Trouble with chronic constipation

hi tina....i am so sorry
hi tina....i am so sorry that you are going thru this.....i've been concerned because you haven't been posting, and now i see why. you and i seem to be on the same collision course since the beginning. i spent the entire night last week vomiting with severe diahhrea ... i have a fun colostomy bag so the diahhrea doesn't bother me. i went to the hospital the next day...they took xrays and bloodwork and said i had a 24 hr stomach virus. well, the same thing happened again a few days later. my stomach feels and looks like i ate a bowling ball,i feel like i'm going to explode after only eating a few bites of food and i can feel the fluid accumulating in my left lung again. i'm now in a clinical trial...won't know if it's doing anything for another 3 weeks. this sucks! i am so fed up with feeling like this... i try so hard to be positive. my daughter just got engaged last week and has set next may for the wedding. i will never make it till then unless a real miracle happens. i don't want to bring it up because she is so excited. i'm sorry to ramble on....i'm just totally feeling sorry for the both of us....i will pray as hard as i can for you ... please keep me posted...you can email me directly if you are feeling up to it....cengbarth@aol.com ..... god bless you.....xoxoxo karen

karen1951 said:

hi tina....i am so sorry
hi tina....i am so sorry that you are going thru this.....i've been concerned because you haven't been posting, and now i see why. you and i seem to be on the same collision course since the beginning. i spent the entire night last week vomiting with severe diahhrea ... i have a fun colostomy bag so the diahhrea doesn't bother me. i went to the hospital the next day...they took xrays and bloodwork and said i had a 24 hr stomach virus. well, the same thing happened again a few days later. my stomach feels and looks like i ate a bowling ball,i feel like i'm going to explode after only eating a few bites of food and i can feel the fluid accumulating in my left lung again. i'm now in a clinical trial...won't know if it's doing anything for another 3 weeks. this sucks! i am so fed up with feeling like this... i try so hard to be positive. my daughter just got engaged last week and has set next may for the wedding. i will never make it till then unless a real miracle happens. i don't want to bring it up because she is so excited. i'm sorry to ramble on....i'm just totally feeling sorry for the both of us....i will pray as hard as i can for you ... please keep me posted...you can email me directly if you are feeling up to it....cengbarth@aol.com ..... god bless you.....xoxoxo karen

I am so sorry
for what you ladies are going through. I have been having problems on and off and now for the last couple of months I don't remember what it is like to have normal bowel movements. I have tried oatmeal, prunes, of course a lot of fruits and veggies, water. I take one or two stool softeners each night and put fiber in my coffee. I took a laxative on Sunday night and now have had diarrhea the last two days. I am still in remission as far as I know. As previously posted my CA 125 went from 8 to 23 and I will be having another test on June 10th.

I wish you both the best and pray there is something else out there that can help you.

Karen

lovesanimals said:

Dear Tina and Karen
I'm praying with all of my heart for a miracle for you both. I have chronic constipation (although nothing like what you're enduring) and take Miralax mixed in water every evening. To help you get needed nutrients and calories, you might want to consider drinking Ensure, and hopefully it won't make your nausea worse. I'm hoping you get some relief soon.

Kelly

dear tina
just wanted to say I hate to hear this and am hoping things turn around for you real fast. also just this feb. I was operated on for a fistula that broke through an old incision and then my small bowel protruded out of me, to make a long story short they operated and after surgery the surgeon told me that my intestines and bowels were all mashed together, which he took out resectioned and put back in me with a mesh to hold all the repair work that he did, also 2 large hernias. I didn't have pain like you or constipation he did say i was lucky that that did'nt happen. I have to be very careful not to bend over and watch my bowels for constipation, a fistula could form again. He also explained that not so much the cancer but my hysterectomy caused this to happen. My cancer has spread to my stomach too, but they still operated.Have had 7 different types of chemo now, don't know yet if this last one is working yet will find out in 3 weeks. If I didn't have the fistula happen they would of operated at some time to straighten out bowels and interstines, which I might add were making it hard to breath, which I didn't notice, got used to breathing harder. Pain is a big enemy and if they can control that thats half the battle I think. Hang in there (easy for me say) just maybe things will get a little better. Kathy

lulu1010 said:

Constipation
First let me say I will keep both you and Karen in my prayers. I believe we are all about the same age with much to live for. I went to a support group last nite and there were many long time survivors of this disease. Talking 10, 15, and even 19 years. Several said they were seriously ill over the years but have come thru. Dont give up hope!
Severe constipation and abdominal pain were my very first symptoms. I struggled with it for 14 months before they diagnosed me with PPC. I was started on Carboplatin before surgery and about a week later the bowels opened up and the pain was gone. When I had my reoccurance in March this year it started with the constipation once again. The week before my third Doxil treatment I started to have regular bowel movements again without the aide of laxatives.I know we started Doxil at the same time so I am thinking they would try another chemo but perhaps they want to give the Doxil a little longer. I think the normal response time is 3-4 months. I pray it kicks in soon as I know how miserable you must be feeling. Did they give you any indication what they plan to do? Stay strong!

