Should I take laxatives or other over-the-counter medications for my IBS?
Nov. 22, 2021 Simone Venner
Should I take laxative or other over the counter medication for my IBS?
Now, first and foremost, I am not your doctor, and even if I was, I wouldn't be able to give you recommendations here and now.
One thing I would say is whenever you're dealing with issues of any kind health related, go and see your healthcare provider. If you are not happy with the response, ask for a second opinion. You can do that. And I hope that you feel confident enough in your doctor to get the right support that you need when it comes to laxatives as a whole.
For some of us, it can be beneficial depending on our situation. But the last thing you want to do is depend on these medications because your bowels aren't moving as they need to. I was diagnosed with IBSC at the age of 14, which is the constipation side. We also have IBSD, which is diarrhea, and we have IBSM, which is a mix. Sometimes people are between the two. And for me some days I would be unable to go to the bathroom for maybe seven to ten days, so it was extremely painful, uncomfortable. I felt bloated. I felt heavy, I felt foggy. It was just not great.
But one thing I did learn was whenever I use laxatives, I still wasn't feeling satisfied. And even then, it wasn't going away. I was really dependent on these and it wasn't solving the answer from the root cause. The great thing is, when we start to support the microbiome, we can see those changes. So I would definitely go and speak to your health care provider and then even request to see a dietitian. You can do that.
Now, first and foremost, I am not your doctor, and even if I was, I wouldn't be able to give you recommendations here and now.
One thing I would say is whenever you're dealing with issues of any kind health related, go and see your healthcare provider. If you are not happy with the response, ask for a second opinion. You can do that. And I hope that you feel confident enough in your doctor to get the right support that you need when it comes to laxatives as a whole.
For some of us, it can be beneficial depending on our situation. But the last thing you want to do is depend on these medications because your bowels aren't moving as they need to. I was diagnosed with IBSC at the age of 14, which is the constipation side. We also have IBSD, which is diarrhea, and we have IBSM, which is a mix. Sometimes people are between the two. And for me some days I would be unable to go to the bathroom for maybe seven to ten days, so it was extremely painful, uncomfortable. I felt bloated. I felt heavy, I felt foggy. It was just not great.
But one thing I did learn was whenever I use laxatives, I still wasn't feeling satisfied. And even then, it wasn't going away. I was really dependent on these and it wasn't solving the answer from the root cause. The great thing is, when we start to support the microbiome, we can see those changes. So I would definitely go and speak to your health care provider and then even request to see a dietitian. You can do that.
