Constipated from chemo
I’m constipated from the chemo. I’ve tried myra... - My Ovacome
I’m constipated from the chemo. I’ve tried myralax and a laxative ex-lax and coffee. Still constipated. Any ideas.
Written by
IrishEntertainer
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
40 Replies
•
Prunes..... I ate tinned prunes....... not the tastiest thing but they worked x
My personal pet subject! 🙄😀 I've been struggling for a while with this and now manage it how it works for me. I know how you're feeling.
I take 2 sodium ducosate at night as I feel they can make me uncomfortable during the day. A sachet of CosmoCol after lunch and that seems to do the trick at the moment. When things get a little more difficult I up it to another sachet. I tried Senna but found it too harsh.
Movement still slows up from time to time but know I can take more sachets.
I'm sure other ladies will have some good suggestions on this common but uncomfortable problem. I'm always on the look out for new tips.
Hope this helps. J X
What is sodium ducosate and cosmocol saschets?
Hi. Ive had IBS C. Severe constipation for 20 years and now taking PARP after chemo its terrible. I take colace stool softener , Dulcolax and 8 pieces of chocolate Ex lax. Sigh. Please tell me what Cosmo Col is. I never heard of it. Thank you!
I've just screen grabbed this info on Cosmocol and think it may also be called Macrogel.
CosmoCol Orange is a laxative used for the treatment of long term (chronic) constipation and faecal impaction (persistent constipation, where a large volume of stools cause a blockage of the rectum and / or colon). It is not recommended for children below 12 years of age. Macrogol 3350 makes your faeces softer and easier to pass, giving you relief from constipation.
It's been working for me quite well, she says whilst attached to the loo! J x
I have had good results with fleet mini enema's - it is also helpful to follow a strict low fibre diet until your feeling better, you then introduce tiny amounts of fibre slowly until you are up to your 30g a day. The NHS have many plans available online. Also drink plenty of water at least 2 litres a day. I was told not to use ex-lax as it interferes with your natural rhythm, but to use Laxido instead, I also use a stool softener when required, dulcoease works great for me. Good Luck x
Sodium ducosate worked for me and lactose.
Thanks
Good old old fashioned syrup of figs is great and natural. Hard to find nowadays in chemists so I buy it online 😊X
I have 3 to 4 senna at night and 1 docusate sodium in the morning. I drink plenty and eat lots of fruit and vegetables. This seems to work for me and was recommended by the palliative care consultant after she saw a build up of faeces on my scan. Good luck 😃
Thanks
Movicol 
. Hope the bowels start behaving again soon.
Try to keep away from laxatives as the body can get lazy. Palliative practitioners use stool softeners like Movicol that you can take everyday if necessary. The other non medical but worthwhile treatments like fresh vegetables, plenty of fluids, prunes, syrup of figs etc are certainly worth a try and probably good for your health all the same. I found avocados were a great. Good luck but run what you are doing past your Oncologist.
I was given Co-danthramer from the hospital. It is a yellow suspension and works very well for me.
Hi. What exactly is that? Ive never heard if it.
Co-danthramer capsules and suspension contain two active ingredients, dantron and poloxamer 188. These are both medicines called laxatives. The combination is known as co-danthramer.
Dantron is a type of laxative called a stimulant laxative. It works by stimulating the nerve endings in the walls of the intestines. This causes the muscles in the intestinal wall to contract more often and with increased force. When these muscles contract they move the contents of the gut along the intestines, thereby relieving constipation.
Please see message below.
Depending on how bad it is I use Senna when it is bad and lactulose for maintenance. Good luck Sue xx
Good to read all the tips. I overdid the movicol and ended up with opposite problem. Used prunes first time round can barely look at them now. Take lactulose just one dose a day when things are going more or less ok. Going to take movicol but not three sachets maybe two when chemo kicks in see if this works. Had to have enemas when i had my first chemo many years ago. District nurse would come to house but thats not going to happen with the virus. Am going to send for the California syrup of figs as another member suggested. Good luck to us all.
