Constipation

[Manchesterlady]

Hi . Any advise on constipation please, I am taking one movicol . And two ducolese . It doesn’t seem to be working . I’m drinking loads of water .

Thank you 😔

[TinaB1]

Hi there ..

One solution is to have a large hot drink and then another. Or you could have a very cold drink and then another. They stimulate the bowel.

Constipation is a problem and regularly comes up as a topic here.

Obviously, I can’t suggest what medicines to take. I was referred for bowel and pain management and it’s helped a lot.

I take Movicol in the morning and then senna and Bisacodyl at night. If I miss a day, I take Lactalose too. The doses are fine tuned for my particular needs.

I think that it might be worth calling your CNS to get some advice. Or you could call your GP to get a telephone appointment. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never to ignore constipation. (Which you haven’t.)

Meanwhile, I hope things will sort themselves out soon. They usually do.

Xxx

[Manchesterlady in reply to TinaB1]

Thank you for your advice xxx

[Maus123]

Hiya. You could try more Movicol. I've taken up to 3 per day myself.

That said, it would probably be best to call your CNS / med team and get advice if it doesn't get better.

Information on Movicol: medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Hope it gets better soon. Maus

[Manchesterlady in reply to Maus123]

Hi. I don’t think I’m taking enough stuff , will up the movicol to two . Thank you x

[BeeWild]

Hi I suffered a lot with constipation initially and as I had to have a stoma during my debunking surgery it frightened me when it stopped working. My stoma nurse was great and I started taking 2 movicol the day before chemo and carried on with 2 for roughly 5-7 days after chemo. This seemed to get me through and keep things moving. It’s a balancing act but it was better for me comfort wise to be a bit looser than to get the discomfort from constipation!

I hope you’re doing ok after your first chemo and if you ever want to catch up for a coffee in M&S if we are both at Christie at the same time let me know xx

I’m going to be there every Monday from this Monday

Bev x

[Manchesterlady in reply to BeeWild]

Hi Bev thanks for your advise , don’t think I’m taking enough stuff . My dates at the Christie are . Tuesday 29th at 2.15 then Thursday 31st. At 2 15 . Would love to have met up with you . It always amazes me how calm everyone seems to be . I’m the jibbering wreck . Xx

[BeeWild in reply to Manchesterlady]

I’m actually on a course at Maggies on 29th it starts at 1.30 though

Is your 2.30 appt for chemo or a drs appointment? Not sure if you’re up to getting there early and we can have a catch up? Have you been to Maggies yet? It’s a great place to go and have a chill before appointments xx

[Manchesterlady in reply to BeeWild]

Hi blood test and dr appointment. Won’t get there early , I don’t think . May be we will meet up at some point . That would be good xx

[LittleSan in reply to Manchesterlady]

I'm there on 31st at 1.20. Give me a shout if you see me Be. I'll be with my other half who looks like a grey haired teddy bear 🐻 😁. Sandra xx

[Hidden]

Reduce the anti-emetics? Exercise - a brisk walk may get you running home before you know it. Good luck x

[Flamingobeef18]

Fibrogel always works for me and I find it’s quite nice to drink (or that might just be me!)

I get it on prescription from my GP. Always have some handy.

Hope it improves soon.

Juliax

[harpist_UK]

My team always advise upping the number of Movicol - there is also a delay till it works, so be patient. Mention it to your onc, and they will probably advise that you start the Movicol on the day of your chemo. Now you know this is a side-effect, you can prepare for it in advance.

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi, this is a hot topic here as most of us are going through or have this problem .I've been battling this problem for quite a while now,as you know we are all so different when it comes to chemo and I think this is the same for fixing constipation you will find a routine that suites you.

it's good you are drinking plenty of water very impotent , try drinking a big glass of hot water with lemon first thing in the morning, plus this is good for your liver.

I also take the usual like Movicol, Senna with softener,I also drink prune juice at least every second day. the post below might help. also see if your hospital has a dietitian who can help ..take care Lorraine xx

greatist.com/eat/best-foods...

[Debonair1]

Dr at the hospice prescribed senokot ( not sir of spelling) two in the evening , and movicol if needed , seems to work for me. Xx

[Welshandproud]

Hi there I think this is quite an issue for so many of us. I take 2 docusate sodium at night and in the morning and 2 senna at night. This was recommended to me by my onc team

I'd talk to your cns as others have suggested. I'm sure they'll be able to help. Xx

[Yoshbosh]

Definitely seek medical advice, but bumping up the movicol is an option. Ask about starting the movicol a day or two before your next round of chemo to try to head off any constipation problems - I ended up doing that and it helped enormously.

Good luck. I thought the constipation would finish me off quicker than the cancer could!

Vicki x

[julia8163]

I was advised to have pear and linseed in my porridge at breakfast time and I do that every morning and it works for me. Drink plenty of water.

[Lily-Anne]

I had to be very careful with constipation because I have a stoma. I found a glass of cold water with lots of ice first thing in the morning woke up my bowels, fresh coffee works too

I had a sachet of movicol on chemo day then 2 a day as from experience I developed Pooh panic, the less sign of it the more I tried to treat it. When it actually worked out that on day 3/4 I went anyway, as the ore-chemo drugs had started to be flushed away. My over dosing trying to go too soon resulted in bad stomach cramps of making my bowel work overtime

So from my experience I would say constipation is par for the course be prepared for it with

Take movicol on chemo day

Lots of fluid especially ice cold

If you drink coffee go for freshly ground

Take movicol regularly

Eat fresh fruit and veg

Fresh milk if you have dairy

Hot water bottle

Don’t stress about Pooh it’ll make it worse

If no success by day 3/4 speak to chemo help desk and GP but generally I would say by then you’ll have success

Good luck

LA xx

[Manchesterlady in reply to Lily-Anne]

Thank you lily -Anne , starting to panic a bit now .

[Hopefulgal1]

I succeed with movicol and lots of water and put e juice and soak prunes to have in porridge in the morning! Senna pushes and movicol etc softens so it’s both that work and they said in hospital recently you can take 3 movicol a day, Also the glycerine suppositories “unplug” you which really helps! Only discovered those in my 2nd type of chemo and a nurse told me about them. That was an excellent bit of advice!!

Good luck... x

[juliamillen]

Glycerine suppositories from Boots work well. Try to cut out white rice and pasta and incorporate fibre with each meal ie sultanas with muesli, baked potato with baked beans, banana, chilii con carne + peas. Raspberries are very good too. I find Roibosch works well - let it stew and have it with milk and it is v palatable. Also place your feet on a stool when you go to the loo. This gets you in a better position! Good luck with it - it’s a pain.

[Sunfleury-UK in reply to juliamillen]

Just to add, I needed to use glycerine suppositories too and found them helpful BUT you do need to be really careful due to the fragility of tissue / risk of infection / low WBC. It may be worth checking with your nurse or GP just to be sure its ok for you.

[Manchesterlady in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Thanks , never thought of that .

[Mptelesca]

Hi, Manchesterlady! Here's my solution which has worked for me! Miralax in water, Cascara Sagrada (natural stimulant) two colace daily or whenever you think of it, which, in my case, I keep forgetting and probably take too many.....2 prunes and more water. Ah, yeah, baby....that does the trick!

Hope all is well and coming along.

Sending positive energy, love and hugs!

Marisa

[Lizchips]

I take polyethylene glycol 3350,NFpowder for oral solution. Dr prescribed. Can take daily