Can you help me with chronic constipation?

Question

I am being treated for cancer and I'm on strong pain pills. I have been told to avoid e***a's. I've used other methods yet I'm going on 10 days with no results.

Answer 1

You might try Benefiber. It dissolves completely in any liquid and it works very well.

Eating certain foods: prunes or prune juice, applesauce, berries like blueberries, or raspberries. A natural laxative containing sennet (Senecot is one name) is probably okay--I would not take stronger ones like mineral oil or ExLax. Be careful of anything that would cause your colon to spasm--so no stimulant laxatives.

Certain food additives, such as Sorbitol--a sugar substitute--can cause loose bowels. You can find candy containing sorbitol in the diabetic or sugarfree aisles at grocery stores and drug stores.

Good luck with your treatments. I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 2

Prunes

Lays potato chips always gave me the runs.

Answer 3

All I could suggest is a change in diet to add more fiber or supplements, or possibly a stool softener?  Prune juice works for me...every time!  

Answer 4

The best tip I ever got was to eat green vegetables (spinach, broccoli, cabbage, kale) and to drink 8 glasses of water. Also, take a spoonful of mineral oil.

Answer 5

Treated for cancer- May god give u d best of health!!!

Dear,

we get constipation when we sit a lot or drink less water and or eat sumthing which doesnt suit our system, Nyways!

drink a lot of water, atleast 10-12 glasses / day!

Eat veggies and walk after ur meals.. dont sit too much.

Bananas are really a best help for constipation.

green tea helps to some people!

These are d best ways to get rid of constipation.

But as u r being treated for d disease, i think it wud b better if u cud once confirm with d doctor !!

Answer 6

The prescribing doctor should have discussed this side effect and how to deal with it.

One of the most consistent side effects of chronic opiate use is

constipation.  This constipation is different than what you have probably had in the past.  The difference is that this constipation cannot be treated by eating or taking extra fiber (like Metamucil®) or by taking a stool softener (like Colace®).  The reason why this is so is that the medication you are now taking paralyzes your bowels.  So while Colace® may soften your stool quite well, it will not cause your bowels to empty.

Therefore, you must take what is known as an "active" laxative on a daily basis to make sure that you have a bowel movement *every day*.  You may not have been regular in the past, but *you must be regular now*.

The three active over-the-counter laxatives that Dr.  recommends are:

1. Milk of Magnesia®

Take 2 tablespoons of this every night before going to bed.  If you do not have a bowel movement the following morning, then you are to take another 2 tablespoons that morning.  This is to be followed that evening by 2 more tablespoons.

2. Dulcolax®

Take one capsule at night before going to bed.  If you do not have a bowel movement the following morning, then you are to take another one that morning.  This is to be followed by another capsule that night.

3. Sennakot® (or senna)  best option

Take 2 capsules at night before going to bed.  If you do not have a bowel movement the following morning, then you are to take another two capsules that morning.  This is to be followed by another two capsules that night.

If still no response, increase it to four capsules in the morning and four

in the evening.

There is also a fruit recipe for a "natural fruit laxative spread."  It is

as follows:

1 pound of prunes

1 pound of raisins

1 pound of figs

4 oz senna tea (get it at a health food store. it looks like a bunch of

leaves)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup lemon juice

1. Prepare the tea.use about 2-½ cups boiled water added to the tea and *steep for 5 minutes*.

2. Strain the tea to remove tea leaves and add only 1 pint of tea to a large pot, then add fruit.

3. Boil fruit and tea for 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and add sugar and lemon juice.  Allow to cool.

5. Use mixer, blender, or food processor to blend fruit mixture into a

smooth paste.

6. Place in plastic container and place in freezer.  (Paste will not freeze but will keep forever in the freezer.)

Spoon out what you require each day (approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons).

Enjoy eating it straight off the spoon, or spread it on toast or add hot

water and make a drink.  If the fruit paste is not working for you, then you need to increase the amount that you consume.  On the other hand, if it is working too well, cut back on the amount that you take  even to the point of taking it every other day, if necessary.

If you ever "get behind" on your bowel movements (common during the first month of therapy as you get used to the medications and the active bowel regimen), then you should not "wait it out" and hope for the best.  Drastic measures are needed to clean your bowels out and to then "start over."  This can be accomplished by using *magnesium citrate*.  This is sold over the counter at any pharmacy, in the laxative section, in a green glass bottle.

This is a very powerful active laxative, aka "purgative," and should be

taken in the following manner.  Drink the entire bottle in one sitting.

Just pour it into a cup and drink it.  It may taste better if it is served

chilled.  It tastes like lemon-lime soda with a salty flavor.  Once you have drank it, it will take anywhere from 1 hour to 12 hours to work.  As it moves through your bowels, your abdomen will gurgle and you will feel and hear a lot of movement.  This is normal and to be expected.  Please do yourself (and your loved ones around you) a favor and do not go anywhere away from a nearby toilet until after the purgative has emptied your bowels.

Once that is done, restart your previous, preferred laxative from the

choices I had listed above.  If you have had to do this twice, strongly

consider changing your laxative choice to a different one.

We joke about this all of the time, but it is no laughing matter to be

constipated with a condition known as Opioid Bowel Syndrome and needing to be digitally disimpacted by a doctor or a nurse.  So please take this as seriously as you do your pain relievers, unless you want to end up in the Emergency Room in severe pain and a nurse approaching you with thick, rubber gloves and lots of lubricant.

Answer 7

I have IBS and get this problem a lot.Pain killers just make it worse. Since it has been so long you should talk to your doctor. As for stuff that works, they have a liquid that works. Go to the pharmacy and explain your problem and you can get it. It tastes horrible, but man does it work Sorry I don't remember the name of it. But I hope this helps. May I wish you a speed recovery. (:

Answer 8

Eat 6 times fruit and green vegetables a day. lots of water and do some sport and walking(30 min per day) , it will go away!

Good luck