What should i do?
MiraLax - I am on day one , and I'm nervous to have a bowel movement because of pain.
Question posted by Red girl on 10 May 2013
Last updated on 9 January 2018
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5 Answers
Inactive
11 May 2013
Keep taking the miralax every morning. Also, try Milk of Magnesia. I have had to take 4 tablespoons of that in the mornings to get me going. Drink plenty of fluids. I do it in the mornings because sometimes, I do cramp before my bowels move. I get nausea, sweating and cramping all at the same time. Once my bowels start moving, I am ok. I do the laxative in the morning when I know I am not going anywhere. I would rather cramp during the day time then at night. Everything is worse at night. Good luck and God bless.
Red girl
11 May 2013
Good suggestion! I'll def switch to mornings . Bc I too suffered from mild cramping , but it is bareable .
DzooBaby
10 May 2013
The more you hold it in, the more painful it will be. The longer stool is held in the rectum, the more water is reabsorbed by the bowel making the stool harder and drier so holding back is the worst thing you can do. Miralax should help to soften the stools so they are not so painfully large and hard coming out. Kathy gave you wonderful suggestions! One very very important thing to remember-no matter what you use as a stool softener or laxative, it will not work well unless you are well hydrated so drink lots and lots of water, plain water, not tea or coffee. Tea and coffee dehydrate. They have chemicals that make you lose more fluid than they replace. Juices are okay too but water is best. It can sometimes take a while to get used to drinking plain water (I have a reverse osmosis filter since out tap water is so nasty or I buy bottled water when I am out) but once you get used to it, water is all you will want when you are thirsty.
I have to have water and usually keep a bottle with me all the time. You can try adding lemon or lime or a few pieces of other fruit to help it taste better. Even something like Crystal Light is better than coffee, tea or soda. Water will help keep your stools soft. Eat plenty of fiber too. Veggies and whole grains, beans and the like will help hold water in your stools keeping it softer-this is what fiber does. If you let constipation go too long, it can form a hard ball of stool and can be very hard to pass and can tear delicate tissues down there. As Kathy mentioned, sometimes it gets so bad that a Dr or nurse has to physically manipulate it digitally (with their fingers) to break it up and get it removed and trust me-you DONT want to have to have that done. It is very uncomfortable to say the least!! Try to talk yourself into relaxing. Once you get the stools softer it will be easier for you to have a bowel movement. The hesitancy is normal but you have to self talk yourself into going again so that you dont complicate things more. Keep telling yourself that things will get worse if you dont go. The mind is VERY powerful and it controls the body. Learn to use your mind for good with positive self talk. If you tell yourself you can do something you WILL do it!
Red girl
10 May 2013
Very helpful also ! Thank you
kaismama
10 May 2013
What is going to give you pain? Miralax doesn't cause cramping and it softens the stool. If you are anxious about having a bowel movement it will make it more difficult.. Try to relax. And drink plenty of fluids.
Red girl
10 May 2013
Sorry I could only write a little amount . But I went to the ER two days ago bc I was In so much pain taking a bowel movement that I literally almost cried , my doctor discovered no external hemroids but I had extreme pain so she prescribed me miralax to help soften my stools since they have been hard and bloody . I been having urges to go to the bathroom but I'm scared of the pain that I had two days ago , so I'm literally holding it in .
kaismama
11 May 2013
You are making it worse by holding it. The longer it stays the harder it will get. You can get to the point of vomiting and being blocked solid. No pain is worth avoiding that much. If you are a woman, you will have far worse pain then a constipated stool.
Tee6759
10 May 2013
Dear Red girl,
I take Miralax on a daily basis. My stomach quit working so my system needs a lot of help. If I do not take care, I will end up "backed up" and then have to take several doses a day until things clear up. You should have little to no pain once you get straight. Take it exactly as your doc directed. It may take a couple of doses to get you going and then you should be fine. Its okay to be afraid of pain as we all are. But Miralax is a great product and has little to no side effects, i.e. pain, cramping. I hope this helps!
Seeking peace,
Tee
Red girl
10 May 2013
Sorry I could only write a little amount . But I went to the ER two days ago bc I was In so much pain taking a bowel movement that I literally almost cried , my doctor discovered no external hemroids but I had extreme pain so she prescribed me miralax to help soften my stools since they have been hard and bloody . I been having urges to go to the bathroom but I'm scared of the pain that I had two days ago , so I'm literally holding it in .
