How can I fix constipation after 1st chemo?

I also have no bowel movements for 4-5 days after a cycle of carboplatin/paclitaxel, but do not have vomiting or significant pain/cramping. Just some acid reflux, which I control with Pepcid. During my first 6 cycles, I took Miralax, which didn't really help, but caused something of the opposite effect when things did finally start moving. I was not eating a particularly high fiber diet, and for days 3-4 after the infusion could barely force myself to eat at all. I do eat oatmeal.

I recently had a recurrence followed by 8 more cycles of carbo/taxol. This time I ignored the constipation, knowing it would resolve eventually, and just took Pepcid as needed.

I don't know whether it's possible for you to ignore the constipation and just try to suppress the other symptoms. Did you try taking Zofran and/or Compazine for the nausea/vomiting?

Oh, so sorry for anyone struggling with this! I went through it with my chemo! In my opinion, one of the worst side effects! I cut out dairy and went to oat milk and creamers (when I could tolerate), added fiber into my diet everywhere I could and took as much Senokot as I could - it’s plant-based and my oncologist told me I could safely take it everyday of my life. Do talk to your care team - they should be able to offer suggestions! Hang in there. There is hope on the other side! Sending hugs this morning!

@charlotte12 @val64 and @katyholmes have some good suggestions. I have had constipation on and off during my life especially after my hysterectomy. Since I was told by the nurse educator not to « strain » while I was healing I was very careful when having a bowel movement. It took more than week to get back to anything for me that felt normal. I used Miralax or Senokot as directed on the packages, and walked a lot. I also added fiber to my food whenever possible.

It was hard to be patient as I was very uncomfortable. Do any of these suggestions resonate with you?

This may not help immediately because it sounds like you really got seriously blocked up. I was never one of those people who had to spend time sitting on the toilet trying to have a bowel movement and I loved that. With cancer treatment that totally changed.

My sister is a nurse and also very much into alternative medical treatments. She recommended that I start taking “Cascara Sagrada” daily. For me, that’s done the trick. If I miss a couple of doses, I immediately know it.

For my daughter who’s disabled, if she gets seriously blocked up, we give her water enemas. They have those small “Fleet enemas” that you can try. Because of her disability, we use an enema kit that has a water bag and line and give her water enemas to clear her out.

I'm also treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel, 1st round, I was able to eat well,
but then all the issues kicked it, I have ondsanetron for nausea, but kept vomiting. I could not keep it in my system. Miralax does not
seem to help, but will take it today again. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I'm sorry you had a recurrence. How are you dealing with getting more chemo,
are you finished with it. What tests were made to detect it? I'm glad you are
on this forum and all the best.

oh i can so relate!!! i too ended up in ER for basically same reasons except they had told me if i hadn't passed gas in 12 hours to go to ER...so i did...except i ended up being admitted to the hospital for a couple of days...i was so miserable..
i eat LOTS of blueberries...i'm talking sometimes a quart a day...LOTS of gatorade...i'm talking at least half a gal a day...thats how i cope...oh and acupuncture has helped me with ALL my GI symptoms...nausea vomiting constipation heartburn...i wish i'd tried it before my first chemo...but .i did before my second

Thank you so much for sharing, I noted down your suggestion, I'm willing to try
anything if i get blocked up severely again. At the ER they gave me a huge
concoction of liquid which included mineral oil, the worst ever, I threw it up right
away. I wanted to get an enema after I was cleared for intestinal restriciton. The resident ER doc told me the nurses don't really want to give an enema. Eventually one showed up and gave me a soapy
enema, which allowed her to remove 2 marble sized rock sized poop. Then she left. I ended up getting meds, GaviLyte-G, which is smiliar to Miralax, for home use. I decided to use Dulcolax, OTC, 2 pills, which worked explosively after about 5 hours. Then there was a lot of floor clean-up, I wished I had had
a portable toilet near my bed. Thank you for being on the forum.

Try prune juice or prunes and a lot of water. Good luck! I feel for you! Bijou

Thank you so much for sharing- I will get gaterode and blueberries today. Can you share what treatment you received while at the hospital? I went to the ER
with the ambulance, on a Sunday afternoon, the waiting room was full, waited 3 hrs to get to the triage, waited another hour to see a resident doctor, without my husband as advocate I would
have been lost. I was aware there were other patients in same agony or more.
I did not come with blankets, another symptom of cancer, chills, shivering,
the ER only had thin bed sheets, I had 6 on me, did not do any good. A relative
came by and brought me warm blankets. That finally did the trick. I have3 blankets now in the car. I know now what I can be faced with. Thank you
for checking the forum and helping others.

I tried prune juice, pure, before I went to the ER, the taste was not so great, I drink it now
with some water. Maybe I can get adjusted to it, by adding my juice at a time. Thank you.