How Do You Handle Constipation?

shorfi

I suffer so terribly from it. I need TNT to go. The other night is was so bad that I thought I had to go to the ER
I currently take 3 senakot daily...doing so since chemo. I am trying to change my diet and have included more fruits and some vegetables. It was sooooooooooooooooooooo bad the other day, I thought I was going to die...and I am being totally serious.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Sandra1957

I feel your pain! When I get really bad I drink this little green bottle of Magnesium Citrite Oral Solution. Sometimes it can take about 5 or 6 hours to kick in, but it works.

I must have my morning coffee and steel-cut oats daily. Walking and lots of water help too. Oh, and some pickled jalapenos can do the trick too, but you will feel the burn.

Best to you,

lini

jasmine

shorbr...have you tried using citracel or metamucil daily to add more fiber to 'push things along?' I also have bad constipation since chemo. Also, make sure you drink plenty of water during the day.

shorfi

Never tried those...its a thought. I also drink close to 64 ounces during the day at work and maybe about 16 ounces at home during the nite. Told you...I need TNT!

jasmine

I think alot of my problems are related to the calcium supplements I take for osteoporosis. The citrucel has helped me alot.

Boop

shorbr,I have been fighting constipation for over 4 years now, I am on pain meds and that is what does it to me..It was really bad when I was on chemo...

I use the senekot too, but make sure you get the one with the stool softner...You can take 3 senekot in the morning and 3 at night too...The directions tell you what the max dose is..

Also prunes do help and I try to eat a cereal with lots of fiber. Bran flakes work for me..

I hope this helps..

Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

shorfi

Quote:

---

shorbr,I have been fighting constipation for over 4 years now, I am on pain meds and that is what does it to me..It was really bad when I was on chemo...

I use the senekot too, but make sure you get the one with the stool softner...You can take 3 senekot in the morning and 3 at night too...The directions tell you what the max dose is..

Also prunes do help and I try to eat a cereal with lots of fiber. Bran flakes work for me..

I hope this helps..

Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

---

But can I safely do this forever? I really suffer a lot from this. I am having slight "pains" now in that area because I am using "Calmol" to help relieve the pain from this. My oncologists said in the past that I could take the Senakot-S, but does she mean forever?????

As we speak, I am munching on some fiber flakes and twigs...uggghhh...13 grams of fiber per cup.

Thanks a lot...I appreciate it.

jasmine

The citucel is one scoop of orange flavored fiber you can add to a glass of orange juice. No chewing on twigs and it just taste like orange juice.

shorfi

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Sheri

mccarroll

I took Milk of Magnesia, starting the day of tx and continuing for a few days afterwards. I was so stopped up, I developed a hemmroid. During Taxol, I discovered Senekot S and things went smoothly. It's a pain in the a++ but it really does go away.

Good luck. karen

wallan

Flax seed. Ground up flax seed works great. About 2 or 3 tblesps per day. You can put it in your juice or on oatmeal or in cereal.

Wendy

Sierra

Hi Sheri:

I would not imagine a good idea
to be on those tablets all the time
but .. dont know for sure

If this continues, I would definitely
see your doctor.

I know you realize how important elimination is
and problems it can cause. I say this,
as have known people who did have trouble
in my family

plums, cherries
salads, water
apricots
all help you out
prunes LOL

Best on this..


Hugs

ps O/T Wendy: I sent you a PM
did you recive it..

saluki

When Dynamite won't do it---this will.
GlycoLax (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder) a capful in water or juice shortly after your food.
I think Miralax is the brand name

Believe me this works especially if you are on pain meds.

from a former breaker of many toilets (maybe clogger is a more appropriate word)LOL

mcdds

My nephew has cerebral palsy so his muscles do not work that great all the time. My sister uses Baby Lax, which I think is a glycerin suppository, to help him have a BM. There was a time when I was on chemo, that I was ready to go to the ER due to constipation and she brought me one of those to use. It worked like a charm! If I remember correctly, it doesn't have anything in it but glycerin and just helped soften things up and made it easier to push out. Not sure if that would help but I kept it on hand after that for when I was desperate to go! Probably not good for long term use.

Carol

iodine

I agree with the glycerin suppository for dry stool. There are cheap adult versions. they are fine for long term use. Use them along with laxatives, the suppositories just make it easier to eliminate the stool with less pain.

tflowers

My sister uses mineral water for my godson. He also has CP and gets so backup and just cries...

gracejon

Miralax is now over the counter and has been very helpful over the longterm relieving constipation. Just ask your docs if it is alright for you.

AlaskaDeb

OK...this is actually 2 different problems....

1- how to blow things out when you are already constipated and
2- how to keep it from happening again...

When I am really stopped up my cure was to take 2 stool softeners and 3 senekot. Then about an hour later I would use a glycerin suppository. I never had that fail to move things along.

To keep things going, I used a tablespoon of powdered bulk fiber in the morning and another at night. I liked the Benefiber brand because I could mix it with anything...juice, coffee, water....

I also took one stool softener a day and ate a high fiber cereal.

This was one of the worst side effects of treatment for me. I hope you find some relief.

