sorry people not the nice of subjects. for the past few weeks had terrible constipation, something i have never had before. i think its the pain killers causing it. i think i have been through the chemist shop and doctors surgery for a cure or at least short term to no avail. please please can anyone help on what to take it is making me feel so low and down and iam getting to the end of my tether. i will try anything. thanks babs.
FormerMember
I think I've read on here sthg about prune juice...but since I'm nowhere near an expert on that, two things I do know that help are moving around (such as two little walks a day if you can) and drinking plenty - water, tea, coffee, juice, anything you fancy. Also perhaps ring the nurses available on here too as they will be much more expert. But the moving and drinking definitely help too.
Carol gets this after chemo and also from painkillers. On the day she takes them she starts to take Sennakot. Theres a new extra strength one out now. Also eats liquorice, and I mke her fruit smoothies with some oats mixed in. You need what roughage you can to assist. Fruit, oats, bran. Good Luck. David
If you are at home, consider cutting down on them. Not suggesting that you suffere any pain, but I found I didn't need as many as I was prescribed. That ought to help.
I have always found that a high fibre diet, lots of fluids and some gentle exercise helps before you ever start taking anything. There is the dreaded prune juice which should work, Lactulose softens what you've got. It worked for me, and one double dose to start things off then single ones until you have established the rhythm. Senokot, or other proprietory brands like Dulcolax.
Get plenty of rest, and a useful suggestion is that if you lie on your left side, it helps your digestion. If you lie on your right side, it helps your breathinng. If you have indigestion and a cough, sort out the digestion first, then turn to your right.
Some of those yogurt drinks may be useful to reinhabit your gut with friendly bacteria, then maybe more of your favourites for a bit.
I have never had a good bowel and have had to use sennakot quite regularaly but since i had septocemia, excuse the spelling, just after my radical hystorectomy the Doctor put me onto Movicol and it is alot gentler. I don't get the awful tummy cramps that i got from the sennakot . Worked wonders for me.... good luck xxxx
Hate to say it, but at this point you'll probably find the only really effective remedy is a suppository. My one and only experience of chronic constipation converted me. I was in more pain than any of the surgery had caused, and it was also down to the painkillers- Oramorph in particular.
