laxative addiction?

How do you know if you have an addiction to laxatives?

the fact that u are questioning it should say something i guess!x

I'd say if you're regularly using them for any purpose other than its intended use (relieving constipation.)

I had somewhat of a problem with something similar to laxatives...they were fiber supplements and they helped maintain or lose weight... the instructions said to eat 2 a day then I started to increase to 6 a day....I felt obligated to take them as if it was a chore of some sort.  I would take the supplements as meals almost.  Thats how I found out it was getting too far and my boyfriend took them away from me.

when you can't live without it you're addicted..

Even if you aren't addicted to them, it sounds like you (or whoever you are referring to) may be abusing them. Talk to a counselor or something--you want to nip this in the bud before it gets bad. This kinda thing can kill you if it goes on too long. :(

Yep.  Try going without them for a week and see how well that goes.  If it doesn't work out then adjust your diet to get enough fiber to get back to normal before you find your wallet emptying to keep up a habit.

i am and you know you are addicted when your body gets used to it and so like for constipation you begin to be constipated even while on laxitives! So basicly you can't live without them, that's when you know you're adicted.

fycul66 that is exactly what i didn't want to hear =(

that happened to me the other day... I'm not sure what to do. I tried everything that they said to do and none of it works, so I take laxatives. Should I try talking to my doctor again?

definitely talk to your doctor. good luck!

and i just have to say, i was reading this at work and had locked the computer, and then got my boss to help me with something. so once i unlocked it the words "laxative addiction?" were like looming over the whole scene. lol she was definitely looking at it with a 'o.O' face. awwwkward.

Let me forewarn that this post is a little graphic and raw... sorry, i have no shame about it anymore

I can tell you I definitely have an addiction to laxatives.  I have never used them for any abnormal purpose, just for constipation.  I swear, having kids changed my whole digestive system.  Before my daughter, I never had any "issues" in that department.  Now, (after having the twins) I take them every night just to ensure a bm the next day...and I don't always have one...lately that's been happening again which means it's time for me to switch brands...that will work for a while until I have to switch again...I don't know what else to do because the pain of a bm that is 3 or so days in the making is unbearable...not to mention i can't sit down for hours afterwards...so, to avoid this embarassing scenario at work, I just continue to take them... i really don't know what else to do...maybe I have IBS or whatever it's called... I've tried fiber supplements and I drink a lot of fluids (trust me, cause if I forget to I pay for it) I know this must be horrible for my body, but I have so much anxiety surrounding the issue...if i have a bm in the morning, it's a good day...that sounds silly, but it's my life...

The last bit, I have to second that notion, if it doesn't happen in the morning I start to panic because I only take them at night to get it all over with at the beginning of the day.

If you've only ever used them for constipation then you could have a digestive problem and if you go to your doctor and tell them about it they probably won't think you're as crazy as if you have a decent history of eating disorders and tell them that you're hooked on poo pills (hehe sorry that's what I call them).

Keejay.. you are telling the story of my life. Well, I haven't had kids, but I used to be the most "regular" person in the world. Lately I have been popping probiotic tablets everyday and when those don't do the trick it's laxative heaven. It sounds awful, but it is the best part of my day. If I don't go, I feel miserable and it's all I can think about. I hate it! I have IBS, and it is sem-controllable with diet and excercise. But who has time to eat right ALL the time and work out every day? I don't know if I would say I'm hooked on them, but they definitely make my life easier. I don't care how bad my stomach hurts, as long as I go. How awful!

omg! that is exactly what is up with me too. I have to commit a whole day to go to the bathroom because I never know when/if they'll kick in. I am going to see a GI specialist on october 4th for a consultation for a colonoscopy. How sad, 16 and I need a colonoscopy! But I don't go (and if I do it's very little) and it hurts when I don't and, like keejaylove said, if I do go it's a good day, I feel great. But if not, I feel gross and bloated and just BLAH.

