Stool softeners

I do not and have not used suppos except for couple of times when they were not satisfactory or satisfying. So, I do enemas for a good time. I am on medications that cause constipation in the sense that I do not feel the need to go, so it can be several days between BM's, by which time they are hard and do not pass easily. I have found that by taking oral stool softeners, three a day, I do not have the hardness problem and I can go when I am willing to work at it. I still do enemas perhaps twice a week for enjoyment and to make things easier.

hankb

I have two supplements that I take has made a difference in stool softness and making me very regular. Magnesium tablets 250mg once daily and I to sprinkle flax seed meal on my salads. These two things seem to make a real difference in ease and frequency of having a regular BMs.

Yeah, that's great when it works. I have been doing Metamucil plus high fiber diet for the past couple of days and am probably looking at an enema either tonight or tomorrow morning.

What I've started doing is pulling the trigger on "more extreme interventions" such as (and usually) enemas earlier on in the process before things turn into a train wreck. Seems to help - enemas go faster and more comfortably and I have a higher probability of my colon returning to "natural function" for a bit if I hit it early in the process (if constipation can be called a "process," but you probably know what I mean).

After a couple bouts of painful hemorrhoids I have stopped trying to "work at it."

I take alot of medication and take softeners but still need to take more or just take enema .But that not really why writing in. Going for prostate 2-3 weeks last time took enema 2-2 1/2 hours before appt. but when had the old finger check also had the water dribble also come down .So guess will take the enema night before or wondering if should try the liquid type suppose 1 hour before appt. Just do not want to have the puddle thing again happen .Anyone have any ideas ?

It depends on what type of solution you are using and how much. Could you give more information?

I find that my diet lax in fiber I will take a benefiber mixed with a glass of water everyday and it really helps

A healthy diet is the foundation and should be your main approach to dealing with constipation issues, but it's not always a cure-all. I can take a triple dose of fiber powder and a bowl of oatmeal with plenty of liquid every morning and still sometimes have problems, but sometimes it works. Unfortunately the only thing I can rely on is that a high fiber diet increases gas 😢 (but decreases how smelly it is).

I imagine that doctors are used to encountering stool during rectal exams, so it probably isn't something that needs to be worried about too much.

. . . . take a triple dose of fiber powder and a bowl of oatmeal . . . .

If you take a triple dose, you need triple the water.

The worst thing you can do with a fiber laxative is not take enough water with it. It will cause your stools to be hard and dry becauee there isn't enough water to hydrate it.