Constipation following Chemo

Hello Honeybair

I'm sorry you're going through this. Constipation is such a downer.

It happened to me after nearly every chemo (4 X FEC and 4 x Taxotere) until I discovered Lactulose, a sugar syrup recommended by a pharmacist. I had no health problems such as diabetes.

After three glasses of water and three teaspoons of Lactulose, I found things moved along very nicely after half an hour or so.

Worth having a chat with a pharmacist about this? They are such clever people.

Hope you get a bit of light relief soon!

Alice

unfortunatelly with taxotere and me I get constipated, ended up with divertictulitis and the drs. told me when I was in the hospital for an acute attack to just take stool softeners everyday, so I do!!!

I think there is a thread about this with lots of good suggestions. I'll try to find it and bump it for you. Yes to the warm prune juice and stewed prunes with a bit of lemon juice is good too! Caryn

Warm prune juice works very well. Or 4-5 prunes boiled in 1 cup of water till soft, drink the broth. I had terrible constipation after my MX so I can attest to it but also as a nurse. I've been telling my patients about this & it works wonders.

I don't know if you are taking any anti-nausea meds before and after you have a round of chemo.  The Zofran I took as my anti-nausea med was contributing to light constipation I was having.  After reading more about Zofran, i discovered that constipation is a side effect of that drug.  Ughhhhh.....  You may ask your onco to change your anti-nausea med. if you are taking Zofran.

I ate one to two prunes with every meal which helped me a lot.  I reached a point where I couldn't face another glass of prune juice so eating them was the next step.  I ate those Sunsweet Ones prunes which come individually wrapped and really moist and sweet.  You can get them at Target on the shelf near the raisins/baking supplies.

Hope you feel better soon!!!!!

I had TCx4 and had constipation so bad the first time.  I started taking docalax and senokot the morning of chemo and continued taking it for 4-5 days following chemo for the next 3 treatments and it was much better.  I also ate lots of fiber and it did not help at all that first time......good luck!

During Chemo class, I was given the following recipe...

1 lb figs

1 lb dates or raisins

1 lb prunes

3-4 oz Senna tea leaves

1 cup sugar

1 cup juice of lemon (fresh squeezed)

Seep tea leaves in 3 1/2 cups boiling water

strain tea

take 2 cups of tea, put in a large pot, add fruit and boil for 5 min.

Add sugar and lemon, stir into warm mixture and let cool.

take ingredients and place in blender and process.

put into 1 cup sizes - one in the fridge and the rest in the freezer.

take 1-2 tblsp daily.

I haven't needed to use it yet, but the nurses at my onc. office recommend it.

This was the absolute worst part of the chemo for me.  I thought it would kill me.

I suffered terribly for 2 weeks and then broke down and called the onco.  I should not have waited and neither should you!  She prescribed 3 dulcalax/day plus 2 stool softeners.  They did the trick and i had no problem after that.

Don't wait!  Get the dulcalax and stool softener immediately.  You'll be glad you did!

BTW, i was eating lots of veggies and fruits and drinking tons of water.  nothing natural worked.

M.O.M. to the rescuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue !:)
Milk of Magnesia did the trick, though I will get some dulcolax and stool softeners too.  This problem seems to have a mind of its own and changes protocol.

Hortense, yep, the big A was on the list next I believe.  But as you said, BS did NOT want to have to do that, and were going to admit me. :S
I will definitely put digestive tract top of my list of "things to do" before treatment.  Though, I am dosed weekly now, so not much down time.....much to learn, much to handle, on top of what we already have to endure.