Constipation - Need home remedies

Hi Donna
You might want to
Hi Donna
You might want to call his Doctor and ask them as you don’t want to give him anything that might counter or interfere with his Rad and Chemo treatment. More than likely they will suggest a Stool Softener or something to help his body keep regular.

Wishing you both the best
Hondo

Hondo said:

Hi Donna
You might want to
Hi Donna
You might want to call his Doctor and ask them as you don’t want to give him anything that might counter or interfere with his Rad and Chemo treatment. More than likely they will suggest a Stool Softener or something to help his body keep regular.

Wishing you both the best
Hondo

Home Remedies
such as prune juice and such are not really effective here. I agree with Hondo that you should check first with the doctor; most recommend Miralax (you can get generic) and Colace (likewise). The first is a powder that you mix with water/juice and it's easy to take; the second is a soft pill - that can tend to stick in throats, but there might be a liquid form for the PEG. The powder and the pill are both OTC (if there's a liquid form, it might need a prescription). These are not laxatives like Ex-lax - they work by attracting water into the large intestine to soften the stool and increase bulk so it's more easily expelled. (Most doctors won't recommend Ex-lax type drugs - too extreme.)

However, if the constipation is severe, they might want to see him - severe impaction can require special help.

Finally: yes, the lack of sufficient water will cause/worsen constipation. After a really bad bout, most folks find they have a lot more incentive to stay hydrated. . .

depressed63 said:

Thanks..I'll try Prune Juice
Hopefully prune juice will work. I feel so sad that I can't help him. He had severe shoulder pain after surgery and they said it was gas. I've never heard of such a thing. He's finally over that.

Yes, I did the prune juice,
Yes, I did the prune juice, Activia yogurt, and sweet potato baby food every day, and stayed regular, when I did it. Every day. Hydration is also key, and eating regularly will help as well. Your body wants to eliminate after eating. You need to kind of have a routine going. If I missed feedings or thought I would be ok missing a day of prune juice or yogurt etc, things went awry.


Oh, and I would not go any where near anyone who is sick, btw.

Skiffin16 said:

Crowds
Same here I avoided crowds and fast food or buffet style eaterys during treatment...pretty much isolated to keep down exposure while the immune system is so jeapordized.

Dawn, sick people, LOL.... I always used to think...I limit myself to being exposed as much as possible to sick people...so where am I everyday waiting for rads or to get in for amifostine...in a lobby full of sick people.

JG

Sick people.
Actually, I didn't read the immuninzation part. I was thinking they were sick. I still don't go anywhere near people who are sick. I was never a very touchy, huggie, handshake or kiss person (only with the person I was in a relationship) and I am really not now. All my Italian relatives want kisses and hugs, for years it was like torture for me. Now I just say, no. I don't care if they think I am a jerk. Don't even get me started in buffets. Avoid them like the plague too.

palmyrafan said:

Constipation
lack of hydration could definitely be a cause of the constipation. I have found that for me, some foods can cause a "release" of the constipation. The foods that work for me are: carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, and raisins. I have a 1/2 cup of oatmeal every morning and that helps to keep me regular as well.

Depending on what your husband can eat, if food won't work, you might try some herbal teas. You could also try some honey, I have heard it works for some people.

Hope your husband finds some relief soon.

Teresa

Metamucil
My hubby puts Metamucil (or the store brand which is a lot less expensive!) in powder form in his shakes everyday. All the painkillers will cause this problem!

Good Luck!
Tammy

neilswife said:

Metamucil
My hubby puts Metamucil (or the store brand which is a lot less expensive!) in powder form in his shakes everyday. All the painkillers will cause this problem!

Good Luck!
Tammy

My husband had the same
My husband had the same problem..it was from his pain meds. We used glycerin it is about a dollar and works in about 10 mins.

Constipation
Hi, my husband had the same problem . He did not have peg, his was after chemo. He took stool softener and metamucil eveyday . He still does 5 years later. Because chemo is hard on your digestive system. Hope this helps. God bless.

ac said:

Metamucil
Hi,

I had colorectal cancer before and now very likely nasopharyngeal cancer. I used Metamucil for my previous recovery and found it very effective. Do check with your doctors before using it though. All the best.

Hi again ac

There are a quite few of us here with NPC and you are more than welcome here on H&N after all we are all one big family.

Hondo

ac said:

Prune juice
My wife has a home remedy which she uses for our kids. Get some prunes, mash them and scald in hot water. Apparently it works for them.

Senna

If you can get some Senna it is very good at relaxing you and getting the poops to start moving. The old people back home would giving it to all their kids once a months to keep them regular, maybe that is why as kids we never got sick.

Wishing you well
Hondo

waywest said:

constipation
Hondo called it Senna but you can buy it in liquid form under the name Senakot. Our doctors recommended it as the best natural laxative. The pain meds are definitely one of the main causes of constipation and we were warned to keep up with the Senakot.
I put a tBSP or 2 in his peg every night and it worked well.

Senakot


Thanks I could not remember what they called it up here. When we were growing up the plant grew out side in the yard. So wend we seen the old people cutting it we knew what was coming the next day, My aunt call it Senna tea because she brewed it just like tea, one cup and that was all it took.

Thanks
Hondo