Bladder helped from Mineral Oil

[CathyKi]

My mom suggested I try Mineral oil for my constipation. I hurt from fibers and miralax and every type of stool softener and stimulant. It helped my constipation and got things moving but I also notice my bladder started to improve. Has anyone tried this?

[ICNDonna]

Getting rid of the constipation can help with IC. I definitely caution you about taking mineral oil. It probably won't hurt if it's a rare thing, but I was told that it can prevent your body absorbing nutrients. I suggest you talk with your doctor about this.

Donna

[BBB]

Cathy,

It was suggested to me to take mineral oil as needed for constipation by Dr. Brookoff. Dr. Brookoff is the one of the premier IC doctors in the nation and you can find his work on the ICN. I too can not take any of the other "relievers" you described in your post. I think being regular and not pushing has helped my bladder immensly.

In addition, my 5 year old daughters Ped. has her taking it as well.

You still might want to talk to your doctor but it life changing for me, as it is for my daughter. With all do respect Donna, if it does prohibt the body from absorbing minerals you could not tell it my looking at her. She is growing like a weed, is very heathly, and thriving in school!

Betsy

[CathyKi]

:smile tee Thanks for your post. It has helped me considerably. I was wondering if it wasn't good long term but it sounds like your daughter is just fine. I know when I take too much because it will actually leak out. I feal like a rickety old machine running on mineral oil sometimes. How much do you take? I take a tablespoon 2 or 3 times a day. I think it is protecting my lining so it can heal. Seriously,someone should study this. Sometimes it's just the simple things that help the most. Donna, you are right about constipation, I have noticed IC gets worse when I am backed up.

[BBB]

I am glad it helped. I take three teaspoons at night now that I am stablized. I used to take that take it 3 times a day like you and I am sooo with you on the leaking. Someone should do a study! I would be willing to participate.

I too feel old and like the mineral oil helps! Oh...to get old!

Hope you are having a good weekend!

[dancemomof2]

I would discuss this with your PCP, I agree with Donna occassional usage but I would fear dependency on this after awhile, kinda like using any laxative "lube" your body may reject moving things along without it with long term usage. They warn about using suppositories alot for this reason, so I would think a oil bases anything would kinda do the same after awhile. Never hurts to check this out with your own physcians.

[dancemomof2]

Found this on familydoctor.org

Is mineral oil a good laxative?
Mineral oil should generally be used only when your doctor recommends it, such as if you've just had surgery and shouldn't strain to have a bowel movement. Mineral oil shouldn't be used regularly. If it is used regularly, it can cause deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E and K.


http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laxatives-for-constipation-using-them-safely

Lubricant Laxatives
As the name implies, lubricant laxatives make stools slippery. The mineral oil within these products adds a slick layer to the intestine's walls and stops the stool from drying out. Though highly effective, lubricant laxatives are best used as a short-term cure for constipation. Over a longer period, mineral oil can absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the intestine, and decrease certain prescription drugs from being fully absorbed into the body.

[ICNDonna]

Thanks for looking this up, Leslie. I remember when I was a little girl my mother almost lost her sister due to long term use of mineral oil. My aunt was hospitalized with malnutrition and I remember her looking like the pictures I see of people with anorexia.

Donna

[BBB]

Interesting! It is strange that two doctors independent of one another would prescribe it. Absolutely one to check out with ones doctor before taking.

After seeing your post Leslie I called my daugher's ped. gastroenterologist, at Childrens Hospital in Denver, and he said that it is one of those things that the benefit has to out way the risks. The doctor went on to say constipation like my daughter suffers from can be deadly to a child or an adult for that matter.

Moreover, it like anything else can have a potential for abuse. He asked why I had called in a panic and I told him that there was adverse information on the internet and he did the mental eyeroll and said oh, the interent and giggled. Oh well, he already thinks I am a nut.

Thanks for looking up the information Leslie.
Betsy

[CathyKi]

Thanks Dance Mom, I will supplement vitamins A, D, E and K

[Roxie2007]

As far as reg. constipation......After fighting it for years from IBS I finally did what several dr.s recommended, eating prunes for breakfast each day. Since I started eating dried prunes I haven't had constipation.

