Constipation! (Pain meds make it worse)

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!!!

I hear you. Since I went on Tramadol, my constipation has worsened. Straining to eject hard stools is like giving birth. Straining? Yes! Awful. I have begun to take Miralax twice a day and Metamucil once or twice a day, along with extra water. Even at that the "urge" to go is very slight. So, I use a medicated suppository to help things along. Usually within five to ten minutes later I get a good movement. Not hard at all, so it relieves the straining. This works for me. Maybe it will work for you.

Kiwis can help a lot.

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

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

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.

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.

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!).

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.

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.