by thisfissurecankissmybutt » 09 Mar 2012, 14:27
Before my CRS recommended Miralax, I had been using Colace (which never worked for me, at least not on a consistent basis) and Metamucil and I found that my stool became VERY bulky, which made it hard to pass. I started adding Miralax into my daily routine and for the first time in my life my stool has been consistently soft but well formed (the ideal stool!). The only downside is that you may have to experiment with the Miralax for a couple of weeks until you find the right dose for you. If you use too much, your stool will be too soft and you may have to go to the bathroom more than usual (not a good thing with a fissure). I started with a full dose and found out that it was too much for me. I now take a half dose daily (along with Benefiber, NOT Metamucil) and it has changed my life! No more straining! No more hard stools! I also found that the Benefiber (9 grams a day) didn't bulk up my stool as much as the Metamucil did, which made the stool easier to pass. You can test the difference between Benefiber and Metamucil yourself. Take a spoonful of each and put it in a little bit of water. The Metamucil will turn the water into a gel; the Benefiber will simply dissolve. In my experience, this effect of the Metamucil added too much bulk to the stool (it made it too wide). However, the Benefiber just kept the stool soft and kept everything moving along to where I now have one soft, well formed bowel movement every morning. Of course, I also get additional fiber in my diet and drink lots and lots and lots of water. And the best part: my CRS said it is safe to take Miralax for life! Of course, you always want to check with your doctor, as well. Good luck!