I have no clue
I do not know what I am talking about but wondering if a peg tube where you get liquid nutrition would avoid the discomfort you are having? It is not permanent , just a thought. I hope you are feeling better today.
Colleen

Dear Tina
I'm so very sorry to hear that you're going through all this pain. You are such a fighter and have been through so much. Please know that we are here for you and sending along good wishes for this pain to lessened......... (((HUGS))) Maria

clamryn said:

Sweet Tina
Tina, I just saw your post. I am so sorry that you are going through this. I too am dealing with bowel troubles. The constipation and then the diahrea. I just don't know when it will end. I am afraid to eat also because I know it will stir it up again. I am praying for no pain for you. Just dealing with our thoughts on cancer, dealing with chemo, being afraid of our tests results and then throwing pain into the mix is just not right. You have always given me strength and I pray for strength for you now.

Many prayers and hugs across the miles.
Linda

Constipation
Tina & Linda,

Hello, I usually post on the esophegeal board but not often. When my dad was going through treatment he struggled so very much with constipation. He tried every thing that was sugested. We did find one thing that helped & I hope this can help you and all who are dealing with this issue
Laci Le Bough Senna Tea
I know it can be purchased at GNC and I have even seen it through Puritian's Pride catalog.
I hope this can help, my best to all of you amazing laldies who are fighting this beast we know as cancer.
Hugs & Prayers
Nicole

karen1951 said:

hi tina....i am so sorry
hi tina....i am so sorry that you are going thru this.....i've been concerned because you haven't been posting, and now i see why. you and i seem to be on the same collision course since the beginning. i spent the entire night last week vomiting with severe diahhrea ... i have a fun colostomy bag so the diahhrea doesn't bother me. i went to the hospital the next day...they took xrays and bloodwork and said i had a 24 hr stomach virus. well, the same thing happened again a few days later. my stomach feels and looks like i ate a bowling ball,i feel like i'm going to explode after only eating a few bites of food and i can feel the fluid accumulating in my left lung again. i'm now in a clinical trial...won't know if it's doing anything for another 3 weeks. this sucks! i am so fed up with feeling like this... i try so hard to be positive. my daughter just got engaged last week and has set next may for the wedding. i will never make it till then unless a real miracle happens. i don't want to bring it up because she is so excited. i'm sorry to ramble on....i'm just totally feeling sorry for the both of us....i will pray as hard as i can for you ... please keep me posted...you can email me directly if you are feeling up to it....cengbarth@aol.com ..... god bless you.....xoxoxo karen

Tina and Karen, please know
Tina and Karen, please know that you are both in my prayers. I pray that He gives you relief and comfort. Karen, I pray that you are able to make it to your daughters wedding. My son graduates high school next week and I'm so grateful to God for giving me the chance to see this. My daughter starts high school next August and my goal is to make it to her graduation. Think positive and enjoy the process of planning the wedding.

((((Hugs))) and prayers for both of you.

Carmen

"new" drug
I am not in treatment but still deal with the chronic constipation. Constipation is my new nightmare since it was the BIG symptom prior to diagnosis. It was ignored by my doctors over and over.

The doctor's here advised me to take the regular stuff. I mentioned that I had brought the US pharmacy's section on constipation medication with me and nothing was working. Somedays I just can't go....other days I am in real trouble when I can't even pass gas. Those days scare me because the pain is just horrible. I walk miles and miles to get things moving.

Regardless they gave a sample of a drug called Actilax. It is natriumpicosulfat. I have not seen it in the US. It is sold over the counter here. It takes a while to work but it works. It is not the most pleasant. The cramping can be awful but you get relief after. The pain stays for a few days but it is not near the levels where I was prior to actually going.

I use it as a last resort.

http://www.drugs.com/international/sodium-picosulfate.html

http://www.pharmawiki.ch/wiki/index.php?wiki=Natriumpicosulfat

Tina Brown said:

Hi Kathleen
Thank you for your reply. Your journey has always interested me as you sometimes seem to have bad times that are followed by good news as you continue to fight this disease.

My GP has given me some steriods which seem to have given me some relief - albeit a false positive. I feel much better with an increased appetite but then I eat too much and I suffer. I have had my first infustion of Carbo which really seems to be working.

I think I must continue to eat a soft diet and follow your regime. Unfortunately the hospital promised me a dietician but I never got to see one - so no they were not helpful at all.

The fluid in my abdomen was very small and has gone with the chemo.

Love Tina xx

THANKFUL FOR YOUR RELIEF!
I'm happy to hear that you are having some relief, and some good success with the chemo! Small steps is all we can hope for, Tina. Hang in there as best as you can. All the suggestions about smaller meals is good advice. Protein shakes are also a good option. Just be sure to choose wisely - milk or egg proteins are good. Don't do a soy protein, and not a 'cheap' version like the Kellogs, or Ensure.

I continue to be inspired by all of you here, you, Kathleen, everyone who fights this disease day in and day out. Many hugs and blessings to you all!

Monika