How Do You Handle Constipation?

Sierra · July 2007

I always take
a glass of tepid water
with lemon juice (squeezed in it)
in the morning

Sometimes, I take the apple cider vinegar

I did TX several yrs ago
but well remember the constipation
and once had to lay on the floor
at the hospital. Could not stand up
My Onc said to eat prunes, but that
was far from enough.. Senokot worked
for me, along with another tablet

saluki · July 2007

Quote:

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

I've past senocot -S long ago due to a majority of my medications causing constipation. My house is never without
Dulcolax suppositories (aka TNT & DYNAMITE).

But as Chelee says --most important is to keep the train going------. also, don't assume that because you are taking
magnesium it will have a laxative effect===

I take a time released Mag-Tab SR (Elemental Magnesium L-lactate dihydrate.) It does squat for constipation, as did the Magnesium Chloride I had taken previously. (also time released.)

"Keeping the train rolling", is essential. When I get lazy
on the Miralax (Polyethylene Glycol 3350) I can tell!
Although I don't realize it at the time.

I will get a constant dull headache for days on end also a dull pain on my left side under my breast and ribcage.

Guess that Ass Hole is trying to state who is the boss. LOL

Then, when its TNT time I realize. Opps---I forgot to take the Miralax.----One Dulcolax Supository later---Viola!! the headache is gone.

Have Toilet AUGER will travel.
Susie

iodine · July 2007

If all else fails, try filling a Fleets'enema bottle with mineral oil and warming it in the sink with hot water and giving it to yourself, lying on your left side.
Hold as long as you can and then give it a go.
Just another tip from nurse dotti

Pharmmom · July 2007

Hi

A subject I know well!

First of all I take a tea that I get in the health food store. It does contain senna and 2 stool softeners every night. Been doing it for a long time. Its either do that and go or don't and don't go.

I'm on Fosamax and calcium for my osteoporosis and my stomach has had alot of acid and indigestion lately. Now I'm back on the Nexium. Anyone else have this with the Fosamax?

Barb

Anonymous · July 2007

Wow...I wish this thread was here when I was on my pain meds lol.

I gotta say, the sure thing for me is the ever-trustworthy DRIED FRUIT! If I feel *stopped* up I eat a handful of apricots and by the next day woo hoo.

Shorbr - I hear ya! I was ready to go to the hospital and actually (anyone with a weak stomach can skip this part) had to *dig* stuff out manually. I thought I was going to die.

So there I was...at my son's graduation ceremony...sitting on a bench for 5 hours...drains hanging out all over...and so bunged up my life passed before my eyes LMAO! But that's another story...

Good luck to you dear!

Hugs
Peggy

saluki · July 2007

Quote:

Hi

A subject I know well!

First of all I take a tea that I get in the health food store. It does contain senna and 2 stool softeners every night. Been doing it for a long time. Its either do that and go or don't and don't go.

I'm on Fosamax and calcium for my osteoporosis and my stomach has had alot of acid and indigestion lately. Now I'm back on the Nexium. Anyone else have this with the Fosamax?

Barb

Barb, I had such stomach problems on both Fosamax and Boniva
That I seriously considered I may be having a heart attack doubling over while driving and wondering if I should go to the ER. I mentioned it to my PCP and he asked me to take an extra Protonix the day before and the day after I took Fosamax.

I used to take Nexium but Protonix worked much better. Now the insurance won't pay for the Protonix and since Nexium is a culprit in my elevated liver enzymes I've discontinued that as well.

Pharmmom · July 2007

Saluki,

I only tried the Nexium today. I have new insurance since the last time I was on Protonix. I know they have their preferred list of drugs and that is a major pain. I had an endoscopy a few years back. I was ok (also a colonoscopy also ok). I really don't want to go that route again if I don't have to. So I have this Nexium from the oncologist and I'll see what happens. Its always something isnt it??

Barb

saluki · July 2007

Quote:

If all else fails, try filling a Fleets'enema bottle with mineral oil and warming it in the sink with hot water and giving it to yourself, lying on your left side.
Hold as long as you can and then give it a go.
Just another tip from nurse dotti

Nurse Dottie,
Isn't there another, when all else fails enema of milk and molasses?

iodine · July 2007

Yep, but the M & M enema was mostly used for gas(oops, distention). Then there's the HHH(triple H), for OB patients to get their labor going (high, hot and hell of a lot) LOL.

saluki · July 2007

I'm assuming the reason for all the discomfort on the left under the breast was trapped gas.

Triple H is a scream!

glaveg · July 2007

When my onc asked me what was the worst thing about TX, I told him that it was the constipation. When it got so bad I had to use my second year student nursing skills (the digital dig) I thought I was close to death!!!

