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Colonoscopie, diverticular disease and magnesium

Posted , 4 users are following.

vaindioux
vaindioux

Hi

I had my colonoscopy yesterday recommended by my GI after rectum bleeding and constipation.

He said it could be cancer and I was petrified of the diagnosis.

They found nothing real bad thank God, no cancer or polyps.

She said I have Diverticular disease which she said is common, normal at my age (52 Y.O.) and non life threatening.

She said to increase fiber in my diet and to absolutely not poop hard. I already changed my diet with more fiber along with taking magnesium citrate and 1 TBSP of fiber supplement daily.

All this was making me poop soft. She said I have to stop the magnesium as it leads to heart problems.

She said to try to poop soft only with the high fiber diet.

I take 800mg of magnesium daily in the form of 2x400mg capsules daily.

How in the world do I stop the magnesium? I am afraid to stop it cold turkey and be constipated.

Thanks for your help

Pat

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Shadylady
    Shadylady vaindioux

    Posted

    I was also diagnosed with diverticulitis last year after a CT scan. I've also been taking magnesium but only 375 mg mainly as it helps me to sleep. I haven't heard that it can cause heart problems but think it might be worth asking my doctor. Perhaps you could take one tablet instead of two.

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 vaindioux

    Posted

    Has your doctor not advised you how to stop the magnesium and what stool softener/laxative to replace it with? Your first step is to ask your doctor what you should take instead of Magnesium and in the meantime continue with your high fibre diet. I found oranges and prune juice really helped my constipation.

  • vaindioux
    vaindioux

    Posted

    Hi

    I have been seeing a GI would told me to lower my magnesium from 1200 mg to 800 mg, which I did.

    I guess I need to go from 800 to 400 now (The capsules are 400mg each and cannot be cut in half).

    This GI gave me cream for my fissure which is healed and banded 3 hemorrhoids.

    I will see him one more time for my final check up at the end of this month, I could ask him.

    When I got my colonoscopie, a lady which I believe was some sort of nurse told me about stopping the magnesium. It wasn't the doctor that did the colonoscopie that gave me a recap.

    I was still in the fog from the anesthesia and she was bombarding me with info.

    In 8 days I am going to a recap of the colonoscopie results where I will talk to the doctor, I will then ask him how to stop the magnesium without being constipated.

    I will not see that nurse anymore. I don't know why the colonoscopie doc didn't come to give me a recap and it was that nurse instead.

    But I am sure they will work something out between my next 2 appointments.

    Thxs a lot

    Pat

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 vaindioux

      Posted

      I don't think the nurse should have spoken to you when you hadn't recovered from the sedation. This should have been done later. It's always better to speak to a doctor rather than a nurse who are less qualified. I have suffered from under qualified nurses who should not have been practicing Make sure you see a qualified doctor.

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