Severe Contipation

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lizper
lizper Member Posts: 199
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hi ladies, it's been a while but since my pregnacy due date is getting closer I'm very tired and busy. My Mom just had chemo last Thursday and a severe constipation issue which is making her very unconfortable, not able to eat and frustrated... she had tried drinking water, small walks, yogurts that are made for this, etc.. any ideas on how to help her. After 5 days of contipation I guess anyone might feel very bad. Tks. Liz

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  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
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    answer
    Call her doctor and let him recommend a laxative. Once it has gone on 5 days this will probably required. However it could be a bowel obstruction so a doctor should decide. ((Hugs and prayers)) Saundra
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #3
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    I agree with Saundra
    Hey Liz, good to hear from you, but too bad it has to be this way. I agree call and talk to the Drs. Then before she has her next chemo have her start taking something for it, sennas is safe and effective. I use miralax daily on or off chemo anymore, but always add senna right before treatment and continue to take until my system is moving again. Hope that helps.

    Hugs N Prayers Bonnie
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #4
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    DITTO TO ALL PREVIOUS COMMENTS
    Does the doc tell her to take something like Senna-S the night before and the day of and days after chemo? Of course, lots of water is required. Five days is definitely a concern and very uncomfortable. I can remember many times being in the bathroom lying on the floor just 'waiting' to go. That's even having taken the Senna. Even a 3oz glass of prune juice daily can be helpful. High fiber cereals, whole grains like certain crackers, wheat germ, etc., but you need to do something on a regular basis. Hope the doctor will give your Mom something to ease it up for her. It's miserable beyond miserable!
    Luv and Hugs,
    Monika
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #5
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    Apple a day
    Apples work well. Raw ones. The hard, sweet ones. Everyday.
  • carol2dogs
    carol2dogs Member Posts: 132
    #6
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    Constipation
    Liz,
    I agree with all the other comments. However, I have an additional idea. I had a nurse tell me once "if what you are taking from above doesn't work, then you need to treat it from below." Like most of us, I get bad constipation following chemo. The laxatives don't work for me,so I use a Fleet's enema the third day after chemo. It is certainly not a fun option, but it is very effective and works quickly. I would highly recommend that you ask the doctor first, however, because you certainly don't want to use this if there is any chance of a bowel obstruction - results could be life-threatening.
    Thanks and good luck to you.
    Carol
  • ColleenN
    ColleenN Member Posts: 73
    #7
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    constipation
    Hi,
    I've added extra fiber (like Benefiber) to my daily diet to help with this. It's the stuff that you mix in with any type of liquid or even pudding. So far my system has slowed down for a couple of days following treatment, but hasn't stopped. I usually have a fiber drink in the evening too. "All-Bran" has an ice tea and a pink lemonaide that have 10 grams of fiber in each, and they actually taste good. Good luck.
    Colleen
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #8
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    A friend would bring me licorice which is supposed to help with constipation. My doctors would have been furious if I went 5 days being constipated - 3 was the max and even then I would get the lecture. I learned, quickly, that I had to start the treatments - a couple of stool softener pills the day before chemo and then one a day for a few days after - just to be sure things were moving. If a true necessity I would take the milk of magnesia - ugh.

    Good luck! And let us know how your mom is doing. I'm glad your pregnancy is going well. How exciting.

    Take care.
    Kris
  • lizper
    lizper Member Posts: 199
    #9
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    kris43 said:

    A friend would bring me licorice which is supposed to help with constipation. My doctors would have been furious if I went 5 days being constipated - 3 was the max and even then I would get the lecture. I learned, quickly, that I had to start the treatments - a couple of stool softener pills the day before chemo and then one a day for a few days after - just to be sure things were moving. If a true necessity I would take the milk of magnesia - ugh.

    Good luck! And let us know how your mom is doing. I'm glad your pregnancy is going well. How exciting.

