SBFT- barium and constipation

I'm having pretty severe bloating, abdominal pain and constipation since having my small bowel follow through test yesterday morning. I ate very little the day before the test since I wanted them to see everything clearly. Yesterday I had some yogurt, but stayed mainly with only fluids. I took Miralax twice yesterday, and a dose this afternoon, and again a few minutes ago. I'm on day 3 of barely eating, because I feel so distended and uncomfortable. I tend toward constipation anyway, and I knew the barium could be a problem, but I'm getting pretty uncomfortable. How many doses of Miralax do you think it's safe to take? Besides the laxative and pushing fluids, any advice? I know I don't have an obstruction since I just had the test, but this is getting pretty miserable!

That happened to me several years ago...it was like the barium turned into cement. I did eventually go...a day, maybe it was 2 days, later. I remember taking milk of magnesium, not mira-lax. Maybe they work differently? Because of it, I will not go through another barium anything!

Have you contacted your doctor? Mira-lax is not working! It would concern me that the barium itself would become a blockage, because I remember it turning really hard.

As for the mira-lax question: For my colonoscopy prep I drink 2-week's worth mixed in two big bottles of gatorade. (The gatorade is to help keep your potassium/electrolytes levels in balance, which is important when downing so much laxative--which might be helpful for you too) I am not suggesting to do THAT much mira-lax without your dr.'s permission, just comparing. The dosages that you took will not hurt you, because I have had doctors tell me to go ahead with two doses/day if needed.

I too deal with severe constipation, on a normal basis. What do you do? I live on mira-lax, senna, or amitiza, or a combination if it gets really bad. It gets to a point where my chest hurts, and I can't get a deep breath. I am told it is IBS, along with Crohns. I eat dairy -free and gluten-free, and sometimes wonder if it helps or not. Once your'e feeling better, maybe you can pass along a few suggestions.

Anyhow, call your doctor. You need to find a laxative that works --now! Feel better soon!

Hi Thanks Minnie and psalm!
I had a small bowel movement this morning and it really was like a block of cement, and of course caused bleeding too. I have to work today, so I'm fearful about taking more laxative until I get home, but maybe I'll switch to Milk of Magnesia tonight.

Psalm in answer to your other question...I have Crohn's in my ileum. My colon has no disease but very slow transit time with IBS, so I tend to be constipated a lot. I take daily fiber pills, colace and probiotics, and I have to add in Miralax several times a week. I do take Senokot, but try to limit it, as I worry it is possible harsh. I have bad anemia, and I don't want anything contributing to my bleeding. It is a real challenge. Exercise also sometimes helps, but lately I've been so tired and so I've stopped working out. So I guess I don't have suggestions beyond what you are already doing. I'm still pretty miserable today...hopefully I make it through work ok. Thanks for your responses!

I certainly wouldn't wish Crohn's of the colon on you, but it would cure the slow transit issue :-/ I had a sluggish colon as a child and teenager and suffered chronic, severe constipation as a result. It got better in my late teens and I do occasionally wonder if that was ultra early Crohn's manifesting itself or whether it was because I had finally got around to the concept of 'fibre' and eating the occasional bit of green food.

Anyway, I wouldn't wish constipation upon anybody. I hope that you feel better soon, gumby.

Man...you are not getting the best of results are you. Are you doing soft diet still. Maybe the guts need a rest after purgin all that chemical junk.

Mostly I am so glad for you that the iron is kicking in. Here's hoping that is the start of everything improving.