Anyone take Golytely for constipation? - Bowel Disorders Message Board

prin123 · 08-15-2002, 01:06 PM

as treatment, not to clean out for a procedure. I am left with nothing to take right now and need something. Magnesium is the only thing that has helped me and I have taken it so long it has made me really sick. Please advise.

Harry · 08-15-2002, 09:25 PM

Have you tried FIBER like Metamucil???

mlgable · 08-16-2002, 11:14 PM

What has the doc determined as the cause of your constiptation? You need some fiber therapy like Harry said probably 2-3 times daily and if your stools are hard then use a stool softener like colace aka docusate. Golytely is a pretty harsh type laxative and would only use something like that as a last resort. If you haven't had a good BM by the third day with using fiber and a stool softener then try a glycerin suppository or a baking soda enema if the suppository doesn't work well.

prin123 · 08-17-2002, 06:16 AM

I know you guys mean well but not all constipation is helped with fiber. My problem is that no matter how much fiber and water I take the stool gets hung up at the anal opening (sorry to be so blunt) and stays there; this is the unfortunate result of laxative abuse although I am going to have a sigmoidoscopy to rule out any pathology in that area. The only thing that allows the stool to come out has been magnesium supplements but I have take mag so long it makes me feel lousy. If I take alot of fiber and it doesn't come out, that is not a good thing. My plan is to take Metamucil, a stool softener and a glycerin supp. But, the suppositories don't work very well anymore either. I also plan to incorporate miralax into the program to get things going. I do think fiber has its place but there are some types of constipation for which it doesn't help much and in fact can make things worse. For most people with simple constipation it can be great and in most cases it certainly can't hurt.

mlgable · 08-17-2002, 08:37 AM

If the suppositories don't work well for you then you need to think about switching to a baking soda enema until things get under control. The other possible thing would be a bisacodyl suppository but I would try to stay away from this since these contain the laxative ingredient bisacodyl which is a stimulant type of laxative. You do need to work on retraining your bowels though since they are damaged by laxative abuse. Good Luck.