HELP FOR THOSE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN

CONSTIPATION CURES

Many if not all of us who take opiods are aware that constipation can be a real problematic side effect of the medication. Share any remedies you may have found which work to alleviate these symptoms. C'mon... don't be shy.

Over the counter remedies suggested by my doctor is Konsyl. It has six gramsof fiber per teaspoon whereas Metamucil has only two. It comes in plain and orange flavored. I have tried it and I think it is better than Metamucil because it doesn't seem as gritty to me. When things are really bad, I also use Citrate of Magnesia.. .which comes in a bottle and you need to drink the whole bottle. This usually produces results within 24 hours.

Edy's No Sugar No Fat Ice Cream, any flavor works quite well. You have to eat enough of it. It's up to you to find how much that will be. Usually two generous scoops is enough to do it.

I have been using stool softeners for 3 years, my doctor told me it is better to be dependent on a laxative then to have your colon removed. When I get really bad I add extra strength exlax, I sometimes even have to use suppositories. It is rough I know, drinking lots of water is very crucial, don't forget that!

I have been using perscription laxitives for years as soon as I had major problems after starting pain meds , suppositories , ect. my gastro-intestinologist put me on powder called MiraLax by Braintree Laboratories. You only have to take a meazured cap full in water much less than metamusil thats what I love about it. Like the last person said DRINK LOTS OF WATER juices are a great source . Yes prune juice is now your friend. Rember like pain meds you should always use the the least you can function with also try to go back to natural remedies after you get movong again . You have to recgnize if your on pain meds this is just another thing You have to deal with . Natural solutions eat bran cerial , prune juice , the have a tablet that s called Senecot ( I hoped I spelt it right ).that works well in moderate situations . I only had a moment I think of all of youy daily take care . nick2k

Hi,

The best type of relief for constipation is any thing natural, if you don't eat enough fiber in your fruits or veggies, then the next best thing my family and I have found are herbs and or intestinal cleanses.

You can find these products in health food stores. Some stores like Raley's, & Bel Aire also carry them. The first intestinal cleanse is called PERFECT SEVEN, this has seven herbs with psyllium husk/powder and also has 7 natural herbal ingrediants, this is the one my husband and kids use as a maintenance to their diets (when they indulge in bad foods). The second intestinal cleanse I found to be very useful not only in maintenance to my diet, but also if I've eaten any offending foods to my system as well, is called SUPER COLON CLEANSE, it has 100% pure psyllium husk as well as fennel seed, peppermint, papaya,cascara sagrada, rose hips, buckhorn bark, oregon grape root, senna, celery and acidophilus. All the ingrediants are natural and includes the acidophilus, which is a friendly intestinal microorganisms that we all have but not enough of it.

The natural herbs you can also try, but start off slow is called CASCARA SAGRADA and/or SENNA. Use these with care, if your not used to having any type of stimuli in your system, these should work pretty fast. But with anything you ingest, make sure you have no allergies to the herbs and you might want to consult you pharmacist. I've found alot of doctors turn a "blind eye" to suggestions on natural remedies since a lot of them get "kick backs" from the pharmaceutical industry. The doctors push drugs for the monitary gains. Any good pharacist will have been trained in not only the synthedic medications, but also in natural herbs/plant life that can and do heal the body. Most of your medications are derived from these plant life, such as willow bark which is used in aspirin for the relief of pain.

AS A PERCAUSTION, I WOULD STAY HOME NEAR A BATHROOM IF YOU ARE NOT USE TO TAKING THESE GREAT HEARBS!!

I always get relief from these wonderful herbs. The cleanses work on me within 2-5 hours, and the herbs can work just as fast or can take as long as 12 hours. But I gaurantee, you will fill sweet RELIEF!!! And if you don't then you should take a second dose. If your really backed up your may need to also include a "fast" for 2-3 days if your health allows you to do so.

