Constipation and how to deal with it

I had one bad time when no oils or movicol multiple drinks would shift anything. In the end I took a quarter teaspoon of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) in a big glass of water. It worked wonders.

Have not had chemo but constipation a lifelong problem as has been haemhorroids .I am forever vigilant about my problem but for me drinking lots of water and eating 2/3 dried kalamata figs daily plus trying eat salad veg / raw fruit often keeps things going - when the occasional blip occurs movicol gently resolves the problem. There is a generic version available also. I no longer dread the first motion after a bout of constipation.

I had terrible gut pains both times I've had chemo. This time--which was TC--i went herbal and had a couple of spoonfuls of pot infused coconut oil a night.

Yes, I know, not very scientific but I had no nausea and my bowels kept moving. It felt like gravel rolling down a hill but at least I shat regularly. Sometimes too regularly, but I think that's better than the alternative. I honestly think the coconut oil may have been the best element of the whole experiment and, hooch infused or not, I think it's a good addition to a chemo diet. Marg xxx

Mkitty68, the reason they don't like enemas is risk of infection.  Chemo is definitely  hard on the bowels for sure. I never had issues before chemo  but now i have fissures which are very painful. Coloxyl  every night is a must for me while on this poison. Its  finding what works for you. Good luck starting chemo, you'll be fine.

MKitty68
Probably they are worried about infection, introducing anything into the bowel, plus the skin around the anus can get very dry and can split easily.
Preparation before chemo day can help.
 Movicol the night before is gentle and fruit juice drinks (I used pear, Apple and prune juice mixture) during the days after can keep you regular, rather than waiting for the constipation to happen then trying to deal with it. I found Movicol each night in orange juice also helped. I only had to resort to Coloxyl once. 
It seemed to be the first four to five days after chemo were the problem, then things settled down a bit. 

due to start dose dense AC next week - i am so not looking forward to that side effect. I have enough problems with adhesions around my bowels as it is, let along this making it worse. I normally combat it with a clear water enema, which softens everything enough to come out okay, but they don't seem too keen on me doing that whilst on chemo for some reason. 

Apart from making sure you have enough vegetables and fibre in the diet, I find figs, dates and prunes all very helpful. A few daily for regularity, more as required!

We searched and searched to help you out but it all got too hard! 

Apples - I have found that stewed are for settling the tum and raw are good to get some movement

Take care

Dear Mrs. H- Boy are we on the same page about the bowels! After Chemo they just went to sleep for three days- l upped my bran and water and l had a coloxl at night Then the next day Hallelujah!! Not even a ph call from David Beckham would get me off the loo- bliss!! Also for nausea l found grating an apple- wait till it turns brown and eat it helps a lot.

@Unicornkisses and ladies, hmmm sounds like this might crop up, the IBS and chemo. But will wait till they have a plan in place first before panicking as I haven't had my 2 week check yet, then 3 weeks healing before whatever treatment they decide. I feel sorry for people in general who have to use Depends cost wise. Very expensive. I know the gov does a subsidy but all these high need items seem ridiculously costly. Bad enough to need them!