I am just curious if anyone else here use laxatives in excess. I do and just can't seem to stop. It's really not a whole lot. My psych, psych-nurse, and therapist don't seem to be concerned so it must not be to big of a deal. I just know that I shouldn't be using them all the time.
Gail

yes i take then alot too i startd when i was diagnosed with IBS and nothing worked but laxitives so now i take them almost everyday dont think its the best thing but if i dont take them i feel so fat and bloted

I abuse laxatives but haven't in about 9 months now because I have IBS-D (I think that the laxative abuse may have contributed to my getting IBS also). It's a very hard cycle to break and it can really mess you up with continued abuse. I still think about taking them all the time but as I said before, my health problem won't allow for that. How long have you been taking them? :nono:

I have been taking them on and off for several years, not sure how many. Now I take them every night and have been for at least a year. I take about three a night. I may have to start taking four.
Gail

I am also once again into laxative abuse.
I am back up to around 10-15, however, they are the mild ones. I have heard your body grows accustomed to them and then relies on them. Yes, it can be damaging toyour colon and actually the whole digestive system it can cause colonitis and so forth go on google and hit laxative abuse to find out. I don't think we are able to put to much info here but really do research. It is and can be dangerous. Not as bad as throwing up or as quickly but none the less dangerous.

wish

:( I abused laxatives for a couple of years (say maybe 2 or 3) and now I suffer from digestive problems. I stopped taking them about a year ago which is good, I guess. It just takes quite a while for me to digest my food now. It's unpleasant :(

talking from experience I have never felt better since stopping. I mean sure you feel fat and bloated and all but what I found was if I replaced blowing my guts out several times every day with regular high intensity exercise, not only did I find that I actually started losing weight but I felt amazing.
I know its really hard, but you have to think about the long term consequences of what you're doing to yourself. Maybe each time you feel guilty or feel bloated you should go for a run or go swimming or something.
It'll really help! You know you don't want to feel the way you do anymore.
I got past it and so can you all!
I mean think about it...what's the point in laxative abuse if you're body is going to build up an immunity to them. It wont fix the problem, plus I really hate that stomach twisted feeling and sweatiness you get right before.
With exercise I didnt hate the world as much and I wasnt always concentrating on when exactly I should take the laxatives so I had it perfectly timed for when I got up in the morning.

If I can do it...and im as stubborn as all get out, and I convinced myself to stop it then so can you!

I have abused laxatives as well, but the problem is they really don't make you lose weight - they only speed things out of your large intestine and all your calories are absorbed in the small intestine. They made me feel lighter because I was dehydrated all the time from pooping! But honestly, I weined myself off for a few months and felt a lot better and did not gain weight.