None of the drugs/laxatives recommended by the doctors and oncology dept worked for me, but this definitely does: Ortisan Fruits & Fibre cubes. Recommended by an immunotherapist friend who also uses them for her brother, who's on a load of medication. Two of these on the day of carboplatin treatment have made the world of difference for me, then one or two a day as needed until the drug leaves the system. Available on Amazon, and they're mainly tamarind, rhubarb and figs.
Oh! Ortisan sounds good and natural. My difficulties really started whilst on Carbo but that's a while ago now. Thanks for the tip. x
Hope it helps! As I say, it certainly works for me, but we're all different. I also eat a lot of berries at the minute (strawberries, blueberries as well as cherries) and have become a fan of organic prunes, so it's probably a combination effect, but it works - nothing was more shocking (and uncomfortable) than how the carbo hit my system on that front. Thankfully the paclitaxol doesn't bother me, but the Avastin did - it also hit me like a ton of bricks with a load of side effects last session - just the second time I've had it - so my onco. has agreed to set it aside for now. I felt dreadful on it, which is, apparently 'unusual'. Just shows we're all different in terms of body chemistry, eh? But I really do hope the Ortisan helps you - key is to drink a good amount of water when / after you take them, btw.
Laxido has worked for me
I don't have constipation that often but, I know this sounds weird, but hard pears work for me. When I first got this advice (just in case you look it up) I was told to eat the whole pear including the pips. DON'T. The pear flesh and skin is fine but the pips are toxic; they contain a cyanide compound which causes diarrhoea among other nasty things and is potentially lethal. I didn't want to eat the pips anyway and the pear and skin worked just fine. I always research any homely remedies very carefully now. Hope you find something soon that suits you. Jackie
Can l just add that for some reason prunes warmed in the microwave work best for me.
Lactose-bisacodyl-prune juice. These always work for me.
I hope something works very soon.
Constipation is dreadful. I take Docusate twice a day but that doesn’t always work.
Love from Angela xx
All good advice from everyone but as AlaNtO said, best to run it by a professional just in case it interferes with any ongoing medication.
Hi. Judging by your use of Miralax I think you’re in the US and many of the recommended products are British. In another post someone broke down the different products and translated them. I think when people refer to “sachets” the product is similar to Miralax. The senna and sodium Docusate are readily available in the US. I think you should ask your oncologist’s office because if Miralax and Ex-lax together don’t work you could really get impacted. I hate dealing with constipation but it’s such a fact of life with this disease!
Thanks
Whatever you use you have to keep taking it over a number of days... I always used to give up too soon!
I had the same issue and tried stomach massage. You can Google it for instruction. It relaxes your stomach muscles and helps with the movement in addition to anything else you're doing. I found it helpful. Good luck!
It’s really horrible to be suffering through that. I used a combination of Sennokot and Movicol. I’m sure you’re drinking loads of fluids. Duphalac was recommended to me before but I haven’t tried it.
Anne
Liquorice works a treat
CVS brand Bisacodyl USP 10 mg SUPPOSITORIES Fast gentle result! 15m-1hour!
Going to sound crazy but it helped me out a little.i learned it from dr.oz....sit up straight on the toilet and raise your feet up about 9 to 10 inches.i had a block of wood my boyfriend mad me lol i told you it sounded crazy
Lemon and ginger in the morning helps me.
Slice a thumb size piece of ginger in a cup and crush with the juice of 1/2 lemon.
Use cooled for 10 mins boiled water so that the goodness from the lemon juice isn’t destroyed.
More ginger/lemon juice can be used if you want but I do the above as a minimum.
You could sweeten a little with honey if you find it unpalatable.
I find it’s a great cleanser and have it every morning x
Enemas and suppositories! But only occasionally or body becomes dependent. Also, small glass of prune juice in the morning on a very empty stomach and don't eat until you have a BM after the prune juice. Lots of sugar, but it's worth it.
Yes! My gastroenterologist put me on a prescription called " Trulance 3mgs;. Just started it so Im still taking chocolate ex lax. Hope it works out for you. Feel better. 💐🌹🌷🌸
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Constipation from Chemo
recently had her first round of chemo and is experiencing constipation as a side effect of this....
Constipation after anti-sickness drug from chemo yesterday
have had no bowel movement at all since before the chemo. Any advice anyone? How many days do I...
