chronic constipation from narcotics

[911]

i have tried (unsusesfully) to deal witjh this uising other drughs for sir but nothiong herlps what risks does this [reesnt to muyy boy ??? what othet illneeses i would apreciayte any info thanks Dabve

[Pharmacist.steve]

impaction is one problem as is a infection of the large intestine. The former is not corrected by the patient and the second may end up with having colon resectioned or temp or perm colonoscopy

[jena1225]

911 - Sorry, I don't have any help for ya, but I have been having the same problem lately, really bad. I have just been taking ex-lax, but I am sure you have tried this. I usually take it only after like 3 or 4 days, then it takes another day to go. I know I can't live on this, so I will be awaiting some answers along with you!

[stiffnecked]

Old fashioned oatmeal, ground flax seed, and blueberries. Must be the slow cooking old fashioned oatmeal. Eat a big bowl of this every morning and then make sure you drink plenty of water. It will get things moving again. I've been on pain meds for 3 years now. Never had a constipation problem. You've got to keep fiber and water in your gut if you want things to keep moving.

[jena1225]

Thanks Stiff, that sounds great! I am definately going to try this. I am assuming it tastes ok? especially by adding sugar. Never had flaxseed before.

[Kathi49]

Jena,

Stiffnecked is right. BUT...add the fiber slowly; I was told that too by my docs. Flaxseed is great; well not great tasting really not to me. I just put some on my cereal; others put it on oatmeal and salads. It kind of has a nutty taste. And I usually use 2 tsp. of the ground flaxeed and make sure you refrigerate it. But it does help with the BM's. The real key again is LOTS of water!

[jena1225]

Thanks for the tips. I am assuming the fiber is in the flaxseed...

[BrokenBladder]

I take alot of narcotics and what I've found that works best for me is my diet. I eat alot of fruit such as apples, oranges, nectarines, and bananas. Also I like veggies so I make sure to eat a salad and roughage along those lines. Sometimes I may still go 2 days without a BM, but most of the time I'm an every morning kinda girl.:)

[painiac]

A high natural dietary fiber diet, chased by a faithful daily gallon of water is very helpful. Daily exercise of some sort will promote movement. When I can not walk, I still do 20-30 minutes of stretching and range of motion on the bed. I can eat and drink the right things but if I don't move, neither do the bowels.

[Pamster]

I haven't run into this except with the dilaudid I was given for dental surgery pain. Now that was constipating, ran close to impaction but beni-fiber helped thank God! :eek: :confused: :eek: Otherwise I am like Lisa/BB and a once a morning kind of girl. ;) :D

[Kathi49]

Pamster,

I forgot about the Benefiber. I have used it to! :)

And, yep, like you and Lisa I am FINALLY an every morning girl. :D

[911]

thank you all very much some of these thingas i have treid specialy fiber and some laxatives but tright now i am lucky if i go every 3 days i know yukk right but i am worried i guess worried to the point i guess i'll go to my doc ,. thanks again david

[Mark N]

I have tried all the fiber you can have, changing diets, home brews, and drink at least 144 oz of water each day but it doesn't work for me as mine has a nerve problem tied in to the narcotics I have had to go on a prescription laxative that I take every day and I must use enemas to induce the BM. Otherwise I get no urge and an impaction occurs.

Just as with pain there are differently levels of constipation problems and it takes more efforts for some than others. It seems to require some effort by all of us. The glycolax is important to me because it increases the motility of my stomach and bowels. Adding fiber as my doctor had me on just created a new building material impervious to all natural errosive materials. Glycolax binds water to my fecal matter and keeps it from compacting into a building material. Stool softners, water, and fiber didn't do any of that for me. So if you are not being helped step up to some stronger laxative and use enemas if necessary.

[stiffnecked]

I would agree, not everything works for everyone. My concontion of gruel didn't work for my wife. But prunes and 1 can of light beer cured her problems.
But for me mine works wonders. Plus my cholesterol went down drastically.
The gut, intestines, or whatever you want to call them sure can cause a lot of problems.... Just like our spine problems you just gotta keep trying stuff until you find something that works.

