anyone suffer from constipation during

LaCh
LaCh Member Posts: 557
in Anal Cancer #1

Anyone ever suffer from constipation during treatment?  I went from watery diarrhea after the first round of chemo to a gradual slowing and now I've gone the other way.  I'm approaching the end of week two of treatment and "went" a little yesterday and very, very little today and it's making me feel sluggish and sick.  Anyone ever experience this?

Comments

  • wiveliscombe
    wiveliscombe Member Posts: 50
    #2
    After the first week of

    After the first week of radiation I was constipated and wasn't able to go for 6 days despite taking miralax and stool softeners even an enema didn't work. My radiation doc said he would have to stop treatment if I wasn't able to go. Unfortunately I had a very bad reaction to the chemo after the first week as well and went into septic shock (not a common reaction so don't want to worry you). While in the hospital I had bad diarrhea and then when I started the radiation again the constipation came back and I had to take miralax, stool softeners and eat lots of fruit and salads. That helped and I was able to complete the radiation but I didn't have the second week of chemo. Has the rad. doc recommended that you take anything?

  • geneviasue
    geneviasue Member Posts: 89
    #3
    Sometimes

    I went back and forth during treatment. I learned to take the minimum Imodium or Dulcolax and then increase as the day(s) progress until things changed to what I wanted. I think diarrhea and constipation are normal. If it progresses past what is comfortable or if you become concerned, talk to your doctor

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #4
    Constipation

    If you are taking pain meds they can make you constipated.  I took Advil mainly during my treatments rather than narcotics.  I had diarrhea rather than constipation.

    Mike

  • LaCh
    LaCh Member Posts: 557
    #5
    mxperry220 said:

    Constipation

    If you are taking pain meds they can make you constipated.  I took Advil mainly during my treatments rather than narcotics.  I had diarrhea rather than constipation.

    Mike

    thanks guys

    No, the only pain meds that I take or would take are aspirin and ibuprophen (I take them together). I think that my problem might have been from the dairy that I was eating, something that, before this happened, I didn't eat at all but now found that it was one of the few things that didn't give me nausea. I've stopped eating it for now. To complicate things further, I take magnesium to control hypertension and leg cramps, and that'll give anyone diarrhea. In any case, I've swung back the other way today and have already made about 15 trips to the bathroom and it's only 12:30.  My butt hole is crying ....  ooowwwwwwwwwww.    

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #6
    LaCh said:

    thanks guys

    No, the only pain meds that I take or would take are aspirin and ibuprophen (I take them together). I think that my problem might have been from the dairy that I was eating, something that, before this happened, I didn't eat at all but now found that it was one of the few things that didn't give me nausea. I've stopped eating it for now. To complicate things further, I take magnesium to control hypertension and leg cramps, and that'll give anyone diarrhea. In any case, I've swung back the other way today and have already made about 15 trips to the bathroom and it's only 12:30.  My butt hole is crying ....  ooowwwwwwwwwww.    

    I Remember

    How well I remember those days during and post treatment.  My radiation oncologist suggested taking immodium.  He said they would not hurt me.  I am 4 years post treatment and take three immodium daily.  I have not had diarrhea but have frequent BMs.  My norm before treatment was 1-2 BMs daily.  It is now 3-4 BMs daily.

    Mike

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