    Take care.
    Kris

    Thank you!
    Tks to all. These recommendations will surely be taken into account from know on. My Mom is now doing better and finely not suffering this unconfortable thing since chemo was 12 days ago things get a little better. Liz
  • paula2
    paula2 Member Posts: 162
    #10
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    lizper said:

    Thank you!
    Tks to all. These recommendations will surely be taken into account from know on. My Mom is now doing better and finely not suffering this unconfortable thing since chemo was 12 days ago things get a little better. Liz

    narcotic induced constipation
    My daughter in law's obgyn found a new drug that's just been released this summer, Relistor, an injection given every other day. I have had relief now, for almost 2 weeks, and I was up to 5 days with all the over the counter laxatives and hints mentioned above. My body just didn't want to go any more. I swear, this stuff will help to prolong my life. I was toxic. My Doc got immediate approval, bless him!
    Good Luck. I will also put this in a separate post to pass it on quickly.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #12
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    laxatives???????
    I used to take laxatives or colon cleansers occasionally (natural types) even before I had cancer and especially during chemo. But 7 months after finishing chemo treatments I got a bowell obstruction (nearly as painful as childbirth--you don't want to find out) and had to be hospitalized for several days. Nothing was found on the CT scan or x-ray. My CA-125 was fine. So all I can say about laxatives is that I have never, never taken them again since Dec. 2007, that very, very painful night of throwing up constantly and enduring endless agonizing waves of pain in my stomach. I don't trust them. Only natural cereals, apples, fruits, nuts and vegetables, popcorn to give me the fiber needed. I don't want my bowells to twist or whatever happened to them.
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #13
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    added comment about the bowell obstruction
    By the way, this happened on Christmas evening after a nice dinner with my 3 kids.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #14
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    Dreamdove said:

    laxatives???????
    I used to take laxatives or colon cleansers occasionally (natural types) even before I had cancer and especially during chemo. But 7 months after finishing chemo treatments I got a bowell obstruction (nearly as painful as childbirth--you don't want to find out) and had to be hospitalized for several days. Nothing was found on the CT scan or x-ray. My CA-125 was fine. So all I can say about laxatives is that I have never, never taken them again since Dec. 2007, that very, very painful night of throwing up constantly and enduring endless agonizing waves of pain in my stomach. I don't trust them. Only natural cereals, apples, fruits, nuts and vegetables, popcorn to give me the fiber needed. I don't want my bowells to twist or whatever happened to them.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • karlln46
    karlln46 Member Posts: 4
    #15
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    severe constipation
    Miralax is very good it doesn't cause cramping and you can mix it in your favorite beverage. It is tasteless and works well for my mother. She had a bowel blockage last Christmas and we are very careful about her bowel movement frequency. Mirilax is over the counter now. It used to be prescription only.
  • karlln46
    karlln46 Member Posts: 4
    #16
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    Dreamdove said:

    added comment about the bowell obstruction
    By the way, this happened on Christmas evening after a nice dinner with my 3 kids.

    bowel obstruction
    My mother had her bowel obstruction on Christmas day also. She was in the hospital for 17 horrible days! The staff there was less than adequate, especially for an oncology floor. My mommy's obstruction was caused by a tumor mass in and around her illius. She had exploratory surgery and nothing could be done. Now she is on pain management and looses 2-3 lbs. per week. I am sorry you and your children are going through this! I am having a hard time with it and I am 45 and my mommy is 66. I will say prayers for you and your children. How old are they?
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #17
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    karlln46 said:

    bowel obstruction
    My mother had her bowel obstruction on Christmas day also. She was in the hospital for 17 horrible days! The staff there was less than adequate, especially for an oncology floor. My mommy's obstruction was caused by a tumor mass in and around her illius. She had exploratory surgery and nothing could be done. Now she is on pain management and looses 2-3 lbs. per week. I am sorry you and your children are going through this! I am having a hard time with it and I am 45 and my mommy is 66. I will say prayers for you and your children. How old are they?

    about bowell obstruction
    I was lucky it cleared up and nothing has shown up yet since last Christmas. Cancer hasn't returned that I know of. Just had another checkup. I think it was just one of those freak things. I was afraid the cancer had spread to my bowells.
  • lizper
    lizper Member Posts: 199
    #18
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    karlln46 said:

    bowel obstruction
    My mother had her bowel obstruction on Christmas day also. She was in the hospital for 17 horrible days! The staff there was less than adequate, especially for an oncology floor. My mommy's obstruction was caused by a tumor mass in and around her illius. She had exploratory surgery and nothing could be done. Now she is on pain management and looses 2-3 lbs. per week. I am sorry you and your children are going through this! I am having a hard time with it and I am 45 and my mommy is 66. I will say prayers for you and your children. How old are they?

    Tks 4 your support
    unfortunately I´m only 32 my Mommy is 77 and a have 1 and half boy and am due in a month expecting my baby girl.

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