Let's talk bowels....

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phrannie51
phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I have never been so constipated in my life...ah, but to keep the mystery alive, a little diarrah when I least expect it...or...both, at the same time (sounds impossible, but it's not for me). I keep trying things to eat to help, since I don't trust Colace (not the substance, but the "when" it will suddenly become effective)...I tried Senna tea....my oh my that certainly is effective but again the question of "when" it will happen...usually not a good time at all, like when I was getting radiation or something.

Today I ate a bowl of Cream of Wheat, not my fave food ever in my life, but I'm hoping it might help my bowels.

What foods are you guys using? I need ideas.

p

PS...when we were kids, and got cranky or irratable, my grandma would ALWAYS say "How's your bowels, dear???" Back then, I'd just "FINE!!!"...she'd get earful nowdays...LOLOLOL

Comments

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #2
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    Ugh!
    If we must! Sorry, I'm usually on the other end of the spectrum (I know Skiffin will have something to say :). I am usually on the BRAT diet (the first time a doctor told me to put my son on it I said he wasn't that bad!). For about the last 6 years I have had to know where the restroom is. No help with doctors. Imodium is always in my cupboard, my purse and at school. Since that last radiation, I don't know why, not happening so much. I am now wondering about Thyroid. I see doctor next week, will ask for labs. Oatmeal usually goes through me fast. Are you drinking the water? My sister swears by a mixture of 1/2 pineapple juice and 1/2 prune juice, she has gotten many people back on their feet, so to speak, with this cocktail.
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #3
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    Ugh!
    If we must! Sorry, I'm usually on the other end of the spectrum (I know Skiffin will have something to say :). I am usually on the BRAT diet (the first time a doctor told me to put my son on it I said he wasn't that bad!). For about the last 6 years I have had to know where the restroom is. No help with doctors. Imodium is always in my cupboard, my purse and at school. Since that last radiation, I don't know why, not happening so much. I am now wondering about Thyroid. I see doctor next week, will ask for labs. Oatmeal usually goes through me fast. Are you drinking the water? My sister swears by a mixture of 1/2 pineapple juice and 1/2 prune juice, she has gotten many people back on their feet, so to speak, with this cocktail.
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #4
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    KTeacher said:

    Ugh!
    If we must! Sorry, I'm usually on the other end of the spectrum (I know Skiffin will have something to say :). I am usually on the BRAT diet (the first time a doctor told me to put my son on it I said he wasn't that bad!). For about the last 6 years I have had to know where the restroom is. No help with doctors. Imodium is always in my cupboard, my purse and at school. Since that last radiation, I don't know why, not happening so much. I am now wondering about Thyroid. I see doctor next week, will ask for labs. Oatmeal usually goes through me fast. Are you drinking the water? My sister swears by a mixture of 1/2 pineapple juice and 1/2 prune juice, she has gotten many people back on their feet, so to speak, with this cocktail.

    I could sweat that I only
    I could sweat that I only hit the button one time!
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #5
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    Juice, especially Prune Juice
    I found that Prune Juice was the most frequently suggested remedy on this board. I also was severely constipated after surgery, radiation, and chemo. So I turned to Prune Juice.

    Prune Juice turned out to work too well. It also produced some cramping, but well worth it to get the relief. Since I've become more regular, I've turned to other juices. Almost every day a extract the juice from 2 oranges and 8 carrots. It makes about 8 ounces of juice.

    I would have difficulty eating whole fruits because my esophagus is restricted after surgery and radiation. I think whole fruits would work just as well as juice.
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    #6
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    KTeacher said:

    I could sweat that I only
    I could sweat that I only hit the button one time!