but yeah, anyways, wish me luck! i hope they accept me =/

Wow! I feel SO much better knowing that I'm not the only one.  My friends all think it's crazy because they've never had anything like it... I guess maybe I should see a specialist or something, but I've looked up IBS online and the things they say to do are the things I am already doing... fiber, water, exercise (ok I prolly don't go to the gym as much as I should, but even when I went 4-5 times a week I still had to take the laxatives) As for a colonoscopy, I don't know if I could do that... bathroom time is so stressful, and the damage has been done...I'm an exit only kind of girl, if you know what I mean...I'm so glad you can feel me on the good day vs. bad day thing, too... it's true, if I go in the AM, I am a much happier person all day...like it releases some endorphens in my body or something...so wierd

just a question. 

do all of you who use the laxatives regularly eat AT LEAST 5 servings of veggies a day? 

i noticed that when i DON'T eat right, and i don't eat TONS of fruits/veggies--i don't use the bathroom everyday.  which is not abnormal anyway.  you don't HAVE to go to the bathroom every single day.  i'd say at least every two days, though. 

on sunday, i stocked up on fruits/veggies and i've been regular.  when i say regular, i mean at least every two days...and when i go [[this is going to be graphic]] they're the longest THINGS i've ever seen in my life. 

maybe you just need to eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains. 

try a more natural diet.  [[that is, if you aren't already doing so.]]

first let me say that I LOVE your screen name... hahaha! sounds like a tasty treat :)

I eat oatmeal every morning, and have an apple mid-morning as routine...after that, it just depends...I don't count my servings of food groups, I just count my calories :) Are you sure about that regularity thing? I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah (go ahead, laugh) and he said 2 to 3 bm's a day is healthy...and I know people that have this luxury...personally, I've never been more than a 1 a day girl, but every 2 or 3 days for me is not good. 

I love your description, too... we like to call those "coast to coast"...:)

it really depends on who you ask.  i know that i was worried when my daughter didn't poop everyday and her pediatrician said that every person is different and NOT pooping every single day is okay.  i would say every other day. 

it might take some time, but you're probably not eating enough fruits/veggies...and if you try it, you might get a little relief...but it'll take time for this change to happen.

it's almost 3:00 here, and i haven't poopped today...and i feel fine.  seeing as how i went "coast to coast" yesterday...i think i probalby don't have anything left TO poop. 

ha.

and since you said you count calories, raw fruits/veggies are low in calories but HIGH in fiber.  try subbing some of your traditional snacks for some.  this could help you keep your calories low AND offer you some stomach relief.

i was diagnosed with IBS when i was about 12 years old.  at that time, i NEVER ate fruits/veggies as "snacks".  i only ate them at meal times, and that equaled no more than 3 servings of veggies a day. 

since i've added more fruits/veggies to my diet, i've found a lot of stomach relief...and sometimes i do go 3 times a day. 

at least give it a try.

When i was in treatment i ate oatmeal and a banana every morning, until the dietician told me they were very constipative!

so be careful with the bulky sticky foods like oatmeal and white rice. i use a capfull of miralax in my water every morning and it saved my life! i really recommend it, and so did my GI specialist

Thanks for the advice... I'm gonna try the fruits and veggies thing... the apple seems to be helping a little, but all throughout the day is probably ideal

I also wanted to mention that I tried something new yesterday called chia seed... this girl at work told me about it and brought some for me to try... you can google it to read more, but it's actually the same seed from the "ch-ch-ch-chia pet" and when eaten (or u can drink it, like I did... just add 2 tsp to a bottled water) it has lots of healthy benefits... one being for digestion... now I don't know if that's what did it, or the fact that my body just kicked it into high gear today, but I have been on the toilet twice already... and i welcome it because it's way better than trying to get past the "soviet bloc" :)

It's kind of weird, chia, like a gel-like substance when it swells...u let it sit for about half an hour before drinking... but it kinda reminds me of the tapioca balls from the tea-house...which I LOVE