Hope these work for any and all willing to give the natural way a try...

Rio

If anyone wants to e-mail me please feel free: RIODJENIRO@HOTMAIL.COM

My doctor just put me on miralax and I want to knowhow good does it work.????????

I have found that drinking water all day long after taking a stool softer or laxative helps the most

Anyone here who can tell me more about miralax, Thanks

Please email me if necessary. Ladycat_28560#hotmail.com

Hi, this is Forever Hurting.

I think, but can't remember that I sent Rio an email regarding the Cleanser. I just happened to mention it to the lady who gives me foot massage, and she had the stuff right there in her office. She says her family takes it every so often to cleanse their system. I was just in hospital (I go there every few months to work on depression, pain, etc), and the pharmacist looked at the ingredients in the cleanser. He is oriental and said yes, there are very good herbs in here, but since I was taking a lot of meds, and my blood pressure and blood level is so low, that I might dehydrate myself. So he suggested to just try 1 pkg. (There are 30 pkgs in a bag, with 6 capsules in each pkg. which the lady said to take every day for a month). If I try just one pkg it will give me an idea of how my body reacts. If it is good, then I will try maybe one a week. I have had problems for the last 7 years, and I do not want to have more by ruining my colon. I have been taking magnesia with cascara and I am concerned about taking so much so often. I have also been taking medimucil. I have a very difficult time drinking a lot. I just have to try harder I know. Anyway, that's a bit about me and my system. If anyone can comment or help me some more I would appreciate it, and I wish everyone good luck.

Mary (littlegirlblue32@rogers.com)

I have to admit, I have the complete opposite problem. I have IBS and so have diarrhea most of the time. It fasinates GI drs that I could have diarrhea even while on morphine!

Anyway, occasionally, I have been constipated (mostly before the IBS) and I take Alfalfa. It is completely natural. It is available whereever vitamins are sold. It works great!! And it is something you swallow rather than drink. True drink as much water as possible, but I very much prefer plain water to anything else! I hope this helps someone.

Hi, this is forever hurting again. I have tried the colon cleanser (Have taken 4 bags (which each contain 6 tablets). Believe it ornot, I am still having trouble going. The only thing I can think of why this not working as it should is because I have always been such a nervous person, it has added to my problem along with the drugs I take. This stuff should be working. I have gone, but it still takes 2 - 3 days to go. I must be so uptight! I will try to drink more. But let's put it this way, I was so nervous in the delivery room for my son, when they put me up on the table I got delerious and got off the table and said I'm not doing this, I'm going home now. This was because I had so much trouble having my daughter. I just stiffen up so bad with nerves that I actually stop the baby from coming out! What a time I've had. So now, this may be part of the reason the Colon Cleanser if not working as it should. I do take stool softeners also. If I could just RELAX. I just would like to know if I should keep taking this stuff, and maybe it will start working soon.

Thanks for listening.

Love,

Mary (forever hurting)

Hi Everyone!

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth!

The first thig is to drink plenty of water !

The second thing that helps me is eatting a full bag of microwave pop corn and drink any carbonated soda or lots of water with it.

I have also read that apples can either help you to releave your self or help keeping you from having the runs.

Haagen-dazs Icecream, They use eggs in there icecream and for some reason this leaves me running to the bathroom.

Last but not least: Sour Cream. This has the effect on me as Haagen-dasz Icecream.

AFTER BEING IMPACTED FOR TWO WEEKS AND STILL HAVING TO CONTINUE MY MORPHINE, MY DOCTOR SAID YOU COULD EITHER BUY TWO MINERAL OIL FLEET ENEMAS OR GO TO THE ER AND HAVE THEM DO THE SAME THING...I RETAINED THE 1ST ONE FOR ONE HALF HOUR AS INSTRUCTED AND WHILE IT WAS NOT THE MOST PLEASENT EXPERIENCE , IT DID WORK I WAITED TIL THE NEXT DAY AND DID IT AGAIN .....AHHHHHHHH TOTAL RELIEF.