    Oops
    Swear
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #7
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    Bowels....
    Phrannie,
    Had to laugh at the grandma statement...when I was little I got hives if I was bound up, and by god Grandma was always visiting that day. So guess what Kate got, yes the clean out with warm water...rrrrrr. But like other suggestions, alot of treatments and meds, sure mess with this ! I use the milk of meg if I know I've been having to use more pain meds than usual, or prune juice (yuck!) And for the other...I just back off of solids for awhile. You sound as if you need to find a good balance with this...are you connected with any kind of dietician ? I wish you luck, and let us know if you do find a good balance to this issue...could help us all. Katie
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #8
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    katenorwood said:

    Bowels....
    Phrannie,
    Had to laugh at the grandma statement...when I was little I got hives if I was bound up, and by god Grandma was always visiting that day. So guess what Kate got, yes the clean out with warm water...rrrrrr. But like other suggestions, alot of treatments and meds, sure mess with this ! I use the milk of meg if I know I've been having to use more pain meds than usual, or prune juice (yuck!) And for the other...I just back off of solids for awhile. You sound as if you need to find a good balance with this...are you connected with any kind of dietician ? I wish you luck, and let us know if you do find a good balance to this issue...could help us all. Katie

    grandma knows best....not !
    Hi Phrannie,

    some of the worst pain I had thru my whole recovery was from constipation. It comes from all of the pain meds in my case. The canned food has enough of the "right" stuff in it to keep you regular, but the opiates cause nasty constipation.

    I could not swallow any of the fruit/prune juice, so I after the first bad bout, I started to use Activia...it worked well, and never had any unexpected, sudden results so no worries.

    Good Luck. Hope you find some relief ASAP.
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #9
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    Ingrid K said:

    grandma knows best....not !
    Hi Phrannie,

    some of the worst pain I had thru my whole recovery was from constipation. It comes from all of the pain meds in my case. The canned food has enough of the "right" stuff in it to keep you regular, but the opiates cause nasty constipation.

    I could not swallow any of the fruit/prune juice, so I after the first bad bout, I started to use Activia...it worked well, and never had any unexpected, sudden results so no worries.

    Good Luck. Hope you find some relief ASAP.

    Phrannie,
    I have been
    Phrannie,

    I have been having this problem for a while and following works but there is no good timings:

    Milk of magnesia at night (3 table spoon, highest you can take is 4)
    Colace tablets 2-3 in a day
    If nothing moves by end of the day, i use a suppository and keep walking in the house till i get some action :)
    If still nothing happens, i add senna tablets that night.

    Apple puree helps but my tongue is sooo sensitive that i cannot use that any more. I take half a cut apple add some water, microwave it for 1 min and than puree it to a drinkable state.

    Sam
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #10
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    here you go
    Dearest phrannie51,

    What a pickle, Milk of Magnesia and prune juice grace our shelves. Early on, in this endeavor I also was struck by constipation (caused by Zofran). A little prune juice and Milk of Magnesia and I was ready for treatments.

    Hope you find something that works

    Be gentle,

    Matt
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #11
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    CivilMatt said:

    here you go
    Dearest phrannie51,

    What a pickle, Milk of Magnesia and prune juice grace our shelves. Early on, in this endeavor I also was struck by constipation (caused by Zofran). A little prune juice and Milk of Magnesia and I was ready for treatments.

    Hope you find something that works

    Be gentle,

    Matt

    Matt,
    Do you know if it is
    Matt,

    Do you know if it is okay to take milk of magnesia for couple of weeks? For me that works the best too.

    I will add prune juice if that does not burn my toungue. My toungue is so sensituve that even with magic mouth wash, certain food burns.

    Thanks,

    Sam
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #12
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    Sam999 said:

    Matt,
    Do you know if it is
    Matt,

    Do you know if it is okay to take milk of magnesia for couple of weeks? For me that works the best too.

    I will add prune juice if that does not burn my toungue. My toungue is so sensituve that even with magic mouth wash, certain food burns.

    Thanks,

    Sam

    Hmmmm.....
    I just use over the counter stuff like ex-lax ....works fine (take 2 or 3 though) and it's never painful or sudden....just a bit messy...lol (sorry if that was too graphic) :)

    What's really funny (you would have to be sitting here with me to get this) is while I am reading and responding to this particular discussion...my 2 year old is sitting next to me and booooyyy does he need a diaper change! I'm not kidding!!! Wife is out, playing Mr. Mom tonight with the 5 kids.

    Best,

    Tim

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