Constipation

I was prescribed Movicol initially but a friend of mine who is an oncology nurse advised that this can sometimes be too brutal on your body as you need to drink an awful lot of water to get things moving - considerably more than what is recommended for a healthy diet.

I sprinkle bran on my cereal each morning and a handful of almonds for morning tea (as per @Afraser suggestions),
  
For really stubborn constipation, she recommended Dulcolax drops at night in a glass of water and found that managed to shift things just as @Anniepan suggested.

As a daily ritual I had a full glass of water every day with a teaspoon of "Benefiber". See these links -

https://www.benefiber.com/ & http://www.dulcolax.com.au/products/drops.

Hope this helps as it can be so painful (in addition to everything else going on in your body).
 

I use normocol plus - no gripe pains, 1 teaspoon and I normally allow a 12 hour time frame for it to work. I take the teaspoon with a mouthful of water as it is granular form. All the best. Xx

Hi wendy
Sounds like movicol is the remedy But water is the key always keep hydrated  good luck 

All the best Wendy h, have a blast!

Thank you girls for all your advice. I remember being on movicol 5 years ago when on I.V. chemo. Must get some more. I just want to get this sorted as it looks like I'll be on chemo for a while. Can probably cope with the chemo but the constipation is another story.  At least I'm feeling comfortable at present and don't have chemo again until Valentines day. I intend to live it up this coming week.

One time not even movicol multiple doses would work so I had a few grains of epsoms salts in water. That shifted it quick but not for the faint hearted.

A dessert spoon of high quality liquid coconut oil a day. My special blend has a herbal infusion, which I probably shouldn't talk about. Anyway, the oil in combination with fruit fibre. I have had no problems with mouth ulcers or oral thrush since I've been doing this, previously both were a problem. It's also a good thing from a dietary perspective when you are not eating as well as usual.and will do you no harm.

A nurse on Monday actually told me Pear Juice!! now that was something new as Ive always used Coloxyl tablets especially post surgery. Hugs Melinda. xo

I also found Movicol to be effective. The very first time I had chemo, I ended up with what the doctor called a 'plug' (in my bootom). I was truly in agony because I could feel it there but couldn't move it. Someone brought me an enema which didn't work at all and in the end I saw the GP. I don't know which was worse - the pain of the constipation or the doctor inspecting my bottom! Anyway, she said to go home and take two Movicol satchels immediately. If nothing happened then take another two about five hours later. Well, about two hours later I thought I might be able to go and boy, did I go!  The whole lot came out with no pain or trouble. I've been a Movicol fan ever since. It's a softener and doesn't irritate the bowel and give you that feeling that some laxatives can. I think the key is prevention-start taking the Movicol the day of treatment (or even the day before) and don't wait until you are actually constipated. Good luck!