How Do You Handle Constipation?

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

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

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.

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

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..

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

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

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

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

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

Are the Calmol over the counter or by prescription?

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

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