Laxative dependency for 3 years

[tarheel123]

I want to know what I can do to stop having to use laxatives. I was told I had IBS in 1993 and to eat plenty of fiber. Well until 2008, I didn't have but occasional constipation. Now I feel like my bowel is constantly full. My stomach is hard and uncomfortable. I began using laxatives but don't use them daily, 3 times a week. I switch between Correctol and a sienna tea. I just want to get off laxatives and get rid of this bloated, hard, full and uncomfortable feeling and go like a "normal" person.

I also have GERD and gastritis and have difficulty swallowing many types of different foods, so a lot of the fiber rich foods I can't eat because I can't swallow them. Is there some type of liquids I can drink like fruit juices or something that would help or do I need to eat them in their natural form? I though about stopping the laxatives cold turkey and drinking lots of high in fiber juices such as pear juice and V8 juices, will this help?

Please I am 38 years old and I can't stand to live like this!

[jazminealthia]

Increasing your fluid intake is a good idea. Plus try an osmotic laxitive like miralax on a daily basis. It's less harsh and it should get your cleaned out. I think once you get yourself cleaned out initially it may be easier to maintain a more regular bowel habit with simple things like prune juice or even benefiber - they make powdered drink mixes that would be easier to swallow.

[lizzybulltrot]

i had the same problem myself years ago.i fond drinking plenty of water each day helps also boiled water as hot as you can drink it

[kev543]

prune juice. its nasty but it will move them bowels and after a while you get use to the taste. they do have it in sugar free.

[FurballsMom]

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=faq&dbid=30

Check out this site.  There are food sensitivities you likely don't know about.  This page talks about Tyramine Intolerance.  There is information on the site about Histamine Intolerance and Food Elimination diets, too.  Most people who know about Tyramine Intolerance know it's connected to migraine disorder, but the page says it's also connected to IBS.

I mentioned this page, because high sugar content, regardless of its source (ie natural fruit juices or dried fruit) is a problem for people with IBS.  Most don't realize this, and most don't even know they have food sensitivities.