Need Advice re: Constipation Relief

Have struggled throughout tx with borderline constipation. Prune juice has managed to keep me "going" up until recently when it became necessary to take codeine to suppress violent & prolonged daily coughing attacks which would leave me exhausted and in pain from the convulsing.

Since starting the codeine I am geting enough relief from the cough to make it through the remainder of tx,  however constipation has become a real problem.

Prune juice no longer does the trick and if it were not for the fleet enemas administered every other day I don't think I would ever have a BM

Can anyone recommend  a solution in the way of a safe and effective laxative?

Thanks

Big Al

[Forseegood]

yeah, codeine, any opiate derivative, has constipation as a side effect for many people. I hope youre taking probiotics, the *good* bacteria that we need in the intestine. Unfortunately, many meds go along way to kill the good and the bad. A good probiotic that I use is (PB8, Probiotic Acidiophilus for life) not too pricey and a really good one. It's very safe, you can get the same thing from a few yogurts, etc but they usually doesn't have enough of it. Also, as we age, we tend to lose it.

Another thing I do is very cheap, it's a fiber blend from the Vitamin Shoppe. Fiber Blend is what it's called, lol...Mostly fruit fiber. just make sure you take them with a full glass of water. I also drink aloe vera juice, great for the skin and elimination, but it's an acquired taste, lol...hope this helps.

[Forseegood]

forgot to say, I'd take a milk of magnesia first (of course, run this whole thing by your doc, what i recommended is usually no big deal for anybody) and be running smoothly before I'd try the fiber, and only a little once a day, till I worked up to twice a day, providing it's working for you properly...it's only fruit fiber, but I find it's very effective.

[sunspot]

My wife started to take codeine after having a painful  dental procedure. After the second day, I warned her to start taking a stool softener. I learned the painful way about codeine and bowels.
Forseegood gave some good advice. Maybe the King of Bowels (GoofyDad) will see this thread and add a few hints.

[Ginger12521]

Good advice from Forseegood. : ) I also drink Aloe Vera juice, and believe that really helps.

Another suggestion I wanted to share was eating beets! Fresh if you can find them. I boil mine with vinegar, 25/75 water to vinegar mix. Just one or two beets will help get thing moving very nicely, AND the liver loves them! Beets are a very beneficial and full of nutrients!

[Lilla]

I agree with Foreseegood...a probiotic is a must.  I have a close friend who is a nutritionist and prior to starting treatment she recommended a probiotic.  I took one and continue to do so.  I took a prebiotic and probiotic. I know there are many good brands on market. I  took one thru Shaklee, and price is reasonable. I hear that Healthy Trinity is an excellent one as well, but I believe it can be pricey. In any event, I will continue to take one from now on.    

[scratchinghead]

vitacost.com has PB 8 in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian formulas. It's the same price, $12.34 for 120 capsules (2 months?). I plan order some as soon as my fish oil runs out because they have a shipping rate of only $4.99 for everything.

http://www.vitacost.com/productResults.aspx?.x=8&ss=1&Ntk=products&.y=5&Ntt=PB8%20%20Probiotic

[stevenNYer]

While probably not as severe as your case, in the past I've used Metamucil (laxative and fiber supplement).  They have it powder form with fruit flavors.  The orange flavor actually taste good.  I would mix 1 teaspoon in a warm cup of water right before every meal.  It worked really well and not very expensive.

The Mtamucil label also recommend taking at least 2 hours before you take your meds, as that could affect the efficacy of the meds.  I think that's true of most laxative.

[Myown]

I up the liquid cal/magnesium that helps and my hep doc did say magnesium also.
Also instead of drinking your water cold, drink it warm , but WITH LEMON squeezed into it. Most of you mom's probably remember that your doctors would reccommend doing this for relief. Don't eat any chocholate at all becasue you will continue to have the problem. Apple juice also helps and if you heat it up a little - it will help even more. And yes as mentioned the probiotics if it says take 2 I would always double it. Fiber and ground flax seed sprinkled on your salads.
  
Going daily is important especially for woman becasue if you don't your body will re - absorb estrogen and thats not good.

