constipation

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dlcp
dlcp Member Posts: 35
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hello,

I will have my 5th chemo session friday next week I jsut finished my AC treatment, the remaining four will be another treatment I think it belong to the Taxol family.  I had problems with my bowel movement, eversince I started my chemo sessions.  Its so difficult moving your bowel the next day and worse I would have blood on my anus, which looks like I have hemorrhoroids.  Is this normal? After a few days my bowel movement will be ok.  But it looks like my anus is dry or is it? I am just afraid that it will be another source of problem with my health, because before diagnosis and chemo, I dont have problems with my bowel movement, and I dont notice any blood after defacating, and its only now when I have started my chemo sessions.  Please enlighten me on this, thank you.

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited November 2010

    It's very normal.  Drink at least 48 ounces of water the day before chemo, the day of chemo, and the day after chemo.  Eat only high fiber foods.  I ate bean/lentals soups, oatmeal, yogurt, metamucil cookies, raspberries and I bought some high fiber  fruit snacks from trader joes.  I was very disciplined in my eating and drinking during that time, and mostly suffered only a day or two of constipation. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    You should mention this to your onc but yes constipation happens to some of us. I had a really bad for about a day but finally got things going.

    First of all be sure to drink plenty of water/fluids. I also eat dried apricots and use a probiotic to keep the stool soft anyway because I also have IBS. You should be eating lots of veggies and exercise every day (walking at least 30 minutes).

    If you end up constipated anyway try Milk of Magnesia. If that doesn't work tryColace for stool softener. For laxative try Metamucil, Citrucel or Miralax.

    For Hemorrhoids I use Vaseline right away. If they are external the best relief is a sits bath. I also recommend using baby wipes instead of toilet paper to reduce the irritation.

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  • dlcp
    dlcp Member Posts: 35
    edited November 2010

    Coolbreeze,

    Thank you so much for your advice, it comforted me.

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  • mari65
    mari65 Member Posts: 131
    edited November 2010

    Prunes work great.

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  • Sig
    Sig Member Posts: 138
    edited December 2010

    Hi, how many prunes do we need to eat each day in order to get the benefit of stool softener?  I have been constipated for 1 year now (since I switch to calcium citrate supplement) with constant hemorroids and rectal fissure. I have been eating a lot of fibers and fruit and veggies as well as taking metamucil daily with 2 red pills of stool softener and nothing is working. So I just bought prunes to give a try. So how much prunes do I need to eat in order to get the laxatif effect?

    thanks

    Sig

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  • Miles2Go
    Miles2Go Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2011

    In addition to drinking water, eat prunes.

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