Hi Everyone,

I use Flax seed for constipation. It is a natural remedy. I also was advise by a naturopath that I could grid them in a coffee grider and that it would work even better.

Its true!

I grid my flax seeds in acoffee grider then mix 1 tablespoon in small glass of water everday. It has helped me a great deal.

I like this product because it is simple and natural.

We put enough medications in our bodies without adding more.

Hope this helps.

Luv QueenB

I am a paraplegic with a neurogenic bowel and bladder. I also take methadone and oxycodon for pain. What works for me is three senna-kot tabletsat bedtime. I also take three 100mg colace tablets a day one in the morning and two at bedtime. A big must for anything to work is to drink a lot of water. At least 8 glasses a day and more if you can.If this doesn't work which is rarely then I add to this 30ml of lactulose. This usually does the trick. waltrn

If you really want something that work I have it, you need a persciption from the doctor. It is called Enulose or Lactulose all you need is a couple of table spoons and you should be fine....Also coalace 100mg. gel tabs about 6 a day...Good luck!!!! I have been in pain for about ten years this has always been a problem for me, first the oxycotten and percosett, morphine, methadone ,they all have that efect ...Everyone should get a script for this instead of paying out of pocket...

I use mineral oil. My daughter had severe constipation as a baby and the pediatrician suggested this, so I figure it must be safe. Ijust take a few tablespoons twice a day, and it keeps me fairly regular.

Someone suggested Senecot,(sp?), Walgeens and other major drug stores have a genneric Senna, exact same thing but at about 1/10 thecost. Twentyfour Senecot are about $26.00 where 90 Senna are about $8.00. Your choice, but they are the same thing. The only bad thing about using it is you have to make sure you ahhhhhh clean yourself really good because it does tend to be a little aciddic and burns a little. It must be safe to use because it's all natural and can even be used on babies. DON'T use it on babies because the dose is diffrent from adults and there is a childrens form of Senecot. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

I use the Duragesic Patch plus a lot of other meds due to other chronic problems. I drink a gallon of water a day, and use Colon Clenz andUltra Colon Clenz each night. I can't take Colace, but if I really need some extra, I use a stool softener called Surfak (it's OTC). I also eat 2 oatbran muffins each day.

If things get really, really bad - I drink Citrate of Magnesia - found OTC in a glass bottle and only costs a couple of dollars. It tastes nasty, and will upset your GI tract a lot, so stay close to home and prepare to be miserable - but it works.

- Jane

Date: 02/28/04

I've been on various narcotic pain meds for over 7 years now. I didn't have trouble with bowel movements until I got into to upper levels of pain meds; meaning, where I am now: I take 8 80mg oxycontin tablets every 6 hours. Yes, 2,560 mgs a day! That's enough to kill someone who isn't opiod tolerant. But since I slowly tritated up to this dose, I'm fine. And the miracle of it all is that I've been on this dose for over 2 years now with absolutely NO CHANGE in medication needed! So I've reached the perfect dose of meds for pain relief enough to allow me to work from home as an outside accountant for a larger accounting firm. Don't get me wrong, I rarely go below 5 on the old pain scale. But after 7 years of pain, I can work at a level 5 now. 6 years ago, that would have killed me, or I would have killed myself!

The anti-constipation miracle the doctor gave me is MIRALAX! I swear by this stuff. It will never, ever fail you. It is an anti-stimulant, prescription only med. I believe it is mostly made up of little tiny powdered plastic type of something and works to help things just slide along.

At first my doc had me take it twice a day. Almost immediately I knew that was WAAAAY too much, so I cut back to once in the evening. (I don't like taking showers at 3AM because of accidents!) Well, now my body seems to have adjusted to the high dosage of oxycontin (and Roxicodone for breakthrough pain) that I only have to take it once a week now.

