Constipation

cruiser1
cruiser1 Member Posts: 16
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi,

According to my sister my BIL (advanced esophageal cancer) is having trouble with constipation, she is giving him Sinakot, and stool softeners but they are not working that well. He has not started any of his treatments yet. He is taking a liquid pain medication (sorry I do not know what it is).

Is there something else she should be trying?

Comments

  • ndmp
    ndmp Member Posts: 36
    #2
    My Dad had the same problem,
    My Dad had the same problem, we tried everything. The one thing that helpd was Lacy Le Bough Tea, he would have it at night and by morning it seemed to help. You can get it in GNC health food stores. I hope this works. My best to you.
    Nicole
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • mdemetrius
    mdemetrius Member Posts: 22
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Thanks for the tips; we need it!
    Man, this site is really amazing! We are struggling with the exact same thing! My dad went to the dr. yest to start his second chemo treatment, and constipation was the first thing we discussed! He has a j-tube, so the Dr. said to put Miralax in his j-tube and see if that works. We are also supposed to use a stool softener daily (he didnt specify a specific brand). We used a suppository this morning. Still nothing. I even put more water in the j-tube and warm prune juice in the j-tube. Nothing. Any oral med will have to be placed in the j-tube since he's started choking whenever he tries to take anything orally. Guess it's just a waiting game... Glad to hear that others are in the same boat although the stinks (literally) :)

    The fight has begun and the opponent doesn't stand a chance!
    -Marissa
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #5
    mdemetrius said:

    Thanks for the tips; we need it!
    Man, this site is really amazing! We are struggling with the exact same thing! My dad went to the dr. yest to start his second chemo treatment, and constipation was the first thing we discussed! He has a j-tube, so the Dr. said to put Miralax in his j-tube and see if that works. We are also supposed to use a stool softener daily (he didnt specify a specific brand). We used a suppository this morning. Still nothing. I even put more water in the j-tube and warm prune juice in the j-tube. Nothing. Any oral med will have to be placed in the j-tube since he's started choking whenever he tries to take anything orally. Guess it's just a waiting game... Glad to hear that others are in the same boat although the stinks (literally) :)

    The fight has begun and the opponent doesn't stand a chance!
    -Marissa

    constipation
    I had a big problem with my last chemo cycles and I found that Milk of Magnesia plus stool softeners worked for me. Hope he has some luck. It is true not to let it go too long. I take a maintenance dose of MOM just to keep regular. take care and good luck.
    Donna70
  • mdemetrius
    mdemetrius Member Posts: 22
    #6
    My plan
    It's probably going to hit him all at once. At least then we'll be able to start from scratch. The constipation is causing his stomach to be really distended and he has a lot of pain in his stomach radiating to his back. I'm going to wait on giving him anything more or doing an enema until the afternoon if nothing works by then.
    -Marissa
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    Donna70 said:

    constipation
    I had a big problem with my last chemo cycles and I found that Milk of Magnesia plus stool softeners worked for me. Hope he has some luck. It is true not to let it go too long. I take a maintenance dose of MOM just to keep regular. take care and good luck.
    Donna70

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #8
    mdemetrius said:

    My plan
    It's probably going to hit him all at once. At least then we'll be able to start from scratch. The constipation is causing his stomach to be really distended and he has a lot of pain in his stomach radiating to his back. I'm going to wait on giving him anything more or doing an enema until the afternoon if nothing works by then.
    -Marissa

    Hi Marissa
    My dad also had
    Hi Marissa
    My dad also had the same problem. His dr prescribed a liquid laxative called lactalouse. It worked very well. Yes, you are right it just may hit him all at once, so wait and see. Good luck. He will need to be taking something daily to help. Keep us posted.
    Tina
  • mmr19
    mmr19 Member Posts: 75
    #9
    Stool softner
    My husband also suffered terribly with constipation. His constipation was especially bad when on pain meds. Once he got past that initial bad experience (what did we know??) he stayed on the stool softners daily. 100mg docusate sodium. He uses Walgreens brand. The pharmacist said it's the same as Colace. He was taking 2-3/day when constipation was an issue. And would add MiraLax if needed. Now he continues with 1 stool softner/day and seems to keep it under control.

    Good luck. Hope it passes soon.
    Marta

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