[A.K.]

Well you know we talked about this some last week but I never said how long I would go in between and I don't remember anyone else saying either. Now tonight I am blown away :eek: Guys when I say I can't go I mean I really can't go....I had three bowel movements between February 1st and 23rd. I know that particular period because it was so very bad and I had to go cold turkey of the narcotics on the 23rd to get things going at that point it had been eleven days. I thought that was the time frames all of you were talking about. God Lord I was in trouble huh????

Today at the pain clinic they changed my Morphine 30mg 3 x a day to Opana ER 20 mg twice a day. It's suppose to be about five times for potent than the morphine was, thus the lower dose. He also changed my breakthrough Oxycodone/APAP 7.5/325 twice a day to Roxicodone 15 mg once a day because I have developed an allergy to the acetomenophine and the lower dosage is because of the extra potency of the Opana. Also....suppose to be better on the constipation.

The nurse I had, first time I had met her, has a bad time with constipation and she said unless the BM is right at your anus you must work on moving it down by ingesting and told me never ever to go more than three days again.
Well I said "easier said than done" she said no you make it happen. You start today and every Opana you take take 3 Senekot tablets (not the S because those are what I have tried before) then if you don't go by the end of the 2nd day start drinking the little green bottles of citate you buy over the counter and keep drinking them until you go.....she said if the BM moves down but doesn't release use a fleet enema. HOWEVER.....READY FOR THIS...
if it doesn't move down, cut the inserter off the fleet enema and drink 1/3 to 1/2 of the enema liquid and you will go. She said it tastes terrible but it is the cheapest way to take care of the problem and perfectly safe.

Never, ever, have I heard of such a thing. There is just something about the thought of drinking enema water :p Could you do it???

[BrokenBladder]

A.K. I guess if I were in that bad of shape I would drink it, but YUCK!! It sounds really nasty!!

[jena1225]

That thought is not pretty! lol

[A.K.]

Imagine if someone just walked up and saw you drinking out of a Fleet enema bottle! :D Try and explain that one:rolleyes: Hilarious:cool:

[Mark N]

I can imagine it as bad as I have had it from time to time but was she talking about the saline - wouldn't be too bad, or the mineral oil - yuck.

[jena1225]

Imagine if someone just walked up and saw you drinking out of a Fleet enema bottle! :D Try and explain that one:rolleyes: Hilarious:cool:

Too funny, lmao! :D

[ErinENj]

I have somewhat of a totally sick and twisted way of dealing with my constipation (which has gotten better since switching meds). I eat something that I can promise will upset my stomach. Like tonight. My mom and I went out to dinner (it's a friday night ritual..it used to be just my parents would go out together every friday night and get my brother and I a sitter and a pizza, then just a pizza when we were old enough...now, my parents still go out, even with the divorce and all the bad blood and animosity between the two of them, but they bring me along to share in the discomfort.) tonight and we went to TGI Fridays. I had the Chicken Finger BLT, which is really good, but something that is good going down... You know the rest. It seems to go through my system quite quickly, and clears everything out along the way. It may take a few trips to the bathroom, and a little discomfort, but it works. It's better than that pain I was getting that nearly lead to me getting my appendix out a few months ago.

Another thing that helped was something the digestional doc I saw after the appendicitis incident turned out not to be appendicitis or a lymphatic infection like my PCP thought because it lasted too long. He put me on 6mg of Zelnorm twice a day. Twice turned out to be too much, but once a day worked better than all of the OTC stuff I had tried in the past. It supposedly keeps the wave-like movements that move things along in the digestive tract moving and makes sure they are waving enough to keep things 'normal.' I'd say if other things don't work, try that or something like it. I took it for a few months before I switched my meds. With the Opana, I've been fine as far as constipation is concerned. It got to the point when I was going through the withdrawals when I was switching my meds that things were going way too well. I felt like I was completely cleansed if you know what I mean. And now, that pain that almost had me going through the violation of a colonoscopy is very rare. If I notice things getting too irregular and getting that intense pain, I'll either eat something that is absolutely guaranteed to piss my stomach off (ice cream is the most enjoyeable things I can do for that...coldstone creamery is the BEST!) or take one of the zelnorm. It seems to work pretty well. I'm sure those aren't the brightest ideas health-wise, but they work and keep me regular, so it's fine by me! :D

