Has anyone else had this problem? I have been on Prednisolone for 18 months for PMR. Have reduced from 30mg slowly and now on 5mg. I have become increasingly constipated and feel as if the nerves in my bowel have ceased working. My abdomen is becoming more and more bloated and I have what looks like a beer belly! This is in spite of the fact I take one Laxido a day. I eat a healthy diet, count my calories and exercise daily.
This is beginning to depress me as I try so hard to keep my weight down. but it has now gone up by 3lbs in one month and I can not seem to shift it.
Any advice someone can give be would be much appreciated.
Look forward to hearing from anyone else out there.
Thanks
Organ Lover.
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organlover
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If it were the pred - surely it would have been worse at higher doses? And they aren't symptoms usually associated with adrenal insufficiency either.
However, have you spoken to your GP? ANY change in bowel habit should be checked out thoroughly as it is a primary symptom of potential nasties in the lower gut.
You have absolutely no info on your profile page so I don;t even know if you are male or female so can't really go into specifics of other forms of cancer that cause bloating and sometimes weight gain. So please, do make it a priority to speak to your GP immediately.
I agree with PMRpro - best to get checked out. Also I find Laxido easy to become dependent on. The GP prescribed it after surgery to help with the after effects of painkillers and hospital stay. Within a month I found I needed it, otherwise no movement. I had been on it before and it had taken an age to get off it. I am trying again now and have incorported slippery elm to help plus vitamin C.
First, see your doctor to check what is going on, though.
Hello, Pred tends to make people put in weight if they don’t cut down carbohydrates severely. A normal healthy diet doesn’t help particularly because of the way Pred affects your metabolism. This effect is greatest at higher doses. Your rapid weight gain over the last 3 months, chronic constipation with abdominal distension whilst on only 5mg of Pred is not a normal occurrence that we see at this stage in the process. You need a proper medical examination as others have said. Sorry, it’s not the easy answer you were hoping for. Let us know how you get on.
I would echo previous advice, it is always best to get any change in bowel habit checked out. But just wanted to add, I assume that you drink enough fluids? Most common cause of constipation, especially if you have increased the amount of fibre in your diet in an attempt to control your weight.
Laxido is not suitable for long-term (chronic) use (see link below): "If you take more Laxido Orange than you should you may experience severe pains and swelling in your abdomen".
"Polyethylene glycol [is] commonly known as Movicol or Laxido. Whether taken orally or rectally this draws fluid into the bowel by osmosis and so make stools easier to pass. They should always be given with plenty of water (each sachet should be dissolved in 125mls water), and are not recommended for chronic use."
"If you take more Laxido Orange than you should you may experience severe pains and swelling in your abdomen"."
That statement relates to taking more than the recommended dose at one time, not long term use which can result in long term diarrhoea and electrolyte imbalance.
Indeed, but that's assuming the product has not been mis-used over long periods, and that the patient does not have other gastrointestinal complications. As the link below says:
"PEG is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected bowel obstruction, appendicitis, inflamed bowel disease, perforated bowel, and hypersensitivity to polyethylene glycol, any component of the formulation."
We know virtually nothing about Organlover's medical history. The potential hazard is clear: under certain circumstances, including dehydration, Laxido can form an obstruction with precisely the symptoms Organlover has described. You and DL were right to suggest Organlover should consult their doctor asap.
Constipation is simply part of who I am, and has been since age 4, 80 years ago.
I take two capsules of fiber every day and this recommendation came from a gastroenterologist, who looks about12 years old, but a good man. I've had a few serious issues over the years, but for the last 6months or so this has worked for me. I do eat one salad a day. In the past, when bound up, I would take Swiss Kriss, 100% natural product, two green tablets before bed. They smell like grass landscaping. I'm in the states and an English lady told me that was what her paraplegic son used. She said, paralyzed outside and inside...they work gently too.
I'm hoping you follow up with the good advice you have received and get checked out.💞
Grammy, you and I have things in common. I have had problems all my lifesince the age of three, due to psychological issues around bowel activity courtesy of my upbringing 😢I use Movicol successfully, half a sachet a day.
To be fair - the article doesn't really say that, if your potassium level is that low, you are likely to have other symptoms as well and it should be discovered in regular monitoring.
"There’s not a lot of evidence that steroids affect bowel movements or cause constipation.
But there’s a possible connection between one side effect of the corticosteroid medication prednisone — lowered blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) — and constipation."
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