I live in Michigan and unfortunately don't have the name of a good doctor. i have IBS-C and I will tell you that I take stool softners every day. Usually before I go to bed at night I take two. They are safe to take. I also have been taking Citracel caplets and Acacia every day. I do it in the morning, afternoon and evening. I don't take both just one or another. I was taking Zelnorm and I stopped. It gave me D like every 3 days. I wouldn't have a BM and then wham explosion. I also didn't like the fact that I felt this constant gas on my left side. I seriously thought I was pregnant again with all the gas. It felt like fetal movement. I stopped the Zelnorm and Alavil because I wanted to try and manage this drug-free. So far it's not been to bad. Make sure you eat insoluble fiber as well. But not on an empty stomach. Us IBS-C people sometimes need a little more insoluble, just don't do it on an empty stomach. Hope this helps!