Severe constipation – Does anyone have any advice?

[Unregistered]

I’ve recently started chemo again (Carboplatin, Taxol and Herceptin) for liver mets and I’m fighting severe constipation, a problem I never imagined could be so horrible. I’ve tried everything I can think of (drinking lots of hot liquids, prunes, fruit juices, walking, etc.) but my system has completely stopped working.

To make matters worse, I was hospitalized last week following some problems after the last chemo treatment (5 days in the hospital with no activity) and things are much worse now. While there I tried a few different medications, but all they gave me were torturous nights with no results. It’s now been about 8 days and I’m horribly uncomfortable and don’t know what to do. My appetite continues to be good and I’m eating and drinking well but almost nothing is getting through.

If anyone has some tried and true solutions, especially natural ones, to get things back “on track”, I’d really appreciate hearing about them.

Kay

[Unregistered]

I used tons of stool softeners, like colace, which helped. Someone also told me warm apple juice can help, eventhough I never tried it. Laurie

[Unregistered]

Supposed to be mild but work. I too had bad constipation on chemo. Sorry!!!!!

Olivia

[Rupali]

Eat a vegan meal full of vegies. Take Aloe Vera Gel 2 tablespoons a day. Wheatgrass capsules and some oat bran to build fiber...
If possible buy a juicer to get greens juice with pulp everyday...
www.solostartjuicer.com (http://www.solostartjuicer.com)

This recipe wil help...

[Barbara H.]

If you want quick results try
Milk of magnesia

I had my crainiotomy a week ago and still haven't been able to go. I like to let nature take its course. The nurses would be horrified. That being said, if nothing moves today I will take it after I see my surgeon today. I hate to take it because then I am on the toilet for 3 days straight. I have been eating pruins and jel caps, but so far with no luck.
Good luck to you.
Barbara H.

[kk1]

ask you doctor for a perscription of lactulose. I found it worked really well.
None of the over the counter or "home remedies" worked for me during chemo.

Lactulose is a sugar which is not metabolized and absorbed by the body. Rather, the bacteria in the colon or large bowel break this sugar down into acids. These acids, in turn, pull water into the colon and soften the stool.

kk1

[clisa]

When my husband had back surgery inthe spring- his painpills caused terrible constipation. His surgeon reccomended milk of magnesia as it is gentler than laxatives. it worked and he had tried everthing else you listed with no results.

Lisa

[al from Canada]

SenacotI don't know if I spelt this right but you an get an immediate relief brand or just a softener...good luck,
Al

[Unregistered]

Smooth move tea is very good; as well as the, Phillips in pill form. Be careful to start out slow, because the two of these together can be very strong.

[Unregistered]

I also had severe constipation almost instantly while on this combo and I ate lots of prunes. It gave me lots of gas but I only needed to use them for the first 3 days following treatment. The only thing I found it caused my sugar to go up and then it would come down within the next few days of stopping the prunes. I also was using colostrum as well as a liquid 100% aloe concentrate with flaxseed oil, not the meal as that is high fiber, and that helps the bowels as well. This is awful and one has to really take lots of what ever they find works for them. I wish you well and don't give up. Hugs, Sandy

[MCS]

One to two tablespoon of milk of magnesia.


Ugh but it worked for me

MCS

[mickey]

For me, the constipation isnot from the chemo, but from the anti nausea meds. My solution is to take stool softeners, starting about 2 days before chemo

Mickey

[Lolly]

I've used a product called "Benefiber" with great results. It's partially hydrolyzed Guar Gum which is a natural product, and it comes in pills or powder (the powder works best for me). It dissolves completely in a glass of water and you just drink a glass of it a few times a day. I got results by the next day.

<3 Lolly

[JoanM]

My sympathies Kay!
I had horrible constipation when going through chemo and I agree with Mickey, the problem for me was the anti-nausea medication. I used to take two stool softners the day before and for two or three days after chemo along with a high fibre diet and a bowl of All-Bran each evening before I went to bed. I did cut down the anti nausea medication to one pill in an effort to manage the constipation, but still was constipated and had to manage (after the initial first 2-3 days) throughout the 3- week cycle with stool softners off and on.
Best Wishes
Joan

[pattyz]

Kay,
I've used all the advised 'remedies' with minimal to intermittant success. When all else fails, I use suppositories. The simple Glycerin ones work to get SOMETHING going, atleast. My last resort is Fleet Enema. But, the alternative is blockage requiring ER visit... no thankyou very much!

good luck...I totally empathize with you.

pattyz

[sally]

Don't forget that you should stay away from foods that constipate. Sweet potatoes, carrots and other orange veggies and some fruits. Foods high in iron and for some people, bananas. Cheese can also be a problem. Pears can get things moving along and my doctor told me to use Senacot if I were to use an OTC. I hope some of this helps. Good luck Sally

[pattyz]

Sally,
Good point! I lay in bed last night wishing I had mentioned this, lol!! I avoid cheese, rice and bananas like the plague.... which has severely interferred with my some of my 'favorites'...

