https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 15 Nov 2026 00:10:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1444872 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 09:12:08 +0000 MrsADS 1444872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello hello.... Zofran constipation expert here reporting in! LOL.</p> <p>I'm not pregnant (yet - hopefully soon!), but I had to take Zofran on a regular basis for about 2 years for my gastroparesis, so I'm well-versed in this totally horrible problem. I would also not be able to go to the bathroom for 7-8 days at a time, even with taking tons of Miralax, fiber, etc. I came very close to going to the ER for bowel obstructions.</p> <p>So, in my humble opinion, to deal with this issue, you have to get out the big guns. Drinking hot water, increasing fiber, prune juice, a little Miralax, etc. ain't gonna cut it. </p> <p>My #1 tip is to be very proactive. Now, if I have to take a Zofran, as soon as I'm feeling better (able to drink), I drink 2 capfuls of Miralax ASAP. Colace never did too much for me. Drink as much fluid as possible. I find a little fiber is okay, a lot of fiber makes it worse. My GI doctor said the same thing - he said eating a lot of fibery foods, fiber bars, etc. is just going to create more "bulk" that is going to sit there and block you up even more. </p> <p>The other thing I have discovered is not to be afraid of enemas. I hate them so much. But when I'm backed up, I have to use them. Have to. My GI doctor also advised me that taking a bunch of Miralax or other osmotic laxatives (i.e., Colace, Milk of Magnesia) work by drawing water into the colon. I find for me, when I'm Zofran-constipated, this means I have a lot of softer stool behind the huge rock-like mass that isn't moving. I have to do the enema to get rid of that. Then, in the next couple of days, I get rid of the other stuff behind it that has been softened by all the Miralax/Colace/etc. </p> <p>Also, I find that if I take a lot of Miralax, I get bad cramps, atrocious gas, and I get nauseous from all the stuff sloshing around in my colon. :sad: </p> <p>Soooo, that was all super gross, but hopefully helpful. I am not afraid to talk poop to help others going through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1444695 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 06:06:37 +0000 sweetooth 1444695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: Oh man! I'm so sorry you had to experience birthing a poop baby. That was one of the worst experiences I had during pregnancy. But I have to tell you, it gave me confidence when it came time to have the baby. Seriously, the pain and process were so similar that I was like, "Hey, I survived that, I can make it through this too." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1440491 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:32:28 +0000 spaniellove 1440491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: There's no misery like that kind! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1440437 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:19:43 +0000 LovelyPlum 1440437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I am so glad to hear this! Being constipated is so horribly miserable. I'm glad that you're feeling better :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1440413 Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:11:42 +0000 spaniellove 1440413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to update! The tips everyone gave here were very helpful and I'm able to take the Zofran 3x/day without any major constipation issues. I started with a half cap of Miralax every day/2 Colace AM, 1 in PM/prune juice AM+PM/lots of water and was able to cut out the Miralax after a couple days and reduce the Colace. Half a Fiber Love bar a couple times a week helps too! Thanks so much, you guys rock! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1415102 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:58:29 +0000 gingerbebe 1415102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Colace gave me painful poop babies every 3 days, and Miralax did nothing for me, so after days of pain I went with a Fleet enema on Sunday. OMG it worked so fast! I felt like a new person. My doctor said I have to clear out all the backed-up stuff first, and then use stool softeners with fiber (Metamucil) along the way to keep things moving. The day after my enema I had 2 normal BMs and I felt so great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402459 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:30:11 +0000 HLK208 1402459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: omg. Birthing a poop baby - it's soo not funny while you're going through it but this is so true.</p> <p>I've been on Z 8mg, twice a day and it seems like my body has adjusted to the constipation. I eat fiber one bars, drink water and coffee and it seems to help. I also had to do colace and miralax for about 2 weeks, then I started to get more regular.</p> <p>But trust me, there were times where I felt like I would die! And I clogged the toilet whenever I would go :( I mean, if it clogs the toilet it can't be easy to pass through the human body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402439 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 23:02:31 +0000 ChitownRo 1402439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: up to 300 mg per day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402410 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:49:29 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1402410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: No idea! I just know that it sped things up way too fast for me, so I had to stop taking it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402409 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:48:23 +0000 PointeShoesTutus 1402409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take Zofran pretty regularly for non-pregnancy related nausea. The constipation is awful. I've found that if I'm really desperate, a warm saline enema will do the trick. Not sure if it's safe in pregnancy so I'd ask your doctor. Colase helps some but not enough. </p> <p>I have lots of health issues that involve embarrassing exams, surgeries, symptoms, etc. I get the "no dignity left" thing. :sad: of all the issues I have, not having a regular poop is by far the most uncomfortable and can make a person all kinds of cranky. Hope you find some relief soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402403 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:43:00 +0000 SweetiePie 1402403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had to take zofran so no specific experience. BUT I would second the lots of water advice. I've made a conscious effort to drink tons of water this time around and I've had little to no constipation. The first pregnancy I was super constipated and I didn't want to be there again so the 2nd pregnancy and this pregnancy I drink tons of water and so far so good.<br /> I also take a scoop of Metamucil Clear every day. It's totally natural plant fiber. </p> <p>And, I don't mean to make light of your situation, but "poop baby" made me laugh out loud.</p> <p>ETA: I know that Zofran constipation is a totally different beast than regular constipation. But I wanted to share the little that I know has helped me :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402401 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:41:38 +0000 spaniellove 1402401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: I've seen that recommended somewhere else too...I wonder if it's better than regular magnesium? I take 250mg every day so I was surprised it wasn't doing anything.