MIRALAX is the name. Ask your doc about it. It will NOT let you down. The only drawback I have experienced is that it takes 12-24 hours to work. But once it kicks in, and you've taken too much, you will be going all the time! So you'll have to cut down to your own comfort level.

The best stuff since sliced bread!!!

What's the most common/popular method of preventing & controlling constipation due to opioids?

Hi! This is Andrea. a.k.a. "Therealyaya71"..

A wonderful remedy is called "Docusate" Surfak calcium gel tablets. I had severe constipation when I was pregnant(i'm talking, i went nearly 3 weeks without a BM and they were about to hospitalize me) But then the Doc gave me Docusate. I took 2 of them, and by the next morning, i was back to having regular BM's again, no stomach cramps, no pain, no nothing. I just "went back to normal". The stuff is wonderful. You can buy it at any CVS, Walgreens, or Eckerd drugs. it is a little pricey at about 18.99 for 60 gel capsules, but they last a long time and they are really the most wonderful cure for constipation I have ever tried!

How about Prune Juice, and lots of oranges and grapefruit, plus a lot of water, and eating lettuce, I always make sure I drink enough water and eat a good mix of vegetables as salad, and avoid foods that contain artificial colors and flavors.

Well, whenever I have constipation, medicine usually makes me sick. If that's the case for you ladies and gentlemen, then I would suggest my very own home remedy--

Take 10-15 raisins, and juice them by smashing one or two at a time between two spoons. Put the juices into 1 cup of water, and mix it together. You can add a little lemon juice for flavouring. Then drink it. I usually drink it while I'm reading, and I get through 3 cups and 3 chapters before I'm dashing for the bathroom.

But I only usually have very mild constipation due to too much junk. And sometimes, if the raisins don't work, I'll take a very very very mild laxative and hope for the best.

Hope that helps, and if it doesn't, you just had to listen to a 14 year old drivel for a bit. Hurrah!

Love and Sparkles,

Arianna

I am new to the group (not to pain). I'm on the duragesic patch, effexor XR, trileptal and vicodin as my breakthrough med (as well as sleeping pills, antivirals, synthyroid and god knows what nedt?)

I have found that eaating several dried apricots a day keeps you system moving. In fact, you have to be careful not to overdo it. If you guys are like me cooking just is sometimes too much, so I end up downing these delicious and fibrous gems as a meal.

Trust me they can take on anything opiods have got!

I have had a terrible time with the meds and getting a major slow down,

Now, I have to take a ritual of meds for keeping "On the Move"

Now, I take about 6 Senakot Daily along with Benefibre and if needed I take a med called Lactalose.

That will make me move no matter what happens.

There are some new things I have learned of and I will try them.

But, If you find something that works for you, do not stop using them, keep taking them every day or night,

I have been to the point where I was going to the Hospital to get relief.But, straining to the point to where I could get a Stroke is not good.

Always Remember,,,,Lots of Water,,,water is the real Key cause the meds slow you down to the point where the colon moves us so slow, that it takes all the water out of the stool. and we get Stove up! That is not cool. Can lead to a perforation of the bowel.

Keep the water coming and stay cleaned out....

Outatime

I have always found that for consiptation from opiods and other pain relief drugs, the answers are quite simple..I either eat an apple a day (tokeep the doctor away. Quite true!), or I have a bowl of Raisin bran for breakfast for as a snack before bed.

Gentle hugs to all,

Screechmonkey

A young woman who was the assistant to our doctor, told my wife and I about a OTC Med called Freelax.

My wife is taking 1600 mg daily of MSCONTIN and she had a lot of trouble till she got these...

It helped her!

Outatime

green tea with jasmine helps me. i take alot of medication for chronic pain'which also turned into chronic constipation..i drink it twice a day& also lots of water. the tea really seems to have helped the constipation.

Hi Everyone,

It's Rio again, I have another remedy for constipation.....

