Who who have ever dreamed that I would be looking for a solution to constipation! I can honestly say it's not a problem I've ever had to deal with in 60 years! But now that I'm living a ketogenic lifestyle it seems to have happened. I remember all the years I would scoff at people who complained about that because most of us would kill for that problem.
Anyway, I know the first thing that would be recommended is to increase my fiber intake (via vegetables). I already eat a sufficient amount every day and to add too much more is going to increase my carb count. Could I increase my magnesium to get things moving, or is that not advisable? I don't know if magnesium is a laxative because it irritates or inflames the intestine or if it works for some other reason.... I certainly don't want to do anything that could irritate my colitis or cause irritation to my healing intestines.
Yes, I'm drinking PLENTY of water (with the magnesium citrate powder in all of it) but I can easily add additional scoops if you think that would be helpful and not harmful.
So - your opinions? add fiber through some source or increase the magnesium?
Sue
Can I use magnesium as a laxative?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Can I use magnesium as a laxative?
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Sue,
After almost a year now with LC, I seem to have landed more in the constipation camp after months of being off gluten, dairy, soy and eggs. Magnesium oxide works well for me. That is the mag in Phillips Milk of Magnesium, a laxative, from what I understand. As a magnesium, it is not well absorbed but does have more of a laxative effect.
1 mag oxide (250 mg a day) in addition to my other mag and vit D, usually does the trick. If my stool become too hard, I take two oxide, one AM and one PM.
For me, too much fiber can clog me up and I end up with cramping and pain. That may change as time goes by but for now I do eat some fiber but keep a handle on it each day.
The real test for me will be the next time I travel. For many years before LC, my bowels would shut down while traveling and that hasn't changed for me. The last time I traveled, in Sept, the same thing happened and when I got home, I had days of intense cramping as my bowels started to empty. I wasn't taking mag oxide and am hoping that when I next travel, the mag oxide will help.
I don't want to become dependent on stool softeners and OTC laxatives.
Susan
After almost a year now with LC, I seem to have landed more in the constipation camp after months of being off gluten, dairy, soy and eggs. Magnesium oxide works well for me. That is the mag in Phillips Milk of Magnesium, a laxative, from what I understand. As a magnesium, it is not well absorbed but does have more of a laxative effect.
1 mag oxide (250 mg a day) in addition to my other mag and vit D, usually does the trick. If my stool become too hard, I take two oxide, one AM and one PM.
For me, too much fiber can clog me up and I end up with cramping and pain. That may change as time goes by but for now I do eat some fiber but keep a handle on it each day.
The real test for me will be the next time I travel. For many years before LC, my bowels would shut down while traveling and that hasn't changed for me. The last time I traveled, in Sept, the same thing happened and when I got home, I had days of intense cramping as my bowels started to empty. I wasn't taking mag oxide and am hoping that when I next travel, the mag oxide will help.
I don't want to become dependent on stool softeners and OTC laxatives.
Susan
Sue,
Susan's suggestion is excellent, IMO. Magnesium can be a good laxative, but with the forms we usually take, too much of it will be absorbed into your bloodstream and your kidneys will just have to work harder to take the excess back out. With magnesium oxide, we can only absorb about 2 or 3 % of it, so nearly all of it stays in our gut to make an excellent laxative that's presumably far less harsh on our gut than most other types of laxatives.
At least that's my opinion, FWIW.
Tex
Susan's suggestion is excellent, IMO. Magnesium can be a good laxative, but with the forms we usually take, too much of it will be absorbed into your bloodstream and your kidneys will just have to work harder to take the excess back out. With magnesium oxide, we can only absorb about 2 or 3 % of it, so nearly all of it stays in our gut to make an excellent laxative that's presumably far less harsh on our gut than most other types of laxatives.
At least that's my opinion, FWIW.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks, you two.... looks like when I go home for lunch I'm hitting the bottle (the M of M bottle)!
Sue
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!
Diagnosed November 2004, Used Asacol and Lialda, sometimes worked, sometimes made it worse. Entocort always works but hate it. Remission only lasts 3-6 months and then back on Entocort. Enterolab test July 2017, now gluten free. Time will tell!