Magnesium Citrate

spector551
spector551 Member Posts: 109
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

So, I've been constipated for 7 days now with barely any relief. It's a terrible feeling. I feel my whole body being tainted by all the junk in my guts at the moment. Yesterday the doctor prescribed me Lactulose to take every 2 hours until movement - but nothing happened. The doctors and nurses were amazed that I had taken six doses by the time I went in for treatment today and still hadn't had a movement. In any case, the doctor told me to continue taking the Lactulose every 2 hours and to get a bottle of magnesium citrate and take it. 

Problem is, I'm a head and neck patient and I took one sip of that stuff and it burned all the way down into my stomach.

Have any of you guys had to use it during treatment and did it work for you? Is it worth choking it down?

 

God bless,

 

Jamie

Comments

  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #2
    Constipation

    Hi Jamie constipation is not something we like to talk about, but it is a real problem. Are you getting cisplatin? Magnesioum Citrate is really hard on the kidneys, especially on top of the beatings your kidney's are taking with the chemo. Oncologist told me not to take it. At this point it seems like you will have to take a drastic route. But get your thyroid checked, it too is taking a hammering and the first symptom of hypothyroidism is severe constipation. Don't know whether you have ever had a colonoscopy but you have to be all clear before they do it. The laxative used is miralax, you take 14 sachets of it 1 sachet at a time beginning early evening, take it all and you will clear out. I take a dose of miralax every day and metamucil, keeps me close to regular. Mine is thyroid induced. Denis

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #3
    that stuff

    The nurses in the cancer center told me to take it too.  IT WAS CARBONATED.  I let it sit out and de-fizz.  Stayed home, waited, - nothing.

     

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    yes it is worth a try

    Follow the directions completely.  As a rule it produces results within a few hours.  If not, you need to be back on the phone with them tomorrow.

     

    Pat

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #5
    Mag Citrate is harsh

    If you have not tried a Yogi Tea called smoothe move it works well and not so harsh.  At most health food stores. When I worked at hospice this was a regular problem with all of the narcotics used and cascara sagrada also worked well for a lot of people  and is in the drug stores near vitamins/herbs.  Tried a fleets enema?  Good luck

    PJ

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    Gawd....you can't play around with this

    and they should know that....it's dangerous.  I didn't take Miralax for a colonoscopy, what I had was in a tiny bottle, and you mixed it with gator aid....I'm wondering about asking a pharmacist, so many times they know stuff that even the docs don't know.  When the urge hits, plan on spending some time in the can.....this isn't like the old days, think of it more like a campout....well, ok, you won't be there overnight, but you could be there for some time.  Take reading material....a book, not just the daily news.....

    You don't want an impacted bowel.....you wouldn't be the first who went through that during treatment, but it should be avoided at all costs, and I'd be on top of my Oncologist until it was taken care of.

    p

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    Magnesium Citrate

    Only prescribed once for a colonoscopy....., along with movi-prep...

  • sunshine_64
    sunshine_64 Member Posts: 50
    #8
    Have you tried "senna" - in

    Have you tried "senna" - in combination with a stool softener capusule? I found it to be more gentle, and, it is clearly easier going done compared

    to the lactulose. Over-the-counter at most drugstores. Good luck. It is indeed a problem that deserves more attention!

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