Severe Constipation

Hi,

I am writing on behalf of my sister, Lara. She wrote a few weeks ago to ask if anyone had had experience with mets in the lining of the brain and the brain fluid. She is now in hospital with a mixture of debilitating symptoms that they are trying to control before they allow her to come home. These symptoms include extreme dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light, and severe pain in her head. She is given drugs for nausea and pain, is also on steroids, which do help however due to the high dosage they are causing severe constipation. She asked me to ask if anyone here knows of something that can relieve the constiptation as she cannot leave the hospital until this is under control. She has tried the usual things - movical, milpar, laxitives eating prunes, adding fibre to her diet but these are not working. At the moment she needs to have daily enemas (not pleasant) but is really tired of it all and just wants to come home.

Would appreciate if anyone has any other suggestions?

Many thanks,

Karen

Lots of caffeine (not in the evening)???

mousy, a Coke fiend…

Has she tried lactulose at the same time as senna liquid?

Hope she’s soon feeling better.

Love Anthi

I have a friend who swears by tinned mandarin oranges.

erm mushrooms and onions…dont ask, sounds minging, but tastes really nice…just stand well back

Stewed apples and rhubarb. That always starts me off…

mousy

my oncologist prescibed senna which does work after a couple of days of taking.Also drinking lots of smoothies.
Failing that try a spicy chilli!

Jools

Hi Karen

I have been following Lara’s post and was actually wondering what had happened to her. I too have had constipation this week due to the chemo but obviously not as bad as Lara. I use this thing called Calfig which is fig juice with senna. She could also try drinking ice cold water and I also do this constipation massage where you lie on your back, bring your knees to your chest and move them in a clockwise motion. It usually starts to get some bowel movement.

Please give all my best to Lara and tell her that I have been praying for her health over the last 2 weeks.

Take care
xxx

I’ve just remembered another extraordinary remedy - when on the loo, stretch your arms straight up as far as you can reach.

I have the opposite problem - constant diarrhea from Crohn’s, but my husband has always suffered from constipation, although eating a diet high in fibre. We recently saw an article in a national newspaper for Aloe Vera Pura with syrup of figs (we got it from a health food shop) and one teaspoon a day keeps him regular. Much better than using medical laxatives he says.
Hope Lara soon starts to feel better, she has had a traumatic time.
Liz.

I have found 2 dessert spoons of golden linseeds added to cereal or a drink most days works really well, along with drinking plenty fliuds - constipation has not been a problem since starting this.

Casey

Hi, 8 movicol a day can get things moving! - made up in a jug and drunk over the day - it depends if your sister can drink that much!! The trick is to drink loads, if you are a bit dehydrated then your body absorbs any liquid back it can - making things ‘hard’ if you get my meaning!

I take docusate sodium, with senna if needed for my chemo constipation. On anti biotics at mo. so don’t need anything!!

Hi - I always found lactulose worked for me during chemo - tastes foul though - I used to mix mine in with fresh orange juice. Mushrooms also works me - strangely enough! Best of luck, Love and hugs, Jean x

hi , sorry to hear about your sis , have a juicer every day , but when really bad i take 1 or 2 capsules of co-danthramer which only soften and now make you run to toilet ! which was such a relief as i was terrified. so good luck sophie

as bmrt said movicol worked for me you can take up to 8 sachets a day

Hi, this is Karen again. Thanks everyone for your suggestions - we are very grateful! I have passed them on to Lara and she sends her love to everyone. She has been in hospital for a month now, but is hoping to come out by the weekend. The hospital finally seem to have all of her symptoms under control which is a huge relief. She ended up getting her mother-in-law to send her over some AGALAL from Australia (what Lara used to use when she was living out there) and this seems to work very well for her.
It is very hard for me as I live overseas and can’t see her as often as I’d like to, but I am coming over to see her next week and she is very excited as we haven’t seen each other since her wedding in May.

Anyway, thanks again! for all your replies!

Love Karen

Thanks to Phoebe

Just to compensate for last cycle’s chronic diarrhoea I’ve had constipation this time round Think the side effects of the navlelbine are now outdoing the side effects of the xeloda) Arms stretched up high has just worked a treat…and must be good for the lymohoedema too.

I hope Lara gets out of hosiptal this weekend…and your vist is a joy for you Karen.

Jane

Hi all

When on chemo last year I found that strawberries did the trick. I ate so many that one day I definitely OD’ed and do give them a wide berth now but at the time they motored through me.

Citrus fruit will work too; I eat a grapefruit, couple of oranges and kiwi fruit each day although sometimes it’s a bit of an effort.

I hear Dynorod are good but that’s a last resort!
Reg

Hi

I wish your sister a quick recovery.I have the same problem and am on Movicol 8 a day.
Not exactly the nicest taste but does the job.

Best of luck.

rosebuds