[Sydney]

I have severe chronic IBS. However, most of the time it is constipation, not the opposite. I sometimes cannot go for 10 days at a time despite various laxatives, fiber, etc. I have been impacted once and it was horrible.
Now I have a serious problem with my stomach as I have severe pain and cannot eat. My stomach aches and I cannot eat as the Fibromyalgia is causing severe constriction of the esophagus due the sphincter muscle or the external obliques.
Also, this week I ate almost nothing - only one small bowl of soup and crackers daily. Got on the scale today and gained 12 pounds in one week. Of course that sounds crazy since I didn't eat hardly anything but also have not had any relief from the constipation. This is so crazy. My friend is a nurse and said max. for const. is 3 days and you should do something and go.
I have not tried the miralax. Is that the same as glycolax? Someone mentioned using that. I'd love to try the pineapple and flax and other ideas but I can't even get a full glass of water down - my stomach is killing me. This has happened before and does go away in time. I hope it does soon.
What do you think of the 12 pound weight gain in a week? Is this associated with the const. , not eating, ??????
Thanks,
Sydney

[jena1225]

Erin - didn't they just recall Zelnorm? Thought I just saw something like that on MSNBC. Not positive though, but worth looking into. Also, you are too funny about the whole food-to-go thing. :D

Sydney, 10 days must be dangerous! I would think you would have to have an enema at that point, even sooner.

My FIL is in the hospital right now, dying (NOT FROM THAT!!) Anyway, he is so backed up from his meds, that it is all the way up to above is stomach. His food is supposedly sitting just above his esophagus. Crazy!

[A.K.]

Sydney,
Do you notice any swelling of your fingers or ankles? I am just wondering if the 12 lbs could be fluid retention. I can retain as much as 10-12 lbs in a day sometimes and yes it does happen more often when I am constipated. I just had to stay in bed for two days straight because I had 20 lbs of fluid and my feet were so swollen and painful I just couldn't walk. Part of that has to do with my Complex Regional Pain Syndrome though too I am told.

I have gone 10 days and understand your agony. You may want to try the little green bottles of citrate the nurse recommended to me but you probably just need to call your doctor for help. Again though I realize, easier said than done..it gets really scary doesn't it. I am so sorry!

[Quahog]

If by the citrate you mean the fleet phospho solution than yes I have taken it. It's flavored like lemon-lime or Ginger and it is some of the most VILE stuff on the planet but it gets things moving. OH YES !

In fact it is used as a prep kit for cleaning out your bowels for tests and procedures. Anyone who has had a colonoscopy or a lower GI knows exactly to what I am referring to. The kit the doctor's office gives or you get at the pharmacy can be purchased without a Rx

If nothing else works than it might be worth a try. Just make sure to hold your nose when you drink it :D

[Mark N]

Sydney, I have a similar problem with my bowels and have gone many times where I had no movement for 14 days or more. I finally had to go on a prescription laxative and use enemas daily or every other day to keep things moving along. It isn't an easy thing to deal with and can get very painful especially with the danger of impaction. I have to work at keeping my bowels working so I understand the problem you have. My salvation was the laxtive, enemas, and water.

[ainee]

I've suffered constipation for years - I wasn't on medication for anything. I had a dry mouth and probably was 'dry' right through. I tried all sorts of things, but I get sick of trying - plenty of firbre and fluids are great, but I couldn't keep it up.
I read in the Encyclopaedia that vinegar helps stimulate the saliva glands and helps with the muscle action of the intestines to aid digestion. Digestion starts with the saliva.

