Bowel movement?

[CallmeMum]

Hi lovelies,

Question from my special person....

She’s taken 30 laxatives in 24 hours and still no movement has anyone got any suggestions? I’ve suggested she call her Macmillan nurse.... xxx

[Maus123]

30..30?? Guessing 30 drops of a laxative? Sorry.. it's a worrying topic but I now have this picture in my head of your special person sitting amids a whole heap of different medicines...

I can only think of trying to help the usually delayed response along by eating, drinking and walking/moving, and gradually adjusting the dosage of thd laxatives or stool softeners where suitable. Plus eating half a bag of prunes.

Definitely a good idea to contact her nurse. Also.. if memory serves, she's had bowel trouble before, right?

So maybe it's better to not wait to long before seeking out help in a hospital...

Hope the constipation subsides soon, ideally without things heading the other way.

Xx. Maus

[BeeWild]

I agree with the advise from Maus and definitely call your Macmillan or CNS and get advice

Wow 30 laxatives!!! That’s an awful lot and may cause her problems in themselves!

I hope something starts moving soon it’s so uncomfortable being constipated x

I find fresh orange with bits and liquorice always help me to get things moving x

Good luck with getting sorted xx

Bev

[Sgtseanw in reply to BeeWild]

My doc prescribed colace

I take two a day

[lorraine71-Australia]

Hi Love, As the other ladies have said she needs to see her Macmillc nurse or her GP as I'm sure your aware that is a lot laxatives not only being constipated is not good this can course a blockage., I have trouble all the time so if I have not gone in two days I take first thing in the morning 3 Coloxyl with softener and a big glass of prune juice by lunch time I've gone, a couple of times I had to take a serpositree.

As with chemo we all react to constipation treatment differently, we had a lot of discussions on this look up previous post it may give you some more advice.

Take care of yourself and my lovely friend..Lorraine xx

[airfemale]

Call the the doctor or nurse straight away. If there is a blockage you could be in real trouble. Don’t waste time asking us. Sharon

[Eriksendi]

I’d go to a and e. That’s a lot of laxatives and still no movement. My bowel perforated and I didn’t go and was in real trouble. I’m sure it won’t be anything like that but better to be safe than sorry.

[27-359]

Does she feel nauseous? Has she passed wind? When I couldn't pass a motion, and felt blown up with wind, I had a blocked bowel and needed an emergency op. I would seek advice as the other ladies have recommended.

Jenny

[Janet235]

What laxatives specifically? Hope not all the same type .... hopefully a mix of stool softners and movicol and plenty of water and gentle fibre. Also how many days not passing a motion?

On my last chemo I had a week of not passing anything. I gradually built up taking a combo of the above each day but had many a torrid session on the loo as I got the urge to go but couldn't! Or only passed a small amount, painfully.

In the end I had an X-ray which showed the fecal matter had liquified in the upper colon but still a blockage in the lower bowel...

Eventually it did break up and then I had two days of uncontrollable diarrhoea equally horrible...

I think this is the worst part of chemo and disease as you never know how bad you are going to be. Any sign of a temperature though and extreme pain could mean a bowel blockage, so get onto the case of asking for advice ASAP.

Hope it resolves soon on its own...

Janet 🌈😬🌈🤞🏻

[CallmeMum]

It’s been a mix of different laxatives the strongest you can have. She was in hospital recently because she had a blocked colon but her bowel wasn’t blocked. I’ll tell her what everyone has said thanks ladies xxx

[ZenaJ]

Water is supposed to be good. Does she feel like she needs to go? If not, there could be a blockage. If there is, nothing comes out and you have to starve yourself for a few days to see if it unblocks itself. x

[ellseybellsey]

I would get her to phone her Macmillan nurse and get it checked out, I have very slow bowel movement, but have gone the opposite way since Saturday. I have Macmillan nurse tomorrow and will discuss it with her.

Ellsey xx

[Eriksendi]

Get her to keep a watch on her temperature and seek immediate help if it rises.

[CallmeMum]

She’s spoken to her doctor and has said if no movement by 6pm then she’s in hospital xxx

[Yoshbosh]

I feel like we’re on bowel watch - how is she? Has she been? Is she in hospital? Hoping for positive motions 🤞 Vicki x

[Nicky100]

Loads of advice above and I hope they get her sorted out and comfortable again. It’s one of the hardest ( pardon the pun) side effects, and painful. It sounds like she needs the hospital on the case. Good luck, and keep us posted? Nicky x

[Mptelesca]

Hi, my friend across the pond!

Well, I have been "overdosing" on colace, cascara sagrada and miralax. It's a waiting game. Nothing happened until I moved around a bit and drank water until I couldn't stand it any more.

It worked out. You think you will have some horrible explosion but all those overdoses just brought it down to a typical, normal level. Geez. The only mistake I made was not to buy stocks in Colace and miralax. There are some pretty happy Executives lighting their cigars with hundred dollar bills right now. lol.

Best to you and your special lady.

Marisa