Constipation

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froggy1
froggy1 Member Posts: 205
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Hello Ladies,
I just got back from am 8 hour stint ar the emergency room. 'Was having violent abdominal pains. All the tests were negative(they did a CT scan among other things) ANYWAY, the verdict was pain from constipation. This wasn't really from thr ER Doc, but was from the chemo triage nurse(I'm doing maintenance chemo). I am happy that the tests showed no new cancer growth, but frustrated that there doesn't seem to be an answer,(colitis, diverticulitis,etc.) I try to do the miralax thing, bran, etc. but evidently it isn't enough. The chemo nurse was borderline nasty, kind of like I was a pain in the neck.
Can anybody relate? Froggy

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  • jane65
    jane65 Member Posts: 277
    #2
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    Froggy
    Hi Froggy,

    Darn that constipation, I take a cup of prune juice in the AM, Miralax in the afternoon, 2 Colace pills during the day, and a prune or 2, and dried apricot.

    I'm also eating the summer fruits, all this together works for me and keeps things "moving along".

    I also have increased my fiber, in cereals, whole grains and beans.

    What a life, wish they said ice cream is the cure.

    Shame that nurse was nasty to you, when we're not feeling well we really need everyone to be tolerant and understanding.

    Feel good,
    Jane
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #3
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    add some citrucel
    My mom had such unmanageable bowels during chemo that she even had a colonoscopy. Anyway, the GI doc had her start taking citrucel every day, and she says it's made a huge difference.
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #4
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    I can relate
    I have been there done that in the past 6 1/2 years. Over the years what I have done to take care of the problem has changed, but one thing hasn't. I take Miralax every morning, put it in my coffee. I use to take citricel during the day also and then right before chemo would add some senna. Now the citricel doesn't do much so I take senna every evening and then right before my chemo I start taking large doses of it to keep me moving. It helps most of the times. I do have cancer though and a pretty good size tumor on sigmoid colon and then scattered all over my intestines so lots things stopping my system from working. Pray for things to keep moving along for you and a prayer for the oncall nurse..she must be dealing with some other kind of sh#t to be mean ... as I have always found them to be more understanding. I am sorry she took her dump on you.

    Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie
  • lnyeholt
    lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
    #5
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    BonnieR said:

    I can relate
    I have been there done that in the past 6 1/2 years. Over the years what I have done to take care of the problem has changed, but one thing hasn't. I take Miralax every morning, put it in my coffee. I use to take citricel during the day also and then right before chemo would add some senna. Now the citricel doesn't do much so I take senna every evening and then right before my chemo I start taking large doses of it to keep me moving. It helps most of the times. I do have cancer though and a pretty good size tumor on sigmoid colon and then scattered all over my intestines so lots things stopping my system from working. Pray for things to keep moving along for you and a prayer for the oncall nurse..she must be dealing with some other kind of sh#t to be mean ... as I have always found them to be more understanding. I am sorry she took her dump on you.

    Hugs ♥ Prayers Bonnie

    My regime
    I ended up in Emergency after my 1st chemo with a similar problem. They gave me a molasses enema that finally cleared me out but I was in the same bound up, painful situation three days later. My oncologist told me to be VERY aggressive since I suffer from IBS and fibromyalgia, which complicated the situation.

    This is what I was advised to do:

    Miralax - in the a.m., as Bonnie suggested
    Colace - 2 pills, morning & evening (I was told an afternoon dose could be added)
    Citrucel - 2 pills, up to 6x per day
    Milk of Magnesia - maximum dose, nightly

    In the event that doesn't work within three days, my doc told me to alternate suppositories and fleet enemas until things begin to move. Eventually I was able, through experimentation, to find the combination that works best for me, but I still always have a 3 - 4 day lag that ends in pain and agony after each chemo.

    All this is, of course, in addition to a diet that includes lots of fiber, fruits, vegetables, and plenty of H2O.

    Good luck!

    Lyn
  • froggy1
    froggy1 Member Posts: 205
    #6
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    lnyeholt said:

    My regime
    I ended up in Emergency after my 1st chemo with a similar problem. They gave me a molasses enema that finally cleared me out but I was in the same bound up, painful situation three days later. My oncologist told me to be VERY aggressive since I suffer from IBS and fibromyalgia, which complicated the situation.

    This is what I was advised to do:

    Miralax - in the a.m., as Bonnie suggested
    Colace - 2 pills, morning & evening (I was told an afternoon dose could be added)
    Citrucel - 2 pills, up to 6x per day
    Milk of Magnesia - maximum dose, nightly

    In the event that doesn't work within three days, my doc told me to alternate suppositories and fleet enemas until things begin to move. Eventually I was able, through experimentation, to find the combination that works best for me, but I still always have a 3 - 4 day lag that ends in pain and agony after each chemo.

    All this is, of course, in addition to a diet that includes lots of fiber, fruits, vegetables, and plenty of H2O.

    Good luck!

