Awful Constipation!

[jen673]

This is such an embarrasing topic for me - Ugh!  I just started my first DMD - Copaxone.  Since then, I have been constipated and it's getting worse.  It has been so bad as to make me vomit.  I take Miralax daily, laxatives, and prunes with little relief.  Any suggestions?  I was wondering if my problem is DMD related or MS and needs medication from the neuro.  I have always been irregular in this department, but never this badly.  Please HELP!

Jeny

[jen673]

Thanks for all the advise!  I need all the help I can get.  

Forgetfullkaykay - you are so funny, thanks for the laugh!  I will keep you advise in mind about the meds.  I am not on any meds other than neurontin and it doesn't seem to cause any problems.

Candy - sorry about your situation.  I know what you mean about it making you sick.  It took me 3 days with my recent bout and I was overdosing on laxatives, prunes, and miralax. Lol!

Thanks, until we meet again on here :)

Jeny

[candy158]

Hi, I think I came to the forum with this very same issue.  Please don't be embarassed by the questions.  I was in the hospital for a week last Sept. with constipation, and it took 6 days for them to get things moving, so, I know how you are feeling.

I am going for my colonoscopy on Tues, and have to be preparing for it from Sunday, and this will tell us if it is MS or something else.

I don't actually know what to expect, but if I didn't LIVE on fibre too, then it would be horrible, I take lots and lots, and believe it or not, SUNFLOWER seeds do help me witheverything else I take now too.  

Hope this helps,
Good luck, and happy POOPING soon,    *S*
Candy

[Forgetfullkaykay]

Isn't it awful!  I spend an inordenant amount of time managing this condition.  I've tried all the different fiber suplements and laxitives.  My GI says I can use as much miralax as I want/need.  So that's my lax of choice.  For mainenance, good old metamucil and more water than you think you need.  I have a 16oz glass in my bathroom and take one first thing in the morning and last at night so I get those two extra regardless.  Figs.  for me, figs worked when prunes did not.  Though I'm tired of them.  Now, here's where I usually blow it.  Remember that even NSAIs are constipating.  Any pain med.  When I had a migrane last month and was on the road I took five advils (neuro's advise if I didn't have migrane meds) OHHHHH big mistake.  I got totally blocked.  Bad.  Very Bad.  When I remember this about pain meds I take a dose of laxitive with every pain pill.  Why do I keep forgetting??? Sheesh!  Maybe the pain overwhelms my memory!
hang in there!!

[figuerpa]

Don't be embarrassed by the subject...several of us on here have brought it up and I am sure it will be brought up again.

I find that eating lots of fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water help me to a point. If that fails then I do take fiber supplements but be sure to drink plenty of fluids while taking fiber becuase not enough fluid intake with stool softeners or fiber can back fire and cause constipation. I know this sounds weird but it can happen.

Exercise is also good for regulating your system. If all else fails make sure to talk to your doctor so that he or she can come up with some kind of help for it.

It is miserable, I have the boughts of constipations and stool incontenence so I know both ends of this very well.

Good luck,
Paula

[jensequitur]

I overdose on fiber, but I'm going to have to find something better.  If I don't overdose, then it's concrete again.  With constipation, I have no appetite.

[Sumanadevii]

My own experience is that it is MS related.  For me everything slows down including my digestive track.  I take Colace or ...did...until I found an off brand that works the same.

It's an awful feeling but for sure I can tell because swallowing is hard then stuff just sits...The speech pathologist that worked with me told me to take small bites of food followed by a drink of liquid.  It has helped to push it down a bit quicker.