Dealing with constipation from chemo?

Jen
I'm the same way. I'm on Folfox too and I will have diarrhea one day and not go for 5-6 days and worry about another obstruction. Then I will go. It has been 13 weeks since surgery. I talked to my dr and he said it will take time. I try to drink water but it is so hard to drink anything because the taste from chemo. Sometimes I feel so hungry and havent gone in 5 days and wonder where all the food is going. I actually gained 3 lbs this week on chemo.
Sandy

Partial?
Jen, sounds like it could be the beginnings of a partial obstruction. With the types of things he's doing, it should be working a little bit better.

When I got out of rectal surgery, I had a few issues...and one of them was the development of inside and outside hemi's, which made passing stool almost unbearable...like heart stopping...straining so hard you saw stars and almost passed out..sweating profusely etc. etc.

My surgeon examined me and saw the problem with the hemi's...he wondered how I even went at all...we did another surgery and cleared that problem up.

The other thing you could try would be a couple of those Fleet enemas...found at the drug store...usually contain two tubes of saline...insert the liquid...hold it...etc. etc.

If things don't noticably improve, I'd sure consider having them x-ray or scan the area to check for a partial blockage.

If he continues to lose weight at this rate, you're both going to find yourselves in the ER getting fluids at the least.

If he can't get nutrition or keep anything down...they can insert a nasal feeding tube to help him....they are small and go in the nose like a cannula and into the stomach.

Don't wait too long...maybe make some phone calls while you wait to his health providers, explaining the situation.

-Craig

abrub said:

Chemo constipated me. I
Chemo constipated me. I took senna and colace regularly starting a couple of days before.

However, when I was really stopped up, the dr gave me Lactulose, which works fairly quickly.

It is a matter of balance. I never had the diarrhea portion. Most people suffer from both. I didn't, so take the advice that best fits his situation.

Alice

Polyvinylglycol
or Miralax mixed with water as a drink it will soften stool ...normally for me after 4 days of constipation I started having diarhhea issues.....

jen2012 said:

Thanks everyone for the
Thanks everyone for the great advice. He has his 2nd treatment this Friday and I think his mind will at least be at ease that it's normal and not a blockage. I guess it's a learning process that we'll have to learn as we go, but you are all so great about sharing your experiences. I appreciate it very much!

For the first treatment - it was on Friday and by Wed he finally felt better. Wonder if that will get better, stay the same or get worse??

Same for me
I had the same problem. During chemo, I had a lot of diarrhea and then bouts of constipation. I was admitted to the hospital three times because of it. My anal opening had narrowed a lot after my colon resection. They kept going in via colonoscopy to stretch the opening. I started taking Miralax regularly after the last one (sometimes in the morning and in the evening) and that helped when I was "backed up". Good luck to your dad!