Forum Discussion

wendy_h67's avatar
wendy_h67
Member
9 years ago

Constipation

Has anyone got any secret formular that works for constipation. 
I am on I.V Abraxane which I was on 5 years ago. I was hoping that it would be only for 6 cycles but asking my  oncologist this week ,she couldn't give me an answer. So I take it that I'm  on it for the long haul, while its working. I guess its not too bad , knocks you around for the first couple of days but the constipation can be a real problem.  I try to eat fruit and veges but cant tolerate large meals. I have been taking coloxyl which works if I take 4 a day. Which I try to avoid and only if the constipation is getting worse.  I know it's not a very nice subject but life is a bit miserable at the moment.  On the brighter side my daughter in law came to visit yesterday and before she left she cleaned my bathroom for me and vacuumed through the house. I was very grateful. 
  • Christina_55's avatar
    Christina_55
    Member
    9 years ago

    Just went to a GP with my husband and he is constipated after hospital.   We got told to try in this order.

    1.  Fibre - take Metamucil - daily.   If that not working.  2. Coloxyl - 2 tabs twice a day

    3. Lactulose - 20mls twice a day   then 4. Movicol satchet - twice a day.

    When I was in hospital, I had an 80 yo woman in the next bed who hadn't been to the toilet for 8 days and her doctor told her to have chewing gum.  (its suppose to have laxative effect).


  • wendy_h67's avatar
    wendy_h67
    Member
    9 years ago
    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.
  • brightspace's avatar
    brightspace
    Member
    9 years ago
    Hi wendy
    Sounds like movicol is the remedy But water is the key always keep hydrated  good luck 
  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    9 years ago
    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
  • Share's avatar
    Share
    Member
    9 years ago
    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).