If you are really backed up, you may want to seriously consider getting a colonic done by a professional....for those of you who are not aware of what this is I'll do my best to explain...

An enema is a very limited procedure. It get's only 1/5th of the colon if an ENEMA TUBE is used, it will get even less if an ENEMA TIP is used. Basically an enema will only get up to the last 12 inches of the colon (the large intestine).

A Colonic is where a tube/apparatus is inserted into the anal/rectum area (by a qualified Colon Therapy Technician). Warm water is then inserted into the ENTIRE LENGHT OF THE LARGE INTESTINE (or colon), then the water is drawn out with all the impacted matter. The colonic is a much far reaching procedure then having a enema which only takes care of the last part of the colon. If a person has a lot of hard, impacted matter, they may have to go in for a few sessions of colonics.

You can usually find a professional Colonic Therapist from a reputable health food store, chiropractor, or yellow pages. Make sure whom ever you choose uses good sterilization of their equiptment that is technically advanced, or better yet, uses desposible equiptment for good hygiene.

A wonderful reference book to read is called: Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care.....there are other good books on the subject, but, my husband has found Dr. Jensen's to be one of the best to get information on the subject. It's filled with a wealth of information on cleansing the colon AND GETTING BETTER HEALTH!!

Hope this information is useful to the group.

Rio

Hello all! I have been reading these "remedies" everyone has found useful. My best advice (after seeing MANY doctors).

*Do not use a laxative* reason: it moves things along but afterwards it will be hard to go ONCE again because your body is waiting for that stimulant. ONLY ONLY ONLY use an enema if things are hurting extremely bad.

*Drink tons of water, eat lots of leafy veggie, eat fruit* Wheat is also very good! Bascially, have a balanced diet with a little or a lot of extra fiber. Start the morning with some kind of Rasin Bran or something like that. If you don't like rasins (like me) just look on the boxes of the cereal and see which has the most fiber! I love honey nut.

*Flax seed and flax oil* Very natural and works well. Read the directions and take it. I usually take it in the evening after dinner--2 tbls of flax seed mixed with ice cream or yogurt (something you don't have to chew). Then 1 tblsp of flax oil. I usually go 15-30 mins later. After a couple days it should start to regulate you.

*Change things up* Don't use flax seed/oil everyday for a year. It will eventually not work as well. Try different things each week and see what works best.

Hope this helps someone! Like I said I've been reading these messages for a while now and this is the best advice I've got to give!

Good Luck!!!!

Dannon Activia Yogurt seems to have straightened out my IBS. No more gas, no more diarrhea and I'm not constipated. Try it.. it's good.

I just want to update this to say go natural if you can . I after 12 years was diagnosed with something called Narcotic Bowel Syndrome . Opiate therapy hasnt worked well since about year 3 . I have been told a colostomy is in my future . I am going to really utilize some of this info here but no more laxatives that are non natural . I blame myself not eating enough vegtables and fruit . Eat well its so important now ..eat lots of raw foods meaning uncooked fruits and vegtables plus juices . If this is offensive go ahead and take it down or ask me I will later . I am in shock still after 90 days since I was told about this NBS .

This will make you all laugh! Jack In the Box milk shakes do it for a friend of mine. Haagen Daz vanilla fudge flavor only does it for me lolroooof. For real. Hey what ever works. hee hee

sagebrush161

jane

Are glycerin suppositories not natural? I use one a day and never have a problem. I drink green tea at work, probably don't eat enough fiber but after 5 years of being on Loratabs I don't want to have any colon problems. I already had polyps removed at age 43...

This is for real. I am only able to drink water. So not being able to drink juices which give me a migraine or any flavored drink, Ican eat ...and I'm serious...Haagen Daz Vanilla Fudge ice cream. 100% for real. A friend of mine has the same results from a chocolate milk shake ONLY from jack in the box...fast food place lol

Jane