Hi Jan.. I know youre out there somewhere and from your extensive experience would know the answer to this one: Every time I take my antibiotic meds for pouchitis, I get so stuck up Im in agony and cant BM at all. What remedies are there available to alleviate this as I have to keep going off my meds to get some relief? I have tried metamucil and other types of fibers without much impact

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bowella,

Always check with your doctor. But colace is good to take to soften things up. Always drinks tons of water and eat high fiber (but easily digestable) foods.

If you get really constipated, maybe a little milk of magnesia could work to flush things out

Perhaps your doc can reduce the dose enough to both kill the infection and not be so constipating. Jan's taking time off to handle family affairs after a death in the family so I'm not sure she'll see this.

I agree with KDCPOUCH, to always check with your doctor, but I take epsom salts for my constipation.
Couldn't live with out them.
2 tsp dissolved in a large glass of water.
Pretty bloody revolting, but, (for me) it is a Godsend.
Metamucil binds me up more. I don't need any fibre.

I know how you feel have been on meds that really constipate you,Oxycontine, Endone, Flagyl, Panadeine Forte, saw a natropath, and she told me to take 100ml of prune juice in a large glass of water, the large glass of water makes you absorb the prune juice, and it really works great.

I think I am going to try the prune juice. Do you soak the prunes to create the juice, or just straight out buy prune juice?
I actually like prunes, so it is going to be a tasty experiment

I just buy a bottle of it in Coles or a bit cheaper in Woolies,just pure Prune Juice, in a plastic bottle, l litre, called Pickfords and costs about $6 or $7, Coles have that and another one in a glass bottle, for about $10, or the health food shops, which are a bit pricy at $15+ and just make it like a strong cordial, in a long glass. The one I use holds 400ml, so its about 100ml prune juice and 300ml water, then its about 4 or 5 hours to work. Its not a great rush to the loo either, but takes all the effort away, really easy to go,and a great relief after the meds constipate you, good luck, Heather

Does drinking the prune juice change consistency dramatically or does it just help you get bowel movement easily? I am having a problem emptying but even when I am taking lorazepam. I was taking another med. to help me sleep but quit thinking that would help the bowels. I was also taking benedryl to help sleep or tried taking melatona instead. When stool is a certain consistency still have problems. Doctors say I was not taking enough meds. for that to be my problem but no other answer. I was drinking 2 1/2 cups regular coffee and mostly water the rest of the day. even tried doing 1/2 decaf. still has not helped. I can usually go the other way by drinking sprite or if not apple juice or was told white grape juice is better on the stomach. Then I usually end up with loose stool and the outside of bottom gets in a mess. Do you feel sore inside when you can't go and your system just feels locked up and makes you miserable? So I am danged if I do and danged if I don't.

I find the prune juice always gives me the same consistency, like porridge, even when I have had loads of meds that would normally make it really hard to go. The nurse at the hospital after one of my scopes 4/5 months ago told me to take pure pear juice to combat the constipation but it didn't do much, so I switched to pure prune juice, it hasn't made me loose, but I can't hold on for too long, half an hour tops, but its such a relief, otherwise I can get that horrible feeling of being locked up, I find fake sugars make me too loose, specially maltitol, in sugar free mints(yum)and explosive(lol).