Didn't take any pain RX, but was on Lexapro, and the constipation miraculously disappeared when chemo was over. Thanks be to God. Hooray for poopage!

snooky · July 2007

Hi
I have a problem with constipation so everyday
I have 1-2 tbs. ground flax plus 1/2 cup bran and lots of water This helps me 90% of the time
The other 10% of the time and also when I use pain medication I had a terrible time with constipation. I tried metamucil sekot prunes warm prune juice etc but nothing seemed to help until someone told me to try herbal tea. If I have not gone in 2 days now I use an herbal tea which has never failed yet. One tea bag for 2 cups boiling water steeped until lukewarm. I drink one cup early afternoon and the other at bedtime and I always go the next morning
Its called NATURES TEA (select Oriental and American herbs)
Ingredients
senna leaf--buckthorn leaf--peppermint leaf--stevia leaf--uva ursi leaf--orange peel--rugrose rose hip--marshmellow root--japenese honeysuckle flower and english chamomile flower
The reason I am giving the ingredients is because I have tried others that they say were good and they didn't work. I had to order this tea from my health food store
Good Luck

dkmaustx · July 2007

I've had constipation throughout all my eight cycles of Chemo. When I first had the problem, the nurse told me to use Stool Softeners (Colace) and Mineral Oil. It works fine if I remember to take one of them everyday. The problem was that I'd be regular for several days, feeling good, and forget to take the mineral oil every night. I'd have my Chemo and figure out a few days later that I was constipated. Before my eighth and final Chemo I pushed myself to remember to take the 1 or 2 Tablespoons of mineral oil before I went to bed, and I didn't have the old problem sneak up on me this time, yippee.

Teresa44 · July 2007

I have always been very constipated and have tried a lot of things. Finally went to a internist and he said I had Irrital Bowel Syn. I thought that was always for the opposite of constipation but its not, it can be because of constipation too.

He put me on Amitiza which works great for me. I have a daily bowel movement which feels wonderful. Check this drug out. I hope you have some relief.

God Answers Prayers

Teresa44

shorfi · July 2007

Quote:

Wow...I wish this thread was here when I was on my pain meds lol.

I gotta say, the sure thing for me is the ever-trustworthy DRIED FRUIT! If I feel *stopped* up I eat a handful of apricots and by the next day woo hoo.

Shorbr - I hear ya! I was ready to go to the hospital and actually (anyone with a weak stomach can skip this part) had to *dig* stuff out manually. I thought I was going to die.

So there I was...at my son's graduation ceremony...sitting on a bench for 5 hours...drains hanging out all over...and so bunged up my life passed before my eyes LMAO! But that's another story...

Good luck to you dear!

Hugs
Peggy

Thanks Peggy...I had to "dig" out pieces before I could go, but lately I have been taking 3 senakot-s in the morning, along with blood pressure medication, arimidex and lexapro. And if I remember, I take a multivitamin and calcium with D Itwice). My foof habits have changes a lot but it seems when I stopped taking the senakot-s...I get all messed up and the bowel movements became horrific because it starts to consume me. Wow...what a life I have. But thank God, for these past 3 days I have been "going" like a champ. And yes, you can purchase the Calmol over the counter. It helps it not to hurt when it comes out.

abbie10 · July 2007

This will work!! Take 4 tablets Of magnesium (3 tablets equal 400 mg 100%) citrate at bedtime. You may need more or less but, 4 pills seems to be a good place to start. I learned this from Stop the thyroid maddness site. It has worked for all that tried it.

JoanofArdmore · July 2007

Abbie this is so true!And good for the heart, too.But no one seems to want to see this hint.
Maybe they will if you give it!

I know it's not good to become dependent on laxitive drugs.And calcium and magnesium are electroltes-needed by the body.
The mag really fixes the problem, too.

thanks for telling it! j

saluki · July 2007

Quote:

Abbie this is so true!And good for the heart, too.But no one seems to want to see this hint.
Maybe they will if you give it!

I know it's not good to become dependent on laxitive drugs.And calcium and magnesium are electroltes-needed by the body.
The mag really fixes the problem, too.

thanks for telling it! j

Joan I agree with you that magnesium can work very well......
Its just that you have to be careful what forms of it you buy if you want the laxative effect.

The ones that you are mentioning have that effect. But some of the time released ones like the ones I take do not.....

It may be worth me adding some magnesium citrate to the other forms I'm taking------But then, I'm hoping cutting out all these constipating medicines will do the trick.

My eyes feel better already ---they are not so dry that they are sticking to my eyelids......LOL

Whatever you do; You have to keep the train moving----If you
get lax about taking whats working, just because you've gotten relief---- that train will get stuck again.

Rosemary44 · July 2007

What does work when the problem is really bad and ongoing is to start with a diet change.

It's imperative to get 25 grams a fiber daily.
The easiest way is to eat Kashi Good Friends cereal, 2/3 cup has 13 grams. Thomas English whole grain muffin has 8 grams, 1 apple with skin has 5. Voila, 25 grams of fiber.

Add to your daily diet 2 tbls of olive oil, I love blood orange olive oil on top of the english muffin with spices of your choice. Delicious.

