Constipation

Poor you

CatSW9 said:

Warning,  the following is disgusting so don't read on if you're squeamish, but it may be helpful...

For us ladies there is a less traumatic way. Google splinting. 

Give him Ducolax. That stuff is potent. Make sure he doesn’t leave home. At times this was the only thing that worked for me 

yep, that'll definitely get things moving.. 

Hello,I also had bad constipation. What I had to do well wasn’t really pleasant either but this seems to be a real issue with a lot of us.Hot bath might help, one of my boys use to poop in the bath a lot when he was little in fact one time we had to pull the poop right out of his butt.The first time I had a problem pooping I could literally feel it right at the rectal opening and tried to stretch the opening to get it to push out and pull it out.I also used my shower wand and sprayed warm to hot water(not burning hot water) on and around my rectum to relax the muscles so that the poop would come out,It didn’t just fall out it still took alot of pushing and some pulling out but it came out.Saying all this I didn’t have any type of feeding tube so I do not know if that effects your push.I hope this will help.

My husband Paul suffered really badly with constipation and still can if he's not careful 

He started on laxido, even ended up taking up to 8 sachets a day (on their advice) it didn't do a thing - he ended up (like Peter) having to have an enema as he was at home after he had finished his treatment etc given by the District Nurse - he now has a mixture of laxido - senacot - lactulose - dulcalax etc and has to mix and match them all because he gets bunged up so easily - doesn't matter what he puts in or doesn't etc he has to stop taking the slow release morphine tablets twice a day as it did serious problems to his bowels witch impaction

All the abo e can be got from the team at the hospital so make sure you ask as they often won't suggest themselves  

Hi Sue,

I’m glad to hear that he now has something prescribed. I’ve recently finished 6 weeks radiotherapy and have had crippling constipation. I’m now on 3 Docusate a day plus a sachet of Laxido, but still struggling. Can’t wait to get off the opiates! I do hope that the laxatives help your husband - this constipation is really awful. Good luck

Bridget

Hi Sue,

I hope your husbands constipation has now eased and is more manageable. 

I recently had 4.5 months of chemotherapy and the anti-sickness meds (Ondansetron mainly) absolutely ruined my digestive system. 

Now, this goes for anyone affected by constipation but the mistake I made was, on the morning of chemo, I would go to the loo, take my aprepitant med and then have to take more ondansetron at the hospital prior to chemo. Immediately this would affect my bowels. 

Over the next few days, while loading with senna, bran flakes etc, I still couldn't go. I worked out that I was trying to relieve things from the wrong end. 

I then rationalised that after emptying my bowels pre-chemo, the anti sickness meds simply blocked me immediately. I was just loading fibre, senna on top of the issue. 

What I finally worked out was 'Suppositories' were the way ahead. They were attacking the issue from the right end. 

It's challenging enough having to go through the treatment itself and deal with the after effects, let alone deal with consti-flippin-pation. 

Mine came from desperation. I did what CatSW9 did. Then the light bulb moment 

Always handy to have a box in, just in case. Really cheap on Amazon. the gel ones. Such a life saver though. 

Best wioshes,

Ben

Submandibular gland adenocarcinoma primary

Brain & bone mets secondary

Hi all.

My.OH got lactose on prescription along with his usual meds.  I didn't even have to ask as I guess his CSN tipped off our GP.  Fantastic stuff when he got constipated shortly after his RT ended.  I got a bit concerned, 'cos I didn't want him straining!  He had a total laryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection last December and his neck got really sore from the RT.

As he can't speak, I ask (nag) him regularly if he's keeping regular!

Tomorrow he'll be two weeks post treatment and he's doing okay.  His team has been thrilled with his progress throughout and impressed that he's not on any painkillers - yet!

I'm taking some credit for all the mollycoddling though!!

That should have been Lactulose.  Spell check.  Grrrrr