[Verdugo]

I was going to suggest psyllium husks which is the main ingredient in Metamucil.   You can get it a any good health store that has "bins" of bulk product.  It's way cheaper to buy it that way and does not contain the sugar.  You can buy the non-sugar brand of Metamucil but it's harder to find.  Supposedly the sugar cancels out  the benefits.  Anyway, it does work for most people who suffer from both constipation AND diarrhea.  Good luck.  Also, papaya works really well.
Anna.
p.s.  Aloe vera is definitely an "acquired taste".  LOL

[Myown]

Yerba Prima (psyllium husks) works well and you can even get it at Whole Foods.

[scratchinghead]

Yerba Prima (psyllium husks) works well and you can even get it at Whole Foods
----------------------------------

I call that place "Whole Paycheck" :)

[scratchinghead]

psyllium husks: $5
probiotic: $12.33
aloe juice: $7
high fiber bread: $3.99
A nice soft log smiling back at you in the toilet bowl: priceless

[merryBe]

you have to be careful if you need something in addition to high fiber diet with gas as it can really aggravate the situation. For me senecot which is natural, from a tree bark, works, whereas ducolax doubles me up with gas.
Extreme case, even a small dose of milk of magnesia may be better than say lactulose, which works well and is mild, but can also cause gas and disention...it all depends on your bowels and how they handle all these substances.
Prune juice has lots of culfer and can cause aggravation and gas.
If you can eat yogurt/tolerate milk products it will help, but isn't enough for many.
what codience does is slow down the whole system, and supress parastalsis (wave like motion) in the intestines.
try breaking your pills in half, and just getting by on half a dose, spread them out as much as you can and at night less still, or try a sleep aide as opposed to a dose of the opiate.
also, there is a non-codiene cough suppressant OTC that may work part of the time for you, Pertussin, for cough only, is a good one. this will make you drowsy and help you sleep without more opiate as well.
If there are sources of allergens, such as dog/cat dander, excess dust, someone smoking etc. eliminate as much of these as you can, and your coughing may improve.
Even the itchy Riba eyes improve if I do not pet the animals and then accidentally touch my face/eyes. If I do they start itching. So your throat scratchiness may be allergic tickling set off by the immune system responses the treatment causes.
You could also try a benydrl at night, to see if the extra histamine might help settle your throat.
also, I'd do as Foredeegood suggested with extra fiber. But think lots of fluids also.
mary

[Forseegood]

all around, and you know how I love poopy threads! lol...but I used to take psycillium husk in a powder form, and for my money, this Fiber Blend works just as well, and it's in a capsule....so, for me, it's far more pleasant then drinking something with psyllium husk in it, not as gritty, etc with that faint "woodchip" taste, he he.... and this fruit fiber really expands in the gut, it's got a lot of good things in it, you can feel it a little bit, but not have to taste it....but that's just my take, I would be interested to hear if someone else "benefits" as much as I do from it...it is super important to take probiotics though, with or without hep c, but especially with....and yeah, some magnesium per day is really good for the old clean pipes action...

My Own: hey I;ll try those warm juices, etc...would be good in the winter anyway. If anyone can do the aloe vera juice, excellent for this too...nothing I hate more then constipation, I have become a connoisseur of elimination practices for a reason...lol...

Scratchy: that sounds like a place to get it, just as long as you have billions of those lil critters...

Goof: hey, how is it up there? my chillin friend from up north...it's 78 degrees here today, and breezy...he he he...can you hear me now? lol....

[GoofyDad]

What's that forsee? Can't quite hear ya.... bad connection I guess...

Colasce will soften the sliders....
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/47184.html

[Forseegood]

HA HA HA! let's hear it for those soft logs!!!! but not too soft! in a perfect coil too! okay anybody....lunch?

[cba51]

Thank you for all the great advice!
I am looking forward to a nice soft log smiling back at me in the toilet bowl.

[scratchinghead]

You're welcome! After all, we are all just floaters in the toilet bowl of life, looking for friends to rafter with. . . .