[Unregistered]

I have really great luck with chocolate! It's best if it is the dark kind with a high percentage of cocoa. 27 years ago, with my first child, I begged the nurse for a candy bar and she wouldn't let me-it's been that long that I have used it as a laxative when necessary. It doesn't necessarily work on a severe obstruction, but taken with some of the other OTC, it may speed things up and soften things up as well. Anyway, try it if you can.

[athena453]

Do not eat white flour! I had the same with carbo/taxotere/carboplatin. Stick with whole grains. Eat lots of fiber and supplement with prunes and apricots (both dried) first. If that doesn't work, try the laxatives. I used dulcolax. But first, try cutting out the white flour (bread, especially!) and up your fiber intake. See how you do!

[Mgarr]

Good morning. I too had this problem. The two things that worked the best were eating watermelon 1-2 days before treatment and (as mentioned by someone else) my chemo nurses recommended Smooth Move tea found in the health food stores. One cup usually would work by next morning.

[Patty D]

Have you tried "Laculose" syrup ? (the generic is Enulose)
I too had severe constipation and my onc prescribed this.
You do need a RX- it is not over the counter, It looks and tastes
like cough syrup . I take 6oz (about a shot glass) 1 or 2X per day. It really helped me! I have not had to use it for awhile- Once I got back on track I now take 1Tbls of Benefiber powder in a glass of juice each day (it is tastless and mixes well)
That helps too. Good Luck and God Bless! Patty D

[Vi Schorpp]

I tried most of the products/ideas above, but nothing was working for me. A friend of mine suggested THE BOMB and boy did it work. It's 3 oz. milk of magnesia mixed with 3 oz. prune juice. I was skeptical, and now I'm a believer...

[doh2pa]

Hi Kay,

I am on the same regimen and had the exact same problem. I take a Senekot for the night prior to treatment and then for the next 3 nights. Also, take a fiber pill every morning. When things get really bad, laculose or a fleet does work. Milk of magnesia too. It took me about 3 weeks to get it right, but try the senekot every night. I know how terrible and all consuming this can be, but once I got in front of it (being proactive instead of reactive), it did get better. Hang in there, you will figure it out!

Donna

[StephN]

Hope some of these suggestions are starting to get the job done!

I used Senna tea or you can get it in capsules. It is also found in the Smooth Move teas. But the Senna tea along with prunes and fiberous foods got me through the terrible constipation I had with the steroid anti-inflammitories I had to be on for my brain mets earlier this year.

So after "the bomb" you can use some kinder, gentler things to keep you regular.

[Unregistered]

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful suggestions. I had already tried some of the OTC meds and foods that were suggested, but many of them just didn't seem to work for me. Many of the others (Senna tea, Smooth Move, the supplements, etc.) I didn't even know about and I'm now trying to find the right combo that will work for me.

The problem is still not completely back to normal but things are beginning "to move" and I feel sure that I'll be able to find a combination of things and a routine soon to stay ahead of this problem from now on. If all else fails, I'll try THE BOMB!

God bless you all.

Kay

PS When I started this thread I was really embarrassed because I thought I was the only person with this problem. I guess I was wrong. It's great to know that we can count on each other to help us through these difficult times.

[jhandley]

flaxseed meal..3 tablespoons/day. Drink a glass of water aslo.

[Gina]

The chemos you are taking are magnesium depleting which is great at killing off cancer cells, but HARD on one's system. PURE magnesium oxide relieves constipation while PURE magnesium orotate will ensure sound and continuous deep sleep. If you weigh between 150 to 200 pounds you should probably take 300mg of mag oxide with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then 500mg of magnesium orotate an hour or so before sleep. Of all remedies mentioned above, I recommend the olive oil or Milk of guess what??? Magnesia...smile....also, sitting in a warm Epsom salt bath once a week will further improve matters as Epsom salt is little more than ... you guessed it....MAGNESIUM SULFATE...also, pure cocoa is full of magnesium as are nuts, beans, whole grains, etc. Hope things get MOVING soon...smile..Take care, Gina

[Toril]

Saw someone else suggesting it to. I have been taking 2 tablespoons with aloe vera juice every night during my nine months treatment with navelbine / herceptin. Of course I dont know if thats the reason, but I haven't had any problems with my stomach.

Best of luck!
Toril

[KathySC]

Want something easy and cheap... take magnesium in the morning. Start with 400mg and if that doesn't work then take 800 mg. It will work and you may already have it in your vitamin drawer. Plus we can not get enough of the stuff. Very healthy.
KathySC