Use of Senna

Due to bowel problems I have to use 20 senna a night  in order to empty the bowel once a day and avoid pain and discomfort all day. Is there anything else I could use, which is not high fibre, to reduce the amount I need to take?
Also as the bowel is already in a very slow transit condition, would the use of such a high amount of senna used be harmful?

[ChitChatNine]

I am not a Dr.. just a patient who has had long-term issues which we finaly figured out are thyroid hypothyroid related!  I have been on Miralax long-term thru my GI and it is a wonderful, non-addicting gentle way to use a laxative long term and in my opinion is better than Senna and much more comfortable to use.

But make sure your Dr. rules out any reason why you need to use this med on a daily basis before you commit to using it.  All my tests were negative so I got a thumb's up!  And in the US now Miralax is otc~!

Cheryl  (gallstones, kidney stones & also atypical colon polyp '05)

[Fazie]

Thank you for the information. I've never heard of this. Does it involve surgery, and is it available in the UK? I've had a lot of bowel tests and have a fair amount of adhesions, plus a rectal/vaginal seal. I've been left to get on with using senna, but sometimes even the large amount I use don't work and I'm  getting quite depressed by the whole thing.

[Morecambe]

A patient with the name MIFEGR placed a posting on the "ask a doctor" part of this forum (last August - around 10-11 August I think) describing her use of laxatives over a long period of time with the result that her intestines had become inactive and her doctor recommended a total colectomy.

In my opinion it is worth trying other remedies than laxatives in order to forestall this eventual rather drastic outcome.

Fazie - you mention the wish to avoid high fibre.  Is there any reason for this because plenty of fibre is the best natural way to keep the bowels moving?  Pulverised fresh fruit and vegetables with bran blended in are ideal recipes.  Also bran blended into yoghurt.

I note that you are from Scotland where porridge is presumably alive and well??!! Try it with added bran and grated fruit/nuts etc.

Good luck
Morecambe

[twosonmom]

Benefiber is an OTC powder with no taste you can put either on food or in a drink that will help move things along.  As always, check with your doctor to make sure you can take this.

[ducky7654]

I'd like to add a 2 more diagnosis's for your symptoms. I too have had constant gas, bloating, pain in my abdomen, and had to rely on other things to have a bowel movement. I never used laxatives because I know they are dangerous and you can become addicted to them and your body will then rely on them to go. I took Amitiza prescribed my my PCP but it caused me to have nausea so I only took it very rarely  I have had these symptoms for 2 1/2 years and I insisted to have surgery because I knew something had to be wrong . I suspected endometriosis because the pain was worse during my period.

I had the surgery on May 20th and not only did I have endometriosis but I had a twisted bowel that was in a zig zag position making it impossible for me to have a bowel movement on my own. It's something that people are born with and can be fixed. The surgeon resectioned my bowel and repositioned it back to what it should be.  

Those are just 2 possibilities. Never give up. I didn't and I finally have a answer to my symptoms.