Deb C

saluki

Well Deb when already stuck for me has always been the trusty Dulcolax suppository.

Depending on what medications are doing the constipating I found like others above glycerin suppositories or Senocot S were sufficient for the constipation caused by antidepressants.

But, once they start with a regimen of many meds all of which are causing constipation---Its time for the Miralax---Its always when I get lazy about the Miralax/Polyethyline Glycol that I need a bulldozer.

shorfi

Thanks. I currently taking Lexapro (anti-depressant). I got some relief not too long ago (about an hour)...sorry to gross you ladies out!!!! But I feel like a new woman, just a little sore from all the "pushing" since last week. So many suggestions...can't make a decision which one to use

shorfi

Theresa...My heart goes out to him. I know how he feels...poor baby.

jasmine

Wow...sounds like alot of us have issues.

shorfi

Quote:

---

When Dynamite won't do it---this will.
GlycoLax (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder) a capful in water or juice shortly after your food.
I think Miralax is the brand name

Believe me this works especially if you are on pain meds.

from a former breaker of many toilets (maybe clogger is a more appropriate word)LOL

---

I have seen the Miralax on the shelves in Rite-Aid and CVS. Maybe it is worth giving this a try too.

marshabel

Shortbr - I am having the same problem. I start taking Senekot -S the night before treatment, but it still seems to take three days before relief. My problem now is that after I finally go, then I have terrible stomach cramps for days every time I eat or drink anything. I'm wondering if the Senekot is staying in my system too long or something. Does anyone else have this problem?
Marshabel

shorfi

Marshabel...I too experience pains in that area, that is why I use Calmol...which are suppositories to help ease the pain from hemorrhoids.

marshabel

Are the Calmol over the counter or by prescription?

althea

My complaints aren't nearly as severe as you describe, but I also have had problems with constipation. Seems to me like my timing coincides with starting tamoxifen.

About two months ago I started eating ground flaxseed and yogurt for breakfast. I am very happy to report that constipation is a thing of the past. Flaxseed is rich with many benefits -- antioxidants, omega3 fatty acids, lignans, and good for cholesterol imbalances. It must be ground fresh daily to receive maximum benefits. The oil, once released, has a very short life. I like golden flaxseed best. I like the price tag too. Ninety-nine cents a pound.

mcbeck

I, too, am full of it! I take pain meds (Vicodin), Lexapro, Tamox and a couple of others.

I was experiencing pain in the lower abdomen, so my Onc ordered an MRI (or CT – can’t keep my scans straight anymore!). I was constipated! “It’s really packed in there” I think were his exact words. He told me to go to the drug store and buy a bottle of Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution (Lini mentioned it above).

I have taken meds for IBS, had two separate colonoscopies and scans and still have the darn problem! I have taken stool softeners (didn’t do much and certainly did not unclog the pipes), laxatives (cramping is too severe), suppositories, you name it, I’ve used it.

That Onc knew his stuff! The Mag. Citrate worked great WITHOUT the cramping – none at all!

There are a lot of ways to keep your plumbing from clogging again and it depends on what works best for you. A coworker just told me that Metamucil makes cookie that you eat to get the fiber you need. Hmmm, I’m going to check into this.

You are not grossing me out, I hate that terrible cramping I get when I can finally go, and it takes a lot out of me, no pun intended! Then, I can’t stop going! I guess that’s why they call it “Irregularity”. I hated those commercials when I was younger – now I am one!

It is confusing - I just keep trying different remedies until I find the right combo. I’m still working on it, but haven’t needed the Mag Citrate for about a year now.

Good luck to you Shorbr.

Hugs,

Jackie

JoanofArdmore

Aw Honey, I'm sorry.What a horrible thing.
I have something for you no one has mentioned.
You say you take calcium(and have switched to Citrate).Calcium is actually very constipating!For your bone density, you need to combine calcium with magnesium.And for the sake of regularity, too.
Women who combine cal+mag are told to take 500 mg cal, and half that of magnesium twice a day.(WITH vitamin d, please!)But more mag is often in order, it wont hurt.The rule of thumb is to take enough magnesium citrate with your calcium that you get loose stools, and then cut back.

All that fiber is great, but it can actually be constipating:bulk-forming.You need LOTS of water, water-bearing fruits & vegs, and MAGNESIUM!

(Magnesium is a very special mineral.Not only is it needed to form dense bone, but it helps with horrible muscle and sinew pain.Over in "Alternative", our Rosemary recommends mag for all types of bone, muscle, sinew pains.It's needed by the heart for healthy rythms.
(AND it's great for constipation!)
Go for it!It can only help you!
Good luck, joan

JoanofArdmore

PS..notice?MAGNESIUM citrate? It comes in pills, like calcium.

Chelee

I have a terrible problem with constipation too. I've tried everything & the best thing out there for me is "Senokot". Or the "Senokot S"...which is with the stool softner. The trick for me is to KEEP the TRAIN going. lol I have been taking 4 tablets nightly at bedtime. (I'm a BIG water drinker too.) But after the 4 at night...I have my HOT tea in the morning and usually things go smoothly so to speak. (Maybe I should try the "TNT" someone mentioned. LMAO Too funny!

Chelee