Narcotic Bowel Syndrome

[lostsoul62]

I've been taking Vicodin for 10 years. Two month ago I developed pain in my bowel. I can hardly walk. If I walk 200 feet I have a lot of pain in my bowels. CT scan didn’t show anything so I’m getting a Colonoscopy in about two weeks and if that doesn’t show anything then I might have Narcotic Bowel Syndrome however I don’t have the system they describe just the pain. So if the Colonoscopy doesn’t show anything I figure I have to get off of the Vicodin. But how do I do that when in so much pain? Any suggestions. I’m really deprecated and worried.

[fntn]

I take rather large dosages of opioid pain meds. I do pay attentuon to the GI issues associated with the treatment, and it is manageable. Everyone is different of course but a solutuon is usually availiable to those of us dealing with real chronic pain issues like yourself and in need of opioid treatment.

I use a double dosage of miralax per day as a minumal starting point. Avoidance of certain food groups helps a great deal, the food maybe inside you for longer durations. Additional stool softners can also be included as needed.

Hope you find a good solution that allows you to not give up your CP quality of life options.

[caregiver222]

Opiates reduce peristalsis in the bowel. In some cases this cause the need for a bowel resection and colostomy. Treatment is naltrexane, but withdrawal is very difficult and painful so this is done under anaesthetic in a hospital.