Scared

[Newby234]

Hi all my husband of 46 years just had first round of chemo all ok apart from constipation can anyone tell me if this is normal if so what to do taken 2 senna yesterday now movical x 2 sachets today still nothing moving. Any advise please .Thankyou

[Hidden]

Hi, sorry to hear this. My husband had a similar problem and it led to a nasty water infection and a couple of nights in hospital. I recommend getting to your GP and getting suppositories. Don't let it linger, it can be very nasty.

Good luck with everything. Kate xxx

[Inula]

When my husband was having chemo we were told under no circumstances were we to allow him to get constipated. Its considered a very serious matter. He tried senna and movicol and laxido. Im sure his GP or specialist nurse will advise and tweak his meds. Also try to make sure he is drinking LOTS as this will help. (Not easy when he's feeling dreadful during treatment )

I should add that the meds for constipation became just part of his daily meds routine. We used them to get him moving in the first instance then continued to use them to make sure he kept moving.

I hope his chemo isn't too traimatic and gives you both incredible gains

Netty

[tilstongal]

During treatment in 2014 I became terribly constipated and now, back in treatment, I am determined not to let that happen. I take 2 x Dulcolax every day and every day I use a glycerin suppository (available from chemist) held as long as possible. It works.

Best of luck.

[Newby234 in reply to tilstongal]

Hi tilstongal a quick thankyou went to fetch glycerin suppository after reading your reply and its seems to be working.As ever thing is new and very frightening to us at the moment its nice to speak to people in same boat.Hope you get a good result from your treatment.

[Hidden]

Hi liase with your lung care nurse ,during my own chemo days sometimes I took up to six sachets a day until constipation cleared I also used my diet to improve things grapes prune large oranges what ever worked .Constipation to diarrhoea are sort of side effects of chemo.Get him to drink lots of water or whatever he can get down that also helps .Sometimes even water tastes slimy, everything you normally like tastes different .I pulled a chicken out of the oven for the family and wanted to eat it all to myself .I think my red blood count must have been low .Tell him to keep going it is worth it in the end .Wishing him well Diane.

[Newby234]

Thankyou aĺl for your replies. He sticking with the movical another 2 today he now got so he don't fancy anything to eat but making him drink plenty.Will get in touch with nurses if things do not improve today thankyou once again.

[frank7286]

keep going movical was what i used 2 sachets morning ,noon and night plus coloxalx3 at night and it takes 2 to 3 days for the really blocked up rear to give , drink and drink more and that is hard to do but do it or you will end up like me in hospital dehidrated and a pulse of 163 just under heart attact level in intensive care,not fun and very scarey,so drink if he doesn;t get him into hospital and on the drip,mostly caused by all the pain killer and the other pills we take for cancer and pain.

im 59 years old male and as my good lady wife says stubborn as a rock,so don;t nagg him just say do it or its hospital for you ,(any fluid counts )2ltrs a day and good luck .

live long and enjoy.

frank

[Newby234 in reply to frank7286]

Thankyou so much for your reply my husband is 67 years old and diagnosed with non small cell cancer of the lung unfortunately also in lymph node in neck we are hoping the chemo with shrink or stop the cancer growing and give us a bit more time together as we have been told they cannot operate.

We were given this news christmas week and we still in shock which i am sure most people on here can relate too. I will try not to nagg him but dont promise. Thankyou again good luck to you also

[hilde]

Hi Newby

I had right lobectomy 13months ago followed by chemo. Constipation is one of the awful side effects, I used to take 2senocot plus 3sacherts of Movicon daily, also as someone else advised, glycerine suppository. Since my chemo I always make sure I have these things at hand because sometimes I still suffer from constipation. Is your husband managing to eat whilst on the chemo? I lost my appetite but doctor prescribed Ensure drinks which I made myself drink at least one a day. Good luck, things will improve.

Hilde72

[Newby234 in reply to hilde]

Hi thankyou for your reply the constipation is now a little better after movicol and glycerin suppository but in for top up chemo tomorrow so will carry on useing movicol for a few more days.He did go off eating food for a couple of days but now back eating a bit. After reading these replies begin to realise we not the only people affected by this horrible desease. Thankyou again for taking the time to answer my question.Wishing you all the best