1. < Digestive Health
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Severe Constipation

Posted by klk464 @klk464, Feb 28, 2018

I have had severe constipation for a long time. I drink lots of water and have had almost every test possible done and tried many prescription medications. These medications work for a little bit then stop. I currently take 3 docusate in morning and at night I will take 2 senna/docusate. I still dont have a daily BM. So i get bloated crampy and back pain from this.

I was told I could go to the Mayo Clinic as they may have ideas for me because they are out of options for me here.

Anyone else suffer from this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

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samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | Sep 5, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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just noting that there are threads on constipation under the digestive health section:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?utm_source=connect.mayoclinic.org&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest&utm_content=summary_interest

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jfsherley | @jfsherley | Sep 18, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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I’ve been on tramadol for yrs and have had constipation for yrs too until I finally found what works for me I take 5 stool softeners (equate brand ) from Walmart every night plus a half glass of water with a capful of equate clear lax you might think that’s to many stool softeners but it doesn’t hurt you at all I have a normal bowel movement if I do it every night … don’t take to much fiber it will actually make your stools to hard but sometimes I’ll eat a canned dried prune

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mdk1960 | @mdk1960 | Sep 18, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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I do not take prescription pain meds but struggle with constipation too. I am learning certain foods make it worse like peanut butter. I take fiber docusate stay hydrated walk daily. I have taken magnesium citrate capsules prebiotic supplements. I love yogurt so that helps me too.

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kburt911 | @kburt911 | Sep 19, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "Thank you very much for the advice, I'll have to look into this. I strain every..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

Thank you very much for the advice, I'll have to look into this.
I strain every single time I go, and I believe the last couple of times I have actually hurt myself.
Right now I'm experiencing symptoms of low hemoglobin count, I walk a few feet and start feeling light headed and can't seem to inhale enough oxygen, and my legs feel like they weigh a ton.
I have fallen a couple of times already, so I think I'm going to get to the doctor some how, and have a blood test taken.
I think I may have tore something while straining, that's the only reason I brought it up.

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I also take opioids and the constipation is awful. I have colitis on top of painful back problems and have never had a problems going, actually the opposite. I didn't go anywhere without checking where the bathroom was but after being on pain meds the opposite is now the problem. I take Colace every morning and it has made a world of difference. I have tried Miralax and it didn't work for me. Colace is very gentle to where you don't need to go running for a bathroom when it decides to work. Good luck and hope you find relief soon.

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | Sep 19, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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Constipation is an awful thing to experience, especially when you are having chronic pain. I experimented and found theat taking Clearlax(Amazon's equivalent to Miralax) morning and bedtime along with Metamucil at lunchtime has softened my stools and allowed me to experience fairly regular bowel movements. This is just works for me. My visit to a gastroenterologist was not productive (big surprise!).

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felicelinda | @felicelinda | Sep 19, 2024
In reply to @charlii "hello there I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this, I too have struggled with this..." + (show)
Profile picture for charlii @charlii

hello there I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this, I too have struggled with this all my life irritable bowel and a severely blocked bowel to the point of having to ingest this horrible stuff from the chemist called agarol my god hit me like a ton of bricks, coming out of both ends that day just awful, however when I had to have chemo for breast cancer I was told pear juice by one of the nurses.....yes it works a treat, also try to incorporate prunes in your diet and if you don't like pears you could try prune juice, try not to get to reliant on artificial help....drink heaps of water, yes ive been slack lately but I can consume large amounts of water and that really helps. fibre has to be in the form of fruit and veg, but research what is high fibre and be careful with fruit just because its fruit doesn't mean a lot of it is good for you and especially with the fruit sugars. and I think too you have to find foods you enjoy eating and will stick to and that will help you. Also, if you can move a little more do some form of exercise. I think someone also mentioned the same, more liquid and movement and fibre... You don't want to go passing out that's not good....Do you know why you pass out or feel light headed etc, that is because the main artery from your brain runs down the same side of your body that when you strain it gets restricted by the pressure on it and the next minute your on the ground similar to when someone puts someone into a sleep hold position around the neck, I cant think of the technical names or even the area of the body or veins at the moment really bad chemo brain tonight, I live with an RN and she was telling me this the other week!!!

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My husband has been on opioids for many years because of back pain and neuropathy…hasn’t helped much lately. However due to taking opioids he was very constipated. His pain management doctor prescribed a medicine called MOVANTIK…a pill that absolutely gets rid of constipation every day. He takes it at 8 a.m. and by 11:00 a.m. it starts to work.

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mikayla | @mikaylar | Sep 20, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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Take magnesium citrate power in water - 1/2 teas. If you don't go in a few hours, take some more. Or, baking soda works too.

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claudeconstantineau | @claudeconstantineau | Sep 20, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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I am using CHIA grains which you can get at natural foods stores.

If you do a search on the Net you'll get a lot information about this natural grain, word of caution, drink water or juice, 2 to 3 glasses after taking te Chia.

Best to you,

Claude

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julbpat | @julbpat | Sep 21, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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I learned of a product called ColonMax on these forums. I purchase it on Amazon, and take 1-2 at night. I also take prescription Motegrity every morning. I use Miralax as needed. I have small fiber polyneuropathy, which makes lots of my bodily functions work wrong, plus Percocet for pain.

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archie2 | @archie2 | Sep 22, 2024
In reply to @woundedbear64 "I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with..." + (show)
Profile picture for woundedbear64 @woundedbear64

I've been taking opioid pain medication for over thirty years now, I have had trouble with constipation as a young man, but after adding in the opioid it's gotten out of hand.Does anyone have any good remedies for constipation, or at least stool softening?I naturally only have a bowel movement once a week, the doctor said some people are like that, but add in rock hard stool, and constipation and you have a great deal of pain to deal with.I think straining on the toilet is what caused my current spinal cord problems, I have two shunts, so I'm not supposed to strain, but I just can't help it, any help will be well appreciated!Thank you.

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Hi-
Check with Gastroenterologist about Lactulose. This is an inexpensive, well-tested solution (it is a liquid like cough syrup) for constipation. Rx only but, depending on your current meds, may be a good answer.
Archie

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