I experimented - and found that one teaspoon of brown vinegar in a half glass of water or juice (can hardly taste the vinegar) once a day, keeps things moving.
A friend said she takes vinegar for her diarrhoea - so it is a pretty good all rounder - and cheap as chips.
I tried apple cider and white vinegar, but they didn't seem strong enough for me. You can put vinegar on your food also, but some of it ends up on your plate, so your not getting the right amount.

Lately I've been trying other things and found that one dessertspoon of honey 3 times a day helps - the motions seem to be softer and easy to pass. I take the honey off a spoon - but it can also be added to a warm drink or in food such as custard, yogurt etc.
ainee

[A.K.]

Ainee,
I would not be one bit surprised to find that the keys to me being able to go had been in my kitchen the whole time. My great-grandmother, who lived to be 97, used what we call "home remedies" for everything. The key is just knowing what to use for what. THanks for sharing, I promise you, I will be trying the brown vinegar and the honey. I have seen this kind of thing work most of my life I just don't have her to talk to about it anymore. A.K.

[millgirl]

Nobody has mentioned magnesium. You can safely take 1000 mg twice a day. For me that is too much and i take 750 mg bid. Oddly I was told too take the high dose of magnesium because it also acts to some extent as a blood thinner but it is not as potent as coumadin and u don't have to have the blood monitored.

Usually someone mentions the Yakima fuit paste which tastes great. do a search for the recipe.

[Scar Tissue]

My Dr. has me on Lactulose daily and also prescribed Cascara/Milk of Magnesia compound. The latter gave me severe headache, hot flashes and lack of energy (All I wanted to do was sleep). A glass of grape juice before bedtime has helped me a lot, I would make it Wine, but too many meds! (LOL);)

[Rozia]

The new Sennokot has a new pilkl just for people who take meds . Its called "Sennokot-S " and it works

[ainee]

I wrote the other day about my home treatments for constipation. I know the vinegar worked for me, as I've been taking it once a day - usually at night time meal - for about 5 years.
I've tried honey before and found it helped suppressed my other symptoms - cramps, spasms, twitches etc., but didn't think about it for constipation. I don't have the cramps etc., now.
I've been taking one dessertspoon of honey, 3 times a day for nearly 3 weeks, although everything is 'soft' and passes ok, sometimes I feel a bit yuk in the stomach, maybe too much honey, so I'm trying one dose of honey in the morning and the vinegar at night for a couple of weeks to see how I "go."
A.K. - My 2 grandmothers were both well into their 90's when they died - I guess they had lots of home remedies - not because they wanted to, but because they didn't have the medications we have now. My own dear old Mum has just turned 90 - I must ask her to write down some of the remedies she can remember her Mum using, or herself used years ago.
I saw a TV show about car sickness the other day. The easy remedies which worked for a group of teenage footballers, was chewing ginger (I think it was sugar coated ginger pieces) - the other boys sucked on pieces of lemon. Both of these seemed to work, as the boys didn't get sick while travelling in the bus home. There may be more ideas on Complimentry and Alternitive Medicines on BT. I guess it is by trial and error that we find this information - and pass it on so others can try it for themselves.
A.K. - Did the honey and vinegar work for you?
ainee.

[Diandra]

One of the most natural things I have used is Senna tea that you get at the health food store. It works really well.
Diandra

[ainee]

I've been experimenting with doses of honey for constipation - I've found a small dessertspoon of honey, 3 times a day + one teaspoon of brown vinegar, are helpfull in easing the problem.
Sometimes when I have problems with Asthma and need more ventolin and other treatments, I find I'm a bit "dryed out" and am constipated at these times moreso than other normal times. I developed Asthma 3 years ago from inflammation in my lungs - several others I know got it at the same time, so it was something going around and nothing to do with my other illness which I've been writing about on MS and other threads.
I believe the treatment I've been taking, which has suppressed and eventually reversed my neurological symptoms, has helped with the Asthma condition as well - even though I still suffer with Asthma at times.
ainee.