</p> <p>@ChitownRo: Can I ask how much Colace you recommend for your patients? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402395 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:39:36 +0000 ChitownRo 1402395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warm prune juice. It works for my patients on opioids and zofra. Also, just titrate up your colace dose and drink tons of water </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402372 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:23:48 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1402372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ND told me to take <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003I4P3JS/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1">this</a> when I got pregnant last summer. It was too strong for me (I have digestive issues), but the magnesium is supposed to help constipation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402361 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:17:02 +0000 Apex 1402361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: It was actually my Nurse's suggestion, and it worked! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402349 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:11:02 +0000 LovelyPlum 1402349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Apex: good tip! Sometimes coffee helps me out, but I never considered that it was the heat of the water, in addition to the caffeine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402346 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 22:10:16 +0000 LovelyPlum 1402346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: I was so excited the first time I pooped normally again for a full day. Seriously. The things we do for these babies ;)</p> <p>I hope that one helps! Also, since my nausea is coming back third tri, I'm going to keep this post stored away for some new tricks if (more likely when) I'm back on the good ol' Z. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402319 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:53:21 +0000 luckypenny 1402319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing that helped me is senna. Literally I would go for 9 or 10 days. It's category c so I don't love the idea but I was so uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402279 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:30:14 +0000 Apex 1402279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found that drinking a full cup of very very warm almost hot water/Tea (as hot as you can manage) first thing in the morning helped me out SOOOOO much. I still do that by the way, and its never failed. I didn't need any constipation meds. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402258 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:20:34 +0000 spaniellove 1402258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Oh yeah, and thinking about 1 vs 2...maybe taking 2 a day was the tipping point. I'll have to ease back into it by trying just 1 a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402249 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:17:46 +0000 spaniellove 1402249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: The things I've googled, the things I've had to figure out about how the body works...and then my gleeful running around yelling about how I was "finally all cleared out". Yup, if we weren't already one and done we are now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402224 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:10:15 +0000 LovelyPlum 1402224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: YES. I have no dignity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402220 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:09:12 +0000 LovelyPlum 1402220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Prunes, prunes, prunes! And yogurt also helped me, as did a LOT of fiber and drinking water. Even still, everything that came out of me was...pebble-y (for lack of a better term) for almost 4 months. It was all very hard and always felt very stuck.</p> <p>I was able to get to the point where 1 Zofran when I first woke up was enough to get me through the day. I was miserable at night, but I usually could make it through until I went to bed. I took 2 a day a few times, but the constipation was bad then. 1 seemed to be the magic line between not being so sick and not being so constipated.</p> <p>Are you thinking of trying again with the Zofran? With how sick you've been, you might try it again, once you've gotten a few tricks to try to find the right balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402191 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:03:33 +0000 spaniellove 1402191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I thought I had lost my dignity being pregnant but this whole experience has brought me to new lows. Oh man. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402156 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:53:40 +0000 blackbird 1402156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ack if you're allergic to miralax, I wouldn't take it! </p> <p>I took a capful in the am and one in the pm in order to go every other day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402140 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:47:38 +0000 Anagram 1402140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@spaniellove: so...the ugly side effect of zofran is the horrible constipation. I had to do so many awful things to facilitate going #2...but I was so ill I felt like I had to take the zofran.</p> <p>So....check with your doctor before any of these, but as each thing wouldn't work (alone) I would call my doctor back and she would suggest something else. I ended up using a combination if Mira,ax with lots of water, plus prune juice, plus glycerine suppositories when something felt stuck (oh god) and a couple of terrible times, the "natural" enemas. Rinse and repeat for 3 months.</p> <p>Sorry lady, it's terrible...but throwing up all the time and feeling miserable is terrible too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402130 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:44:41 +0000 spaniellove 1402130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: I don't think I truly upped the water and fiber until it all reached a peak and I stopped the Zofran, so I don't know how it would have worked together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402126 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:43:27 +0000 Bao 1402126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you drinking plenty of water and high fiber foods in addition? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402125 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:43:07 +0000 spaniellove 1402125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I should add...I'm also allergic to Miralax. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/helpzofran-and-constipation#post-1402123 Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:42:39 +0000 spaniellove 1402123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Actually I never asked how much to take. How much was helpful for you? </p>