Constipation formula

[Craigslife]

On a recent post, someone posted a formula they used daily to fight constipation. My husband is having a horrible time with this since he has started taking oxycodone for pain.

Please write if you have something that works for you.

Thank you.

Susan

[Craigslife]

Thank you. We will give it try.

[dlestercarlson]

Try Meralax.

[kaptank]

The best laxatives work through osmosis. They are salts or sugars that are not easily absorbed and cause the transfer of water from bloodstream back into the intestine. Most other laxatives are habit forming in the sense that progressively larger doses are required and they work by stimulating the bowel, sometimes uncomfortably.

The best known osmotic laxative is Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) which can be bought at the supermarket. You need to take care to find the right dose. Too much can give a quick case of the runs. I find a teaspoon full dissolved in water about right. Start low and build up. Don't overdo it. The other common osmotic laxative, less severe, is found in many pharmacy laxatives such as Movicol. The compound to look for is macrogol 3350.

At the other end of the spectrum, diarrhoea, the simple and safe remedy is the compound Loperamide, often in the form of the hydrochloride. The pharmacy medicine Imodium is an example. All of these are useful and safe materials to manage bowel issues.

[Lombardi24 in reply to kaptank]

How about Senna?

[kaptank in reply to Lombardi24]

Senna and most "natural" laxatives work by irritating the bowel and are habit forming long term.

[Lombardi24 in reply to kaptank]

So are prunes the best way to go? What about prune juice? How does colace work?

[kaptank in reply to Lombardi24]

Prunes and other "natural" laxatives are OK for minor temporary constipation. But if its chronic (eg as a result of continued use of opiod painkillers) then go for ones that work by osmosis. They are stool softeners rather than the laxatives that stimulate the gut, often with cramping. The problem with those others is that they become less effective over time, require larger and larger doses, tend to be habit forming long term and cause cramping. I do not know much about colace except I note that long term use causes bowel irritation and it appears to work partly by osmosis (stool softening by transfer of water to the gut) and partly by stimulation.

[Hazard]

Lentils. Find a good recipe for Dahl makhani, make a big bowl enough to get you through the weekend. PARP inhibitors were starting to bind me up but 2 days of lentils worked well. Beats taking chemical compounds.

[Hidden]

My husband had constipation for weeks . Cosmocol laxatives did not work for him . I made him smoothies with a couple of prunes , pear, apple and chia seeds , topped up with mango juice which he loved and has worked for him . Didn’t tell him about the prunes and chia seeds until he said he liked it ! I guess and fruit would work with the chia and prunes .

[Bedrich]

I also had a problem with constipation, the most when I started with chemo (docetaxel). I started using Chlorella in Bio quality, and I have no problem for half a year now.

[drsridhar53]

Thank you Nalakats. I shall try that.

[spouse21]

Cricetmad's smoothie recipe sounds like what my husband concocted for himself to empty his colon before each of his radiation sessions. He's still having smoothies every morning. Add fiber--raisin bran, beans, daily apple, daily orange--to the diet and lots and lots of water. My husband wasn't on oxycodone, though, whitch can cause a whole other level of constipation. But a high fiber diet is a good, healthy place to start along with some of the other laxatives if necessary.

[Lombardi24]

Nalakrats. Can you just eat the prunes without stewing them?

[William123Cooper123]

Might try “sugar-free mints” from Walmart, or sugar-free Ice-Breaker Mints.” Drink plenty of water with these, and generally.

[Lyubov in reply to William123Cooper123]

Walmart's "sugar-free mints" work for constipation?

[William123Cooper123 in reply to Lyubov]

Yes, on many sugar-free candies, there are actually written warnings of diarrhea issues. Candy companies/stores that sell sugar-free candies have posted warning signs: • Eat only a few at a time, and • Do not eat until you’re back home or in your hotel room.

“Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose can also cause diarrhea in some people, but sugar alcohols are more likely to induce diarrhea. When you eat foods containing sugar alcohols, be aware that you might experience sudden, explosive diarrhea if you eat too much.”