[Joey54]

You nave a long term problem so initiate a long term plan that has the least risk to your system and above all study the subject …

I had serious issues years ago before I ran across a site that was actually developed for colon and rectal cancer patients, I have long lost the link and I cannot find it now I wish I could.

Do not rely on harsh laxatives or you will do more damage than you now have.

Metamucil is to be avoided, some swear by it and I actually used it to control diarrhea due to irritable bowel disease prior to my back issues and pain meds.

Use the natural products, rotate between the products, and reserve any harsh chemicals to once a monthly or less if needed.

It is up to you thru trial and error to find the foods that work for you … when the going gets rough when the urge is there … spend $2.00 and purchase a couple of mineral oil enemas … once you use these you will never strain and suffer as you once did.

With that said there are many products out there, as anyone can have problems but it is up to the individual to find a handful of products that work then it is up to you to use them to meet your needs.

Educate ... read ... learn ... search in the colon cancer sites also ...

Oil … oil … oil.

Joey

[jena1225]

Joey, thanks for the post :) As for the mineral oil enema - how often do you have to do these? as needed? Are they uncomfortable or painful?

What about those tasteless fiber powders - aren't those natural?

Thanks!

[Mark N]

Jena, you have to know your own body but fiber had the opposite effect with me. I never had as bad constipation as I did when I was using fiber. My doctor had me increase the amount I was using and it got that much worse. Finally I had to go to a gastro-intestinal doctor and was put on Glycolax as nothing else was working for me.

I also have nerve damage and have to use an enema 95% of the time to initiate a BM and Joey is right about mineral oil enemas when you are having a real problem as the oil provides lubricant that helps.

[Kathi49]

Jena,

It is as Mark said, you pretty much have to figure out what is right for you. Confusing I know. My gastro also put me on Miralax (pretty much the same thing Mark uses). And it worked really well. However, it also aggravated the IBS I have even though it is mild.

So, based on what the Uro doc told me....fiber and LOTS of water! Well, like Mark said, I first introduced fiber much too fast and too much of it LOL! So, I ended up with worse constipation and cramps really bad. All I do now is 1/8 to 1/2 of a teaspoon of Benefiber and then DOWN the water. OR, I will have high fiber cereal in the morning...and about a cup of that...not that much at all with some apple juice. The key word is WATER!!!

Okay, so there have been times that even that wasn't enough so I also have some Fleet suppositories on hand. And I DO NOT use a whole one. I just cut it in half or less...it doesn't take much...at least not for me. And within minutes...there I go! And sometimes I will just use a Preparation H suppository just for lubrication purposes. Sounds weird I know. But all of the above works for me. I can really tell when I either haven't had enough fiber OR rather not enough water. But usually I drink water most all day. I am not always real good about it...especially if out at lunch with friends because I love having iced tea.

Honestly, I try, and I know others don't have a choice, but I really try to keep it to water and fiber. If that doesn't work that is when I resort to the other. And well, things like apples, applesauce, etc.

And, finally, if none of the above works, I just take a stool softener and pray. :D

And one more thing...watch the tea, cokes and coffee those can dehydrate you. And I can tell when I have one iced tea too many. :eek: My bladder will scream at me and then here comes the constipation again. It's not that you can't have any...just watch the intake.

Okay, I just re-read that and I didn't make much sense LOL! All I am really trying to say is water and fiber works best for me. And the other things I use when that doesn't work as well. You will probably just have to experiment to see what works best for you.

[curiousforever]

Sorry - I can't help either. I alternate between constipation and loose - even with the narcotic pain meds.

[GardeniaGirl]

I agree with Mark that this is a very individual issue - you really have to learn how your own body responds to things and go with that.

've been on Miralax for about two years now, and it works great, but I've made some changes in my diet and am now able to cut back a lot on the miralax.

