Cronic Consipation with Methadone

[Barbara]

I am on Methadone and as all who has been on it know it causes constipation. Well I have extremely hard stools and it is painful to go to the bathroom. Is there anything I can take that will help me to have softer stools? Any foods,stool softners, etc that would help. ha ha this is no joke. I could build houses with my stools that is how hard they are. I dread that feeling to go because I know I will be in pain trying to get it out..lol...sorry for this ****** subject but I need help!
                           Barbara

[BA_BEEps]

I USE A LARGE ENEMA SYRINGE< when i feel any type if movement in the rectal area, even if it may be false, I quickly insert it  with a creame or personal lube, use warm soapy water, bend over as far as possible,squirt it until it feels as coming out, hold it as long you can. then let it go, you will notice how hard the stool is, repeat it until you feel relaxed you feel. once you get the nohow, you will feel a lot BETTER !                                 BA-bee                   aLWAYS LUBE THE SYRING TIP!!!

[Barbara]

Thanks. Yes I have heard of flaxseed oil and I will check it out at my local health food store. I have been using Philips liquid gel cap stool softner but you are not suppose to use them more than 2 weeks. I am going to my doctors and see if they can prescribe me something. I really would like to pass on the enema trip it just isn't my bag! hey is that a joke? well i will try the flaxseeed oil and once again thanks for the tips. Also I was wondering if any of you have noticed swelling of the hands. I haven't gained any weight but I feel like my rings are terribley tight on my hands and one I can't even get on. When I press on my hand it turns white I sign of water retention....??
                      Barbara

[Dianne]

Barbara,
I certainly know how that feels, when your constipated you feel miserably, it actually effects my whole day...I do not like to take laxitives because if gives me alot of pain in my stomach..
burning, cramps, ect..I'm very lucky because my answer to this problem is very simple for me..everyday I eat spinach, I don't exactly know why but it's the answer for me! I just take fresh spinach, saute it with garlic and olive oil, it works like a charm for me...try it, you never know, it just may work for you..
I would give it at least 3-4 days of eating it before you decide it's not working...Good Luck!

[Kimberly to Bob K]

I use FLEET everytime.  It takes about 4 hours and it really cleans you out.  I have had no cramping from using it.  Good Luck I know how miserable that is.  Kimberly

[tom to all bound-up fellow junkies]

I don't recommend anything that's going to cause cramping if you're impacted unless you like pain (if you're several days impacted, get over the enema phobia in a hurry -- it's the only thing that will save you apart from some gruesome and humiliating medical intervention).
In addition to the very good suggestions already noted, a couple things not mentioned:
Proactive fiber-drink consumption: I drink a tablespoon to 2 tablespoons of Metamucil with 10 oz of water right before turning in -- rain or shine. It's painless, tastes like Tange, and is never a problem even when it's used unnecessarily.
Unless your condition prevents you, fast-walk at least 2 miles a day, early in the morning or mid-evening works best. I think the motion helps compensate for the narco effect on the bowel. Also any Yoga you can manage has the same effect.
Not mentioned by anyone: adopt a "return to nature" posture when going. Whose idea was it to defecate in a sitting positon? Sir John Krapper's? It's a trick to balance on Western johns, but squatting is the natural position for humans to defecate in. In Yoga, squatting-like postures are recommended for treating constipation. But they also give you great leverage -- especially when you're in crises mode with impaction and are counting on the enema to get it out. Squatting gives you effective leverage when you might otherwise strain yourself into a hernia or blown disk. Do it once and your body will confirm for you that that is the natural posture. Of course, you can over-strain in that posture too. Stop, stop, stop if you feel increased blood pressure in your head. Overdoing it in this way can be very dangerous. I don't want someone to read this, try it and stroke out! And don't ignore the other measures and expect "the squat" to save you -- I always worry when I try to give my fellow junkies advice - we always obsess on anything that seems to help us and wind up making additional problems for ourselves. Easy does it

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I take a minimum of 40mg of methadone daily for severe back pain. Constipation is defin-   ately a major probllem. I have successfully    countered this side effect by taking 480mg of  Docusate NA and consuming approximately 8 to   10 dried prunes before retiring. This combina- tion has proven to be very effective. If you   are still troubled by constipation, I stongly  reccomend this solution. Good luck and best    wishes.