Also doses of magnesium citrate can be used to flush out problem constipation:

“Taking magnesium citrate for constipation can quickly cause significant, watery diarrhea, so it's important to start slowly and dose your way up to an effective level. ... Unlike some laxative herbs, magnesium citrate does not cause stomach cramps and is considered safe and gentle when used appropriately.”

The bottles can be purchased at any drug store, cheap, and flushes, unplugs.

—————

I generally take a stool softener with each meal, and a low dose laxative late in the afternoon or evening, then have relief in the morning.

(Had to learn the “hard way” about the opioid and constipation. Pain management. The doctor never told me, no proactive advise. Now I know that when taking opioids, I have to keep constipation an issue under control.)

Stool Softener +

Stimulant laxative

• Docusala sodium 50 mg

• Sinnosides 6.6 mg

Laxative

• Bisacodyl 5 mg

(Over the counter in drug stores. These tend to cause abdominal cramping and discomfort, but at the same time great relief.)

[larry_dammit]

My wife put me on Miralax when we started this fight 27 months ago. Not had a issue since. Just a cap ful in his morning drink ,can’t taste it , and let it go to work. Fight the good Fight

[Toad1]

Senokot-s dual action works for me.

Box says “natural vegetable laxative ingredient + stool softener.”

Given all the replies, this must be a common side effect.

[LeeLiam]

I started using Metamucil a few years ago, primarily to lower my cholesterol. But it works great to alleviate constipation. I drink a glass every night before I go to bed.

[chascri]

1 Movantek each morning with a full glass of water on rising, a fig bar with a hot cup of coffee for breakfast one hour later. 1 240mg calcium docusate tablet stool softener daily. 1 280mg simethicone tablet after each meal for bloating and gas pain.

[cfrees1]

You might try adding Magnesium Oxide to your supplements. Magnesium has the added benefit of helping with hot flashes.

[GoBucks in reply to cfrees1]

Tried magnesium-didn't help my hot flashes.

[cfrees1 in reply to GoBucks]

Mine have gotten better over time, now just a minor thing maybe once a night. But have no idea if it's the magnesium or just time that has helped.

[Hidden]

Just regular prune juice -- a few ounces at breakfast and at dinner might help. Works for me but I am not taking opioids.

[jdayoc]

Every morning: 2 tablespoons of Bran Buds(I mixed in plain organic yogurt, but what you mix it in is not important), 2-3 prunes and an over the counter stool softener. My surgeon’s nurse insisted, and it worked!

[JimVanHorn]

I use generic Bene fiber. A teaspoonful in water daily every morning works very well without causing cramps or diarrhea. Laxatives like Senna irritate the bowel and cause it to evacuate. Eventually the bowel gets used to it and you have to increase the dose. So it becomes addictive and stops normal bowel. Metamucil type of stool softeners keep getting bigger and bigger the longer they are in you and you have to pass something like a base ball. Prunes are not really reliable and are hard to dose, they often cause diarrhea which is hard on your intestines. I wish you well and just keep truckin'.

[Brook5318]

Warm prune juice and Dr. Pepper

[Beermaker]

Prunes work well, but you don't need to look for pitted prunes. I ate cooked prunes with pits for years and enjoyed the flavor and spitting out the pits.

[j-o-h-n]

Great suggestion especially the Outstanding Bowel Movements... Sounds like a Musical Composition. Well come to think of it, it just might be musical after all.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/05/2018 6:33 PM EST

[j-o-h-n]

I have the best diet for losing weight and for constipation. You can eat all you want, but don't swallow.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 12/05/2018 6:39 PM EST

[Grandude]

Steady diet of red grapes with liquid senna supplemented after 24 hours of no movenent. Then figure out what med is causing the problem and work around it. For me it's morphine so lots of grapes if I gotta jump on the morph train!

The constipation pain was much worse than any bone pain i've ever had.....

[Frank_M]

All laxatives work if you take enough.

Step 1. Try Movicol and Senna 4 a day each increaing to 16 a day.

Step2. If still bad take 4 movicol at same time.

Step3. Next try half a picolax

Step 4. Try a whole Picolax