FG2ROSIE
9 Jan 2018
Does miralax cause a little stomach ache? I am on day 2 of taking it and i was on the toilet about 8-10 times yesterday but barely anything came out each time.
kathyhanson
10 May 2013
Red girl,
I don't understand what you are asking. Day one of what? Pain from what? Since you want a direct answer, and I can reply only once, I will try to give you a general answer. Miralax is an excellent, mild stool softener. Sometimes it will take a few days for it to work, depending on how much your doctor wants you to take at one time. If you are in pain from a surgery? birth? chronic digestive condition? then you might want to remember that constipation would be far more painful for you. You should take the Miralax as directed and let nature take its course. Hope this helps. Sorry it is such a generalized answer.
Kathy
sara12345
10 May 2013
Great answer from Kathy. Assuming that your doctor recommended the Miralax. So I wouldn't do anything different if that is the case. If not, I also use Benefiber in addition to the Miralax.
Red girl
10 May 2013
Sorry I could only write a liter amount . But I went to the ER two days ago bc I was In so much pain taking a bowel movement that I literally almost cried , my doctor discovered no external hemroids but I had extreme pain so she prescribed me miralax to help soften my stools since they have been hard and bloody . I been having urges to go to the bathroom but I'm scared of the pain that I had two days ago , so I'm literally holding it in .
kathyhanson
10 May 2013
Red girl,
Please don't try to stop yourself from having a BM. I know you are scared of the pain, but that's why you were told to use Miralax. It is so mild and doesn't cause cramping like some of the other softeners. If you don't allow yourself to go, your bowels can become impacted. Now that is painful and often a doctor has to help relieve the impacted bowel through physical manipulation of the stools. I'm trying to say this in the least graphic way I can, but I think you get the idea. Keep using the Miralax until you have relief. Be sure to drink lots and lots of water, too. My main point is: Please do not try to stop yourself. You also need to see a gastroenterologist who can do a colonoscopy, CT, MRI, or sigmoidoscopy to find out where your bleeding is coming from. It could be a simple fissure resulting from your constipation, or it could be something more serious. Let us know how you are doing.
Kathy
Red girl
10 May 2013
Oh no.! Well I'm on day two and I just tried to let myself go but stopped do you know anything about a enema? If I take that do u think it will help with from stopping myself to go to the bathroom?
Red girl
10 May 2013
Kathyhanson,
They told me to take an enema but I don't know if that will cause my stools to be loose or what . After the pain I had two days ago I never want to experience that again , I just want to have a bowel movement already to get rid of this bloated cramping feeling I have .
kathyhanson
10 May 2013
Red girl,
Yes, use an enema if that is what the doctor told you to do. Get the Fleets two pack. It might take two of them to do the job. No, enemas will not cause diarrhea. You might have several BM's until you are cleaned out, but you won't have diarrhea.If the enemas don't work, you can always use a fast acting suppository like Dulcolax. They are harsher, but will turn the hard stools to liquid making it easier for you. They work in 15 minutes to 1 hour, and no you cannot stop it if you want to! The longer you can wait once you insert it, the easier it will be for you. You can also use a plain glycerin suppository to lubricate the rectum to help the stools pass more easily. From what you have said, it sounds as though you probably have a fissure (or tear) from constipation. After you are able to go, using whichever means you choose, I suggest that you take a sitz bath which will help to ease irritation. You can put a little epsom salts in the water.
Do not use soap in the area. Another suggestion is to use baby wipes to cleanse the area every time you use the toilet. Since they have baby lotion in them and moisturizers, they will soothe the area. I suffered for years and years with chronic constipation and the resulting fissures or hemorrhoids. I know you are miserable. Trust me, you will be far more miserable if you don't go. Send me a private question if you like.
Kathy
RexR24
29 Dec 2017
Red girl I've been taking Miralax for the past 2 days I was constipated for at least 3 or 4 days what helped me was place a warm cloth on your rectum play sit there for a few minutes then get a stool to prop your feet up towards your chest in the squatting position that helps align everything so it's easier to go and let me tell you it helps a lot I just had a movement and I feel so much better continue taking the Miralax as directed by your doctor I take the powder form it says you can use it in cold water but I use it in warm water or coffee with no creamer or sugar the first time I took it was just with warm water but get a stool to help bring your knees to your chest it will help a lot. I hope this helps you or anyone else that's going through this.
Related topics
miralax, pain, nervous, bowel movement
Further information
- MiraLax uses and safety info
- MiraLax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of MiraLax (detailed)
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