I'm wondering if anyone has ever recovered from colonic inertia (this is where your shitter stops working at all). I know this is a funny site, but I've suffered for six years since my son was born, and docs say surgery is looking like my cure. WTF!! I'm really miserable, though...

According to the gastroenterology forum that I read in its entirety, there are several drug options that have been tried to treat chronic colonic inertia. This list includes Reglan, Cisapride, Misoprostal, polyethylene glycol electrolyte solutions and Zelnorm. Unfortunately it seems that none of these options have proven to be very effective. Most patients on these medications it seems,has ended up having surgery--subtotal or total colectomy-- in order to finally find relief.

However, the laxative Miralax seems to be having very promising results with many patients. Miralax has recently been released as an over-the-counter medication. I suggest that you give it a try before resorting to having your colon removed.

Thanks for asking Motherload!

Motherload is a Certified Nurse Assistant as well as an IBS sufferer, which means she knows a lot about poop. Got a question for her? Ask it here. [1]