Eating a lot of fresh pineapple seems to really help, and its my favorite fruit so that is easy. I believe it has an enzyme that breaks down protein and aids digestion, so that might be a reason its helping.

Also, eating a lot more fruits and veggies, drinking more water, and, I noticed that wheat and gluten products made things worse for me, and I have been off those for a year, and its definitely helped with digestion issues.

[911]

thanks everyone for the responses dave

[Joey54]

Joey, thanks for the post :) As for the mineral oil enema - how often do you have to do these? as needed? Are they uncomfortable or painful?

What about those tasteless fiber powders - aren't those natural?

Thanks!

Oil is best used for hard dry stools to aid in going as when used without the urge they are not irritating like the regular saline enemas ... oil does not cause the urgent feeling to evacuate and for this reason I assume they do not cause dependence in the way many irritants can.

Oil simply makes going easier if this is part of the problem, and it is not difficult to retain the oil for an hour as it will make life much more pleasant.

Fibers come in many forms, for a quick acting laxative heat a cup of prune juice then place 6 prunes in it for 20 minutes before eating, raw cabbage works great for some people, both seem to work in 6 hours or less but it depends on the person but when anything causes the urge use the oil ... then thank me :)

Joey

[jena1225]

Well, it's about time, Joey! lol. Where have you been? And I still need to know how to do an "oil enema!!" don't go anywhere :eek: (playin' :D )

[ErinENj]

I have found two more foods that work really well for me, so I thought I'd add them while this thread is active again.

The first one is a large chocolate Frosty from Wendy's. They're really yummy and work really well for constipation, especially if you are somewhat lactose intolerant like I am and if you have more than one in a day (I'm under lots of stress and ended up eating 3 in one day last week. That was a bit much for my system, but it did really help make sure I wasn't constipated. :rolleyes: ).

And the other is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods when I can afford it (when I can't I buy a few frosties) and I bet a few of you can probably guess what it is: Coldstone Creamery. It's really good, and if I eat their smallest to go sized container, similar to the size of haagen daaz ice cream (yeah, can't spell that) my system cleans itself out and stays that way for a few days.

Just to be clear and make sure I don't offend anyone, I'm not putting these on here as a joke. They really do work for me, especially since I try to avoid taking any laxatives after a bad experience with them. They're just too potent for me and can actually turn into a bad thing for me because of their effect on my constipation. I'll end up at the other end of the spectrum, having too many movements and not being able to give my body time to correctly digest what I'm eating, which ends up dehydrating me, and can lead to me passing out. So I prefer to use food. It helps in two ways. Things get moving in my system, and they taste really good.

[debhun]

I have to eat a very high fiber diet. I have Diverticulitis. 3 years ago my large intestine burst and was in hospital for 2 weeks after surgery. So I would try the high fiber. It helped me.
best of luck

Deb

[goldenmain]

:D My mother and I both have the same pain issues... genetic problems.
We both are battling the same issues that all the rest of you folks have, constipation. I have been using Miralax, works great with me as long as I get exercise and drink lots of water. My mom on the other hand is really worried about having serious colon problems and having to get her intestines damaged from all the laxatives and chemicals she has to take to get moving. She has a hemoroid the size of a quarter and is freaked out. Her PCM has her getting a colonoscopy soon to check it all out, because she is 59 yrs. She's so worried about getting damaged inside that she wants to try getting off the meds. I seriously don't think she will be able too.
Do you folks worry about your future health problems as a result of the constipation? Also, what about damage to your intestines? Is Miralax really safe to take everyday without causeing more trouble in years to come?
Just wondered if anyone else was as worried as she is. BTW, you guys had me rolling on the floor laughing earlier in this thread. Laughter is good medicine. Thank you all.

[Mark N]

Donna, I don't worry about the Miralax the way I did about the damage occurring because of chronic constipation. My gastro doctor said that Miralax was safe for long term use and would help me avoid the problems caused by constipation. I get good results from it as I drink plenty of water each day.