Cleansing

Question.  Does anyone ever take a laxitive from time to time to get cleaned out.  I never do that.  The last time I took a laxitive was when I had a colonoscopy two years ago.  And don't remember when I had taken one before the colonoscopy.  I just remember my stomach felt so much better after that cleansing and didn't have any pain for some time.  I'm not constipated and go regularlarly every morning if I eat an apple every night.  But my side is hurting again .  I know I need to go on a bland diet for awhile .  But just wondering about the laxitive thing.