[GoofyDad]

You're funny, Scratch-head!!!

http://www.poopreport.com/Ask/Content/spring.html

[Forseegood]

that poopreport site was twisted...in more then one way. you sooo crazy!

[scratchinghead]

hmmm.
I'm learning so much about other human beings from this forum. Up until a month ago, I thought women never farted.

[jmjm530]

Supplemental fiber and antacids, esp ones containing magnesium and alumnium can interfere with ribavirin absorption so best not take them within 2-3 hours of the ribavirin.

[sunspot]

Women don't fart untill they get married. That's when they get an assh@le. At least that's what my wife told me.

[scratchinghead]

hahahaha

[Forseegood]

Sunspot, daaaahling...you just misheard what your wife said....we do indulge in the occasional flatulation.....we are human after all..... it's just that when we do it (women that is) it doesn't smell.....just little puffs of innocuous air...

[scratchinghead]

TMI

[Forseegood]

huh? this is nothing...omg...you shoulda been here a year ago with these kind of theads...or maybe not:)

[scratchinghead]

Don't know what to say. Now everytime a woman walks by me on the street I'll wonder if she letting out liitle puffs of innocuous air.

It's not the vision I had.

[merryBe]

in honor of all the wonderful memories of this thread....watch it through.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6T3XrnYtFk

[geterdone]

HA! rotflmao

jasper

[merryBe]

one more for the not faint of heart:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXSCCiCrvKM&feature=related

[loosenup]

Loved the goat.  Here's another that I couldn't stop laughing over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-OIgXyvzUU

[JodyLynn]

Lmaoooooooooooooooooo as i've said before yall are just too funny .......thanks having bad day needed the laugh.

[susan400]

Just a point to make....I posted a while back, about Alinia and the constipation issue.  I will ask this question once again and maybe someone will answer it for me.  If Alinia was originally used to treat diarrhea...., would it not be logical to think that constipation would be a side effect of Alinia???    Does anybody know?

Susan

[sunspot]

IIRC, Alinia was used to treat an intestinal parasite that caused diarrhea. It was not used as a bowel binder. So in my mind it would not cause constipation.
That’s not to say it won’t, you’ll need to read the package insert.

4cgood, we need to send you to a good ENT for a check up.  ;>)

[Forseegood]

remember asking HR this question...he said it would not bind you up....for the life of me I can't remember why though, though he did tell me....hoping you have a smile on your face...

[susan400]

I never saw where he replied to me.  That's good info to know though, for future reference.  I'm not treating again any time soon.  The next time any future treatments will even be discussed, won't be until sometime next spring.  Thanks for letting me know what he said....

Susan     :)

[scratchinghead]

Try a swig of olive oil with every meal. I noticed a difference when I added this routine to my diet for other reasons. Make sure it doesn't conflict with your med/treatment program.

I guess the word that best describes the effect is "silky cable" as in "lay some cable".

seriously

[Forseegood]

   1. Psyllium. This dried seed husk derived from the plantain does double duty: it can be used as a laxative when you experience constipation, but may also prevent diarrhea by adding bulk to your stool. It is helpful for those with IBS, and is good for general bowel maintenance. Always take psyllium with water.
   2. Probiotics. If you plan on traveling, are taking antibiotics, have slow digestion or experience excessive gas, probiotic supplements may help by promoting healthy levels of friendly bacteria. Choose a probiotic supplement containing one billion bacteria or more per standard dose, and always take them with food.
   3. Triphala. This ayurvedic herbal mixture is designed for ongoing use. Triphala promotes regular bowel function through its mild laxative properties. Consider using triphala (capsules only) for 10 weeks, then taking a two-week break.

[sunshine2006]

I have the same problem. I'll tell you what works for me, flax seed oil and calcium magnesium. You can take the oil straight or in gel capsules. I think Barleans Flax Oil is the best brand in both the oil and the gel capsules. The best calcium magnesium brand I found to work the best is Bluebonnet. My problem is peristalsis. Probiotics are very important as well, psyllium husks make me cramp and taking straight fiber constipates me. Those are the only 2 things I have found to be effective.