uncomfortable topic

[justme15]

both figuratively and literally.

for all my PD friends, how do you deal with the big 'C'...constipation?  what regimens/medications/diet do you all use to keep you regular?  What is regular for you?  My clinic says no BM in 3 days; then you are constipated.  Taking this Renvela is really giving me a hard time with staying regular.  Any suggestions/advice are welcome.

Thanks!

[Joe]

I had that issue a couple of months back and we hit it with everything the team could think of; I doubled up on my MiraLax, took oral laxatives, and even used an enema. Took about 24 hours, but we got things moving. 

Routinely, I take stool softeners and a dose of MiraLax once a day. Typically, that is all I need to keep things smooth.

[justme15]

so how long did you go without a BM? 3 days? longer? sorry to probe into your bowel habits, but, how often do you go?

[Sydnee]

When did you start getting constipated? Ed has been on PD since August 2012. He has the opposite problem and has for years (not a dr out there that cares). Is this something he'll have to look forward to? 

[justme15]

Ever since I started taking the renvela ( phos binder
),  Which was Sept/October

[Sydnee]

Oh, Ed has been on renvela for a year come the 19th.

[tiredandthirsty]

i take a dose of miralax just before i go to bed.  seems to be working decently well for me so far.  also, i am on HD not PD just fyi.  but thought i'd "share".  and i take phoslo.

[Leanne]

Im on hemo now but still have the big C issue.  The renvella does it along w keeping me queased out.  I take stool softeners every day and do miralax on the wknd if I need it.  Who knew poop would become such a huge deal but it has

[lmunchkin]

John had this problem too.  I think it is just another symptom of the kidneys.  The binders (pyschologically) does not bind up bowels.  Thus the name binders sounds as though it does, but it clings to the phosphosforus in your body.  Really has nothing to do with the bowels. 
He kept telling the clinic it's the binders, and they would look at me a giggle, because the name "binder" you would think that caused binding up bowels.  It is highly unlikely the binders are causing this, just the digestive process that goes on within your body.  Hubby would take Dulcolox (pills) whenever he feels constipated.  It is very gentle on his body and it does releave constipation.  He would become regular again.
Ask your neph what he/she recommends for this. Dulcolox is what his recommended.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[justme15]

interesting, because my clinic explained that the phosphorous binder Renvela, commonly causes constipation as a side effect.  They gave me a paper that they call the 'poop protocol' with various ways to deal with constipation. Constipation can affect the draining process during PD, and  can affect the way the catheter is positioned.

[blondie1746]

I, too, was having the big "C" problem and it would make my PD very uncomfortable on the cycler.  So my Dr. recommended taking a stool softener twice a day.  Once I got into that routine, my bowels got into a routine as well.  Of course, a cup of coffee in the morning used to work on its own, but now the combination works well!  I started with Miralx, but I didn't find it worked as well, and I didn't like taking it.  Much prefer to take a quick pill.

[Willis]

Part of the problem is dehydration. The PD process pulls off a lot of fluid. I take 1 pericolace in the morning and one at night, I also take a dose of Miralax every morning. Then drink lots of water!

 

[Cordelia]

Maybe try using Senokot. I'm not on PD but suffer from constipation from time to time too.  Stool softeners never did the trick but Senokot (a laxative)works better for me anyways.

[lmunchkin]

I never said that you would not have contipation problems on PD or Hemo for that matter.  Im saying that "the binders for phosphorus" is not the only culprit.  Clinic gave me a "poop" thingy also, but it does not say that the binders are the cause of constipation only, mine says it could be a combination of medications, that mess things up.  I take that to mean plural, not just binders.

Also, if you are eating cheese or not eating enough potassium, those could be the culprit too.  Stool softeners will definately help to regulate your digestive system.

Sorry, I guess I made it sound that binders never cause, I meant to say it is not the "singular" cause.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[lmunchkin]

You might try eating some High fiber foods JM15. I try to avoid giving John too many medications.  Since doing Home hemo, he doesnt seem to need all the stuff to take since no longer doing PD.  But he does have to deal with Needles! He takes a boat load of binders (Renvella & PhosLos) but he never seems to be constipated from them.  When he was on PD, yes, he had to take softners more often.

Jesus Is Lord,
lmunchkin

[Whamo]

I eat pears and take DocQlace.  It works for me.

[jeannea]

PeriColace is a combo of stool softener and laxative. Taking that every day helps many people. Miralax helps some people. Also worth trying is the apple a day kind of thing. Regular fruit intake can help. You have to count fluid and potassium but I think apples are pretty good.

[Lexxtech18]

We were just talking about this in another thread... 

Miralax in apple juice used to work like a charm for me. (Key words: USED TO.)
Senakot takes awhile, but it also works.
Vegetable laxatives. Ask your neph/dietician first.
I've heard Acai berry (pill form or juice) works wonders. Again, ask first as I'm not sure how it is for dialysis pts.
Activia yogurt twice a day. Bonus! It's delicious, too.

That's all I have for now. xD

[M3Riddler]

both figuratively and literally.

for all my PD friends, how do you deal with the big 'C'...constipation?  what regimens/medications/diet do you all use to keep you regular?  What is regular for you?  My clinic says no BM in 3 days; then you are constipated.  Taking this Renvela is really giving me a hard time with staying regular.  Any suggestions/advice are welcome.

Thanks!

PD in itself can cause consitpation..  Miralax works well... When I was on PD, I believe I was also on a stool softener as well.

[jeannea]

Especially the cycler can cause constipation. At night is when your bowels do their best work and keep things moving. But on the cycler you are drawing water out at night. You're basically fighting your body's natural process. That's why constipation is such a problem. The best way is to be proactive. Take your stool softeners and/or laxatives. Keep track of how long it's been since you had a bowel movement. Then you can work on things before you're 5 or 6 days constipated when you're going to hate life.