and one tablespoon. I've been told that, depending on your situation, too much fiber can actually make it harder to have a BM. That is actually the case with me. Sometimes a second dose in the afternoon is beneficial to me, sometimes not.

Also in the morning, I mix Miralax into my coffee. Currently that is about one teaspoon (about 1/3 of a serving). Again, sometimes I need to increase that amount, sometimes decrease it. It took me a long time to figure out how much of this to take. Once changing the amount of the dose, I'd recommend you change nothing else for a few days. It takes awhile for your body to adjust and regulate.

I do this everyday, and it is easy enough to take these meds with me on vacation. It is definitely a hassle and not ideal, but it is better than being constipated, bloated, in pain, nauseous, etc. Get started by asking your doctor(s) if this something that might work for you.

OK,

I think I found a solution with the help of my endocrinologist. Magnesium Oxide, 500Mg morning and 500Mg in the evening. It took about 5 days to start working after my last enema, but it is working fine now. 1 every morning I am having as close to normal poops as before I started the Ozempic. No bloating, cramps or urgency.

The regimen my GP put me on which included a fiber supplement and Miralax actully felt constipating at first and caused way worse cramps than any enema I have ever had, and when it decided to work you better not be more than 10 steps from the toilet.

So far I am happy with the magnesium oxide.