Constipation treatment - Getting off of Laxatives

Dear Ask The Doctor: My name is Clint, and I'm 16. For almost a year now I've been struggling with constipation. It started while I was on vacation last summer, I went camping for a week, and because of my own insecurities didn't use the bathroom while I was there. Afterwords my constipation began and I was put on laxatives. I've been seeing gastrointologists (2 of them actually) and both seem too busy and unconcerned to fully answer my questions. My bowel movements occure a few times every 1 or 2 days. The medicine I am on now is "Miralax" It's a powder sort of fiber laxative, so it basicaly just softens things up. The Miralax is working fine for me as long as I take it everynight. It does however make me verry bloated and uncomfortable at times. But as long as I take it I don't struggle to much with constipation. Anyways I went to the gastrointoligst today and he said I might have to stay on Miralax for the reast of my life. Honestly this idea scares me, I don't like being on this medicine, I don't like the way It makes me feel and I don't like having to take it everynight. He said it's nothing to be afraid of, but I just want my life back to normal. Is this really true? Because of that vacation back in the summer I have to stay on laxatives for the reast of my life? I don't believe he even remembers how my constipation began, so I'm hoping there is another outcome. Is there anyway I can get off of Miralax and back to my normal routine? My digestive system was fine before that one vacation, I had never gotten constipated before, did I ruin my digestive system permanently?

Dear Clint: I do understand that the problem you are facing is causing you concern. Constipation is infrequent bowel movements, 3 times or less per week. What you seem to be having is primary constipation in which the cause in not known.

You can do several things to improve your symptoms :

1. The most important factor that help in improving the symptoms of constipation is increased ingestion of fiber. These can be wholegrain breakfast cereals, vegetables – particularly if the skins are eaten, wholemeal flour, beans, lentils and peas. (American Dietetic Association recommends a daily fiber intake of 25-30 g)

2. Drink plenty of water and keep well hydrated.

3. There has been some study that show that squatting position while passing stools results in less straining while passing stools.

I hope the information will help, take care.