[dancemomof2]

Glad you checked again with her Dr.

Roxy, I agree with you some prunes or pears work well. My kids love mandarin oranges and those work well for them.

[BBB]

I would love to give her fruit but, which I am devasted about, it burns when she goes pee after eating it. She has already had 5 UTIs in the last year, with one just last week. I am praying, praying, praying that this is just from her learning how to wipe herself and not IC. Her doctor (that is why she goes to Childrens) said not to worry yet. Alot of little girls can get UTIs around that age.

I would feel absolutely a failure as a mother if I pass on my illnesses to her. That is why they as so aggresive with her IBS-D as not to let her develop PFD since she is already pre-disposed. My 20 year old son suffers from IBS.

Sad. I say me prayers daily.:pray:

[dancemomof2]

BBB you can't feel that way, I have a greeaaattt mother with IC and I could never ever blame her for my IC. If your daughter would ever possible have IC she wouldn't blame you either. Who better to help her along but you if this would ever be her diagnosis. My mom has very mild IC that rarely bothers her at all, and mine is a severe case and I would have to hurt her (not really) if she would blame herself for this. God gave me what degree of IC can handle just as he gave her what he thought she could handle. We are all here for you and praying that your daughter is fine. Have they tested her for kidney reflux??? My daughter had that for 5 years that caused her UTI's and stayed on Bactrim once daily for 5 years until she outgrew it.

[BBB]

Oh Leslie, I was just typing a PM and came back and looked at your reply and started crying.

Thank you, sincerely thank you! I have been so afraid to talk about it to anyone. I know in my head not to blame myself but not in my heart. I appreciate the support!

I would love the help of going through this but I practice a lot of denial about my illness and therefore hers in a way. I have been posting for three months and never posted my story. It is on my to do list.

Anyway...sounds like you have a great Mom and the apple didn't fall far from the tree with you and your daughter!
Betsy

[CathyKi]

I wonder how many of us had issues with our bowel movements at a young age. I know I did so much that every Saturday my mom gave me senekot to clean me out because I would back up. As an adult I became dependent on laxatives and finally years ago a doctor got me to try miralax and it worked wonderfully. I still needed it twice a week to stay regular. Unfortunately it now bothers my IC. I would love to eat fruit but it bothers me. Sounds like you are looking ahead for your daughter BBB. My mom never had IC but does have incontinence. She had surgery for it but it failed eventually.

[OrlandoP]

Thanks for looking this up, Leslie. I remember when I was a little girl my mother almost lost her sister due to long term use of mineral oil. My aunt was hospitalized with malnutrition and I remember her looking like the pictures I see of people with anorexia.

Donna

My colon specialist warned me against mineral oil over usage. Have you tried the omega oils instead? I take Dr. Udos, which is a great blend. I even take less than the recommended amount, and find that it helps. Also, magnesium works quite well. I take 400 mg a day, then I take periodic breaks, as you are supposed to with supplements.

I'm one of the ICers who has had chronic constipation since I was a kid. And yes, it does inform my bladder for sure. I often will get bladder flares even after a "normal" movement. Constipation puts me in panic. I've really liked Milk of Magnesia to help with that when it's bad.

[Julie B]

I started taking Metamucil capsules for cholesterol lowering (I was not about to partake of one more medication!) The psyllium powder that is the main ingredient is not harsh like bran fibers. It makes everything soft and easy to pass. You would have to take a lot of Metamucil capsules to have any malnutrition problem, but anytime you "adjust" your GI system, it is possible.

BTW, my cholesterol went down 40 pts, well into normal! Watched what I ate, took the Metamucil and ate oatmeal w/almonds for breakfast, and got back on my treadmill.

Side note: One Sunday a group of ICers here in Michigan cleared out a section of a restaurant with all of our IC/GI/female related chatter when we met for lunch! I think we just get so used to talking about it, we forget that others have more sensitive ideas about what is dinner conversation! At one point, we looked around and they had stopped seating anyone NEAR us!

Thank God for ICN and my IC friends that I can talk to about this stuff!!!

Hugs.........