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miralax and magnesium citrate

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/31/2019 4:50 PM (GMT -5)
I have decided to only take the miralax and magnesium citrate and leave out the dulcolax. I know I just wrote about this..,..but I'm wondering if anyone has done just this combo. I'm also going to take some miralax two days before my colonoscopy because i've had constipation, not diarrhea.
Please share your experiences and if you've done this.
As i mentioned before, I have been eating very little in the last month, mostly liquids or soft foods, and have lost almost 10 pounds. I feel very depleted and worry what too much of all this stuff will do to my brain and heart.
Of course, it's labor day weekend, kaiser doesn't take calls on the weekend and by monday i'll be doing my prep.
I'm nervous and hope to hear from some of you who have taken this combo and skipped the dulcolax.
Thank you so much.
Posted 8/31/2019 9:23 PM (GMT -5)
Dulcolax does make me cramp some when I do preps but a nurse told me hydration will help with that. My directions for my last prep said 2 I believe and I went with 1 tab. I did take it earlier in the day then my sheet said, which a nurse also recommended. I have heard eating light the day before you are supposed to be on clear diet only helps. I like the miralax prep. Apple juice in between sips of the miralax helped me. Just make sure you are passing clear liquid by the time you get towards the end of your prep. I actually didn’t do all of my morning drinks last time cause I was totally clear and it was fine.
Posted 8/31/2019 10:57 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for sharing your advice and experience. Taking it earlier and with lots of water sounds like a great suggestion. I hope I’ll be all cleared out too. I guess you didn’t have to drink the magnesium citrate either. It’s funny...I told my doctor I can’t swallow pills and asked if liquid Dulcolax is ok. He said yes. When I went to the store tonight to get it, I see it’s the same ingredient as milk of magnesia. Maybe that will be more gentle. Thanks again for sharing...I’m so super nervous about this and can’t wait until it’s over!
Posted 9/1/2019 6:23 AM (GMT -5)
Dulcolax and milk of magnesia are not the same active ingredient, but dulcolax makes a milk of magnesia. It’s a tad confusing. Dulcolax is the tiniest pill I’ve ever seen so you could swallow it I bet. I guess subbing it for the other will still get things moving. Don’t be nervous. Have something to watch or read during your prep evening. The colonoscopy part is the easiest and you won’t be awake. It’ll feel like 2 minutes went by. I get them done almost once a year right now. You’ll be done soon!

Post Edited (ASellers) : 9/1/2019 5:26:07 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/2/2019 1:08 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you! I took milk of magnesia last night and didn't poop today. Today i took one capful of miralax and am having a larger dose of milk of magnesia. Hopefully that will get things moving before tomorrow. Tomorrow is my clear liquid day and colonoscopy is on Tuesday. The unfortunate thing is kaiser advice nurses in the GI dept. are gone on Monday, so I'm just going to trust what worked for you. I may take one dulcolax in the mid afternoon, then start on the miralax earlier than suggested.
With my thickened ilium, I'm really nervous that things will not pass through. So I'm just going to have to trust. I imagine many people with crohns have thickened walls and do this just fine. I'm newly diagnosed.
Posted 9/2/2019 8:04 AM (GMT -5)
I’d suggest you buy the actual bisacodyl pill which is what dulcolax is, they are super small. Also have the magnesium citrate drink at home in case you need it. The biggest thing to remember is that if you aren’t clean enough the doctor will make you repeat the colonoscopy which means doing the prep again. No fun and a waste of money. I think what you’ve done so far is good to help get things going! Good luck!
Posted 9/2/2019 9:31 AM (GMT -5)
Even though I’m scared of the cramps that might occur with the Dulcolax I will take it. I’m only going to take one. The one capful of Miralax and milk of magnesia hasn’t produced anything but a couple of hard stools. So I will take one Dulcolax at 1 today and then start drinking the Miralax Gatorade shortly afterwards. My instructions say take magnesium citrate tomorrow after my second round of Miralax.
I think my digestion is so slow so starting early is better. Also I’ve been on a soft and liquid diet for two weeks so there is not a lot of bulk in there. But I don’t want to have to do this again. I’ve read how people get sick and cramp and vomit, etc...but they’ve all lived through it. I just want to get this over with and find out what is going on and start feeling better. Thanks again for your help! It really helps to know what others have done.
Posted 9/2/2019 2:35 PM (GMT -5)
Yep, you’ll get through it! I’ve had 7 of these. I actually prefer the miralax with Gatorade. Technically it’s the same exact thing as golytely and peg3350 which are prescription preps. It’s simply that miralax went from rx only to otc years ago and using the dose the dr instructs makes it about the same as the rx prep that are also polyethylene glycol. In my opinion the miralax and Gatorade has a better taste. I drink it cold and with a straw. Drink some apple juice in between gulps. It’ll be over soon. I have gagged sometimes and thrown up twice, so when that happens I paced myself. Still was fine! Watch an iPad or something in the bathroom if you need to smile
Posted 9/2/2019 9:26 PM (GMT -5)
Well, I drank all the Miralax (first dose) and have been having some action! In fact, I sometimes just sit in the toilet and wait, it’s mostly liquid. I don’t think I need the Dulcolax because things are moving. I’ve got a heating pad on my tummy and will keep drinking water. Tomorrow morning I have to drink the Miralax again, then magnesium citrate. I feel like I’m taking dynamite for my small size and light eating over the last month. Luckily my scope isn’t until the afternoon so I’ll have some time to clean out more. I was also instructed to take gas-x before and after my second round. Thanks for holding my hand through this terrifying thing.
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