    Lyn

    Update from Froggy-need help!
    Thanks you all for your suggestions. I ended up going to my PCP today, as the pain has been very bad. He thinks I have C.difficile colitis and gave me an antispasmotic and an antibiotic. He is not 100% sure, but I am happy he is at least trying something!
    I am becoming increasingly distressed with my oncologist and staff. I think they must rank people by ca-125 level! Since mine appears to be stable, they seem to just ignore me. I think I have a Dr. who is great at the inital surgery, but after that just doesn't have time to treat the whole person. Would be curious as to your experiences, I seem to hear all about these caring Doctors..... I never know if I should go to my PCP or the cancer doc!
    I also saw on my CAT scan a little sentence about a pocket of ascites 3 x 1.3 centimeters.
    Does that mean my cancer is back? I saw somewhere that colitis can cause ascites and mesenteric stranding. I am SO confused, think it's time for a little oxycodone! LOL
    You guys are the best, though sad we often have to turn to each other for lack of good medical advice! Luv, Froggy
  • maryln3
    maryln3 Member Posts: 62
    #7
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    froggy1 said:

    Update from Froggy-need help!
    Thanks you all for your suggestions. I ended up going to my PCP today, as the pain has been very bad. He thinks I have C.difficile colitis and gave me an antispasmotic and an antibiotic. He is not 100% sure, but I am happy he is at least trying something!
    I am becoming increasingly distressed with my oncologist and staff. I think they must rank people by ca-125 level! Since mine appears to be stable, they seem to just ignore me. I think I have a Dr. who is great at the inital surgery, but after that just doesn't have time to treat the whole person. Would be curious as to your experiences, I seem to hear all about these caring Doctors..... I never know if I should go to my PCP or the cancer doc!
    I also saw on my CAT scan a little sentence about a pocket of ascites 3 x 1.3 centimeters.
    Does that mean my cancer is back? I saw somewhere that colitis can cause ascites and mesenteric stranding. I am SO confused, think it's time for a little oxycodone! LOL
    You guys are the best, though sad we often have to turn to each other for lack of good medical advice! Luv, Froggy

    constipation
    i had it...

    3 weeks post surgery...wow...very painful...i took pain medicine i could not feel the constipation setting in....this am i woke up went a little and off to work...i was in a cold sweat amd had horrific gas pain....back home i came

    drank milk of magnesia and 3 hours later i was cleaned out..painful experience...i will now take 2 colace at nite drink miralex??? in morning i will veggies and fruit and drink water

    all this and i did not have chemo or radiation...just 2 surgeries 6 weeks apart...

    my doctor said there could be complication...wow he was right...

    i was prasing the lord for milk of magnesia today....
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #8
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #9
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    froggy1 said:

    Update from Froggy-need help!
    Thanks you all for your suggestions. I ended up going to my PCP today, as the pain has been very bad. He thinks I have C.difficile colitis and gave me an antispasmotic and an antibiotic. He is not 100% sure, but I am happy he is at least trying something!
    I am becoming increasingly distressed with my oncologist and staff. I think they must rank people by ca-125 level! Since mine appears to be stable, they seem to just ignore me. I think I have a Dr. who is great at the inital surgery, but after that just doesn't have time to treat the whole person. Would be curious as to your experiences, I seem to hear all about these caring Doctors..... I never know if I should go to my PCP or the cancer doc!
    I also saw on my CAT scan a little sentence about a pocket of ascites 3 x 1.3 centimeters.
    Does that mean my cancer is back? I saw somewhere that colitis can cause ascites and mesenteric stranding. I am SO confused, think it's time for a little oxycodone! LOL
    You guys are the best, though sad we often have to turn to each other for lack of good medical advice! Luv, Froggy

    ask for what you need
    Froggy,
    I hope you can get an appointment with your onc to talk, because it sounds like you're being left out in the cold. I think that happens a lot with surgeons. My mother's is whiz-bang famous, but it seems like he needs to be reminded to care. Once you get his attention he's great, but he doesn't think of these things on his own.

    There also seems to be a trend among onc's that the data is all that matters. Until there is "reason" to believe something is off (numbers), they seem to really believe everything is fine. My mother even expressed the fear that if she didn't get better, her onc would not care about her anymore. When I brought this up, he appeared shocked!

    In truth, our best friends are the two RNs at the onc's office. If you can get the ear of one staff member, maybe they will watch out for you. Good luck!
  • froggy1
    froggy1 Member Posts: 205
    #10
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    Barbara53 said:

    ask for what you need
    Froggy,
    I hope you can get an appointment with your onc to talk, because it sounds like you're being left out in the cold. I think that happens a lot with surgeons. My mother's is whiz-bang famous, but it seems like he needs to be reminded to care. Once you get his attention he's great, but he doesn't think of these things on his own.

    There also seems to be a trend among onc's that the data is all that matters. Until there is "reason" to believe something is off (numbers), they seem to really believe everything is fine. My mother even expressed the fear that if she didn't get better, her onc would not care about her anymore. When I brought this up, he appeared shocked!

    In truth, our best friends are the two RNs at the onc's office. If you can get the ear of one staff member, maybe they will watch out for you. Good luck!

    thanks for replies
    Thanks for all your great replies. I'm not sure what is going on. 'Have an appointment with my onc. tomorrow. 'Took an act of Congress to get in to see him!
    I just don't want any more tests this week, I'm tested out. I certainly don't want a colonoscopy! So far... the emergency room said all is fine, the PCP said colitis, the chemo nurse said constipation, the on-call onc.(not mine) said maybe scar tissue! I'm taking bets, the winner gets free lodging for Disneyworld(I live nearby) Luv, Froggy
  • maryln3
    maryln3 Member Posts: 62
    #11
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    hi
    did constipation come from chemo ?

    i got it from surgery..did u resolve it ..if so how long did it take

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