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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Constantly Constipated. No Improvement From Medicines, High Fiber Diet, Water. Solution?

Hello doctor, my question is that I m constantly constipated. I consumed my daily worth of fiber in high fiber cereal and drank so much water that I urinated abnormally often, many times a day. My urine was clear as is recommended by doctors. I was still constipated. I consumed Metamucil , and I was still constipated. I went to the doctor and he prescribed me some stool softener (Docusate Sodium ) 250mg, which is the highest I believe there is. He prescribed me 250mg because of my dire constipation problem and because of my skepticism that stool softener was going to be effective in ailing my problem. The medicine (stool softener) is inconsistent. At first, it was decent, but now, recently, I ve still become constipated. And when I m not constipated, I have episodes of diarrhea from what I believe to be symptoms from the highly potent stool softener. What do I do about the constipation?
Wed, 3 Apr 2013
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Gastroenterologist,  's  Response
Hello, DarkReapersGrim,
I know that you are trying your best to get on a regimen of high fiber diet,
plenty of fluids and stool softener. Sometimes , there is "Too much fiber "
consumption. This can make the stool to bulky and difficult to pass.
I would first recommend you try and cut back a little on the quantity of fiber.
Try to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits.
Make sure that you are physically active.
The alternative is to start a PEG solution such as Miralax which helps to add
water to your stool and break it up by making it soft. You can start with the
standard recommended dosage and after you start having watery stools , adjust
the dosage down, so that the consistency of the stool is fairly normal. You can
do this for an extended period till you are regulated.
Hope this helps.
I wish you the very best.
p.s : If you are over fifty years young, hope you have had a colonoscopy.
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Constantly Constipated. No Improvement From Medicines, High Fiber Diet, Water. Solution?

Hello, DarkReapersGrim, I know that you are trying your best to get on a regimen of high fiber diet, plenty of fluids and stool softener. Sometimes , there is Too much fiber consumption. This can make the stool to bulky and difficult to pass. I would first recommend you try and cut back a little on the quantity of fiber. Try to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Make sure that you are physically active. The alternative is to start a PEG solution such as Miralax which helps to add water to your stool and break it up by making it soft. You can start with the standard recommended dosage and after you start having watery stools , adjust the dosage down, so that the consistency of the stool is fairly normal. You can do this for an extended period till you are regulated. Hope this helps. I wish you the very best. p.s : If you are over fifty years young, hope you have had a colonoscopy.