Miralax

For those of you who use Miralax - is it an ongoing, daily use for you? For long periods of time?

I started using it after my 3 month post-op appointment. I had been having constipation issues during most of the first three months, and since I've been on it (about 3 weeks or so), I have been much more regular. The label says not to take it for extended periods of time, but I'd rather keep taking it if that's what I need to keep things moving at this point.

I'll ask my doctor as well, but interested to hear your experiences too. Thanks

Miralax is a non-habit forming laxative. I.e., you can still poop without it unlike stimulant laxatives that can cause dependence.

Here's my Miralax regimen. It's pretty much what I've done since day 1. Well.. since day 1 after horrible constipation once and I NEVER want to experience that again.

If I don't poop in the morning and don't have to leave the house for at least 60 minutes post-shake, I'll use a full dose in my morning shake.
If I don't poop in the morning and DO have to leave the house within 60 minutes, I use a 1/2 dose in my morning shake.
If I do poop in the morning, I use 1/2 dose in my morning shake.

This keeps my body happy and regular. Once in a blue moon I don't have a shake for breakfast and then I don't have Miralax that day either. This has been working well for me for years.

So if I'm reading it right, you're taking at least half a dose pretty much every day then, correct? And it sounds like that has been working well for you.

Is the 60 minute test because it produces a bowel movement for you that quickly?

I haven't experienced immediate action like that. I've been taking it at night with my evening pills, but since the label reads "usually produces a bowel movement in 2-3 days" I didn't think there was really any urgency involved. Hard to say for me at this point since I've been taking it pretty much daily for these three weeks.

Yes, you're reading my dosing correctly. :)

The 60 minute thing is because of the rapid BM. As I said in a later comment, my bowels seem to be in fast mode right now, which is unusual, but the time limit seemed to be a wise idea so that I didn't need to find a bathroom halfway to my destination! But probably in another month or so it won't be that way anymore. And then my "normal" regimen will be full dose if I don't poop in the morning, half dose if I do.

I've got screwy bowels, and did pre-op as well, so the 60 minute time thing is probably just a me-thing.

I take it everyday for about 3-4 days in a row... then I stop and wait until I don't poop in the morning, then I start over... so about every 3-4 days I use it for 3-4 days... make sense?

For me, it doesn't affect me until the next day.

I'm really beginning to think I have a slow tract or something, because so many others talk about it working on them quickly...

My system varies and, annoyingly, I'm in a "fast" phase right now :P

I swear it even takes 2-3 days for weight to show up when I've not been good... I think all that just sits in me for days on end! LOLOL

Should have read through the all the replies before I wrote, I see you already answered my question!

Makes sense, so you do a kind of stop-start. What's the gaps between your starts? Would you say you're on it about half the time, or is it less than that?

Just for more info - my mom, who hasn't had WLS, uses a half dose every other morning in a cup of almond milk to stay regular. And that works well for her.

So it's probably a matter of experimenting and finding what your body likes. I know if I did a half dose every morning it wasn't -quite- enough. (But I guess I should mention that I'm happiest when I poop once a day. "Normal" rate of BM for humans is anything from 3x a day to 3x a week.)