Start at 400 mgs of magnesium citrate powder form, (as advised in the above posts), so you can easily change the dosage without cutting pills or having to guess. The powder mixes with citrus juice quite well. When all that starts working, and it will, you can lower the dose of magnesium to 200 mgs and go up and down as you need to.
A small dose of B6 will help with magnesium absorption.

Another thing that will help is to cut back on eating meat. Meat is very binding and clogging.

If you keep to this change to your diet, you might get a nice surprise to your cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings.

mcbeck · July 2007

It's all so confusing. There seem to be so many do's and don'ts that I'm not sure what to do.

I think I'll start with the Magnesium tablets and drink lots and lots of water. I'll do this right after a "good" bowel movement so I know its not packed in there.

I've been told that when you're dehydrated the first place the body loses water is in the intestines, which of course, causes constipation.

I LOVE meat, so I'd rather cut back on my intake than completely cut it out of my diet. I'm trying to eat more fruits and drink V8 (I hate veggies).

Thank you all for your input - I guess you have to try what has been proven and then take it from there.

I'm game!

Hugs,

Jackie

Anonymous · July 2007

Unfortunately Jackie, everyone's body is different...I guess you'll just have to use trial and error to figure out what works for you!

I myself didn't think there were so many, many ways of combating the "stuck poo"!!

Good Luck & Hugs
Peggy

saluki · July 2007

Actually, my Gastroenterologist was concerned that everything run smoothly for me because of I have Diverticulosis. She knew I was a medically complicated patient on many constipating meds and I have endoscopies at the same time as my colonoscopies to make sure the medications haven't harmed the lining of my esophagus. She wanted me permanently on the Miralax (which I hear is also used foe IBS).

I took it in the little individual packages but I didn't notice a big change so I gave it up.

However, when I compained to my Physiatrist---And at this point I knew how Elvis must have died as well as Frank Rizzo. Death by toilet-------- ugh! Well POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 3350 to the rescue----Worked like a charm.

I didn't know it was indeed -Miralax but since it wasn't in individual doses I took the cap measure as prescribed which I think gave me a little more and eureka---success!

Most of you are not on a multiple array of constipating meds so the other things may work for you fine but when you get past a certain point, you may just need the big guns.

Most importantly --Get enough fluids! It is also important not to take Miralax on an empty stomach, or there will be nothing to move through your digestive system.

Good Luck,

Susie

abbadoodles · July 2007

t

gsg · July 2007

senekot shmemekot.

1 to 2 TSB of molasses in a small glass of warm water should get you going. it tastes like "crap" but was the only thing that worked for me during chemo. i drank it before bedtime. an older woman from the "old country" gave me this tip and it worked. what a relief!

shorfi · July 2007

You ladies are SO GREAT

I am still taking the 3 senakot daily along with an increase in the fruit and fiber cereal. So far...so good...I am "going" like a CHAMP. But I am definitely going to try the MIRALAX...it's just so expensive, but will be well worth it!

shorfi · July 2007

Quote:

I have always been very constipated and have tried a lot of things. Finally went to a internist and he said I had Irrital Bowel Syn. I thought that was always for the opposite of constipation but its not, it can be because of constipation too.

He put me on Amitiza which works great for me. I have a daily bowel movement which feels wonderful. Check this drug out. I hope you have some relief.

God Answers Prayers

Teresa44

I was diagnosed a while ago with irritable bowel syndrome for constipation and was taking zelnorm. It worked...but I was also taking senakot along with the zelnorm and one morning I had such a bad experience with going and feeling so weak...my son had to call the ambulance because I had such terrible stomach pain and could only cry. The pains in my stomach were excruciating. I literally cried for about an hour and when the ambulance came I seemed to calm down some...so I vowed I would never take another zelnorm...ever in life, and I haven't. But I probably should not have been taking senakot with zelnorm. It was probably too much

shorfi · July 2007

Quote:

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

Joan...are they in tablet form? Let me know.

saluki · July 2007

Shortbr,
If you want Magnesium for constipation your best choice would be as Joan says Magnesium Citrate.

Liquid form would probably be most effective. You keep it refrigerated and cold it kind of tastes limeish like Sprite. You have to make sure you follow it with more liquid.

If you want to try Miralax buy it once and if it works for you get a script from your Doc for the generic----Its very cheap and works just as well.

I like what Tina says. I also find that salad helps big time
as does avoiding the refined carbs like rice and pasta and white bread.
Hard to do as rice is my ultimate comfort food and I try to add brown rice but its not quite as comforting. LOL

PS. Careful about the magnesium if you have kidney problems
---------
Susie

juanita63 · July 2007

Is magnesium citrate only in liquid? I didn't see it at all at wal-mart. Just plain magnesium pills.

Rosemary44 · July 2007

It comes in pill or powder form. NOW sells the powder. I find it on the net. It seems to last forever.

How Do You Handle Constipation?

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