[patricia72]

I am looking for natural products that really work to replace laxative abuse.... anyone know of a good product... I need something because I stopped functioning on my own.
Patricia

[funnygirl]

Patricia

Yes - try a bulking agent: in the UK we have two well-known ones: Fybogel and Regulan. They're made from aspaghula husk, a natural vegetable product.
One sachet each evening of either, and after a few days you'll go like a dream!

This type of product is much healthier than laxatives which have a rebound constipation effect after a period of over-use.

FG

[patricia72]

Thanks,
I will check to see if we have those here....
much appreciated, wishing you the best,
Patricia

[Genevieve]

Metamucil is psyllium husks, and that's the one I feel most comfortable suggesting. It's used in horses a lot, because it prevents a lot of digestive issues for them.

Otherwise, I'd stronly suggest you talk to your doctor about Lactulose or Reglan (metoclopromide), or even ask about Zelnorm. The fiber supplements can only do so much -- they can't get your gut MOVING, they can only give it something TO MOVE. (And there are reports of obstructions from fiber supplements in people without good bowel motility.)

So, my advice, now that I've thought it through, is to see your doctor and get a barium swallow and transit test done. Find out what's really going on with your GI system. And then you can work together to solve it.

Now, I'm assuming here that this is ONLY because of laxative abuse, that there are no other factors? Are you taking any antidepressants? Other medications? Has your diet changed? Have you been significantly underweight recently? Those things might be part of it, too. Prunes might help, by the way. They really do get things moving, although I don't know how.

Good for you for getting off the laxies, too. Those things will kill you.

Good luck.