TMI..But Gotta Ask!

[Kammie]

I'm really embarrased to ask this but..this is beginning to be HUGE problem so here goes...

Do any of you guys have any suggestions to keep my bowels moving on a regular basis??!

Before PD, I was never 'regular' anyway..now that I'm on PD..we all know how imperative it is to go regularly.  I've tried Stool Softeners, Miralax (2X daily), Laxatives, and have even had to resort to enemas just to 'move'!!

My abdomen was so swollen and I was so very uncomfortable today, that my Doc requested an XRay to make sure my catheter hadn't moved.  They just called me and, to put it bluntly, told me what all my friends & family say anyway...I'M FULL OF (%*$! 

I feel like my diet includes lots of fiber, water, etc..so what else can I do?
Sorry for the topic, but hey, info like this is what I signed up for!

[big777bill]

 I have the same problem. I use either sennekot or the generic equivilant sold at Wal Mart. It's called Equate brand natural vegetable laxative. Hope this helps you.   God Bless, Bill

[Willis]

Besides Miralax (or a cheaper store brand version) I use pericolace. When I first started on PD the PD nurse recommended colace which didn't seem to have much effect unless I took larger doses then I suffered from the opposite problem! I don't know the real difference between colace and pericolace, but whatever extra ingredient the pericolace has did the trick for me. I take one tablet in the morning and one before bed and that works for me without any nasty side-effects. It's over-the-counter and not expensive so wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[*kana*]

Don't be embarressed because all of us on PD have or will soon encounter this same issue.   Just keep taking stool softners is the only thing you can really do.   

[MaryD]

When my favourite PD nurse was training me for PD and warning me about the horrors of constipation, she told me something odd.

She had attended a PD conference/seminar in Singapore/Malaysia or some such place, and discussions had turned to what the nurses felt was the main problem their PD patients had to contend with.  She and all the western PD nurses picked constipation as the main bugbear.  The nurses from the Asian countries were astonished as they hardly ever had constipation problems.

Western diets???

[lmunchkin]

My husband had same problem on PD.  He tried various stool softners but for him Dulcolox worked the best. It did seem to make his movements for him and gently, not cramping!  That seemed to work best for him!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[Annig83]

IF none of these other options work, I would suggest getting a Rx from you Neph.  My doctor thought I had this problem a while back and it turned out that my catheter was caught up in some fatty tissue and I had to have surgery... but in your case, since you're full of S*(#&T   there is a laxative that is normally used right before a colonoscopy called GaviLyte-With Flavor pack, or there are others that your doc. may prescribe depending on how backed up you are. The stuff is honestly awful, it's like drinking mineral oil, or slimy water...but it worked for me... if you use it be prepared to sit on the toilet for a couple hours, because it cleans you out like no other!!  It may be well worth it though, if you are continuing to have this problem.  GOOD LUCK!

[Atooraya]

Ask your neph for a prescription for Lactoluse. 5_6 hours after taking it be ready to run to the bathroom. And I mean RUN........

[cassandra]

well, you can take it, and schedule a relaxed walk after those 5 hours. Also eat all breadthings whole-grain, it helps.

lots of luck, love Cas

[Cordelia]

Don't be embarrassed......I'm on hemo and I have constipation problems. Heck, I even get bunged up terrible taking IV iron.  My doctor prescribed for me, Senokot---it's a laxative, it moved my bowels quite nicely the other day       

Colace is only a stool softener.  Laxatives for me work better.

[Darthvadar]

Please don't be embarrassed... It's a biological function common to us all...

Mum is on PD, and is taking two Senakot at night, and two Movicol sachets during the day... She must take both to keep 'things' moving...

It seems to be a common problem, and because of the fluid restrictions, not to mention dietry restrictions, everyone I know who's on PD needs the assistance of laxatives...

Hope you get on top of the problem...

Love...

Darth...

[jeannea]

I take Peri Colace every day. But when I get really bad my nurse gives me a dose of sucralose. Tough to swallow but works every time.

[Kammie]

Thanks Guys for all the Info!!!!  I Love being able to come here and spill my guts! (no pun intended)

Turns out..my Doc prescribed the GaviLyte.  Needless to say I've been 'tied up' for several hours!   YIKES..they were right - I was sooooo full of it! LOL!
They also recommended switching from the Colace to the Senokot twice a day.

My PD Nurse has also had me add 5cc's of Heparin to my bags for the next week or so to see if it will help also. I think I'm one of the few patients they have that don't already use the Heparin but I've never noticed the 'fibers' or cloudiness they taught me to look for...

Another thing I'm having to work on is the fluid intake..unlike most of you guys, I have to make myself drink enough! I just don't get thirsty much and can eat a whole meal with nothing to drink!   

Thanks again for all your suggestions and support!!

[billybags]

Kammie thank goodness for that, I bet that was a great relief. My husband has to take 2 senakot and a capful of lactose twice a day, whether he needs it or not.

[Marina]

I  often  use  Magnesium  Citrate  (OTC).   My  Transplant  center  recommended  it  for occasional use.
Also  walking    or  exercise  helps  with  motility.

Ask your neph for a prescription for Lactoluse. 5_6 hours after taking it be ready to run to the bathroom. And I mean RUN........

I  have used  Lactoluse  post  surgery,  but luckily  have  not had  to  RUN  to the  bathroom.   

[Darthvadar]

Kammie...

My mum takes the Senakot last thing at night, and has a hot drink in the morning... That gets her 'going' pretty rapidly!...

Might be worth trying out different times to take them...

Mum gets a bit dehydrated too, so the fact that she's taking Movicol means she's drinking more because it's a medication... That's an extra glass of water anyway... Might be an option to take a medication that needs some fluid!...

Darth...

[Joe]

I take 2 Colace and a dose of MiraLax every day and they seem to keep things moving quite nicely, thank you.

[Grumpy-1]

sounds like all of us have this problem to some extent.  For me, I swing back and forth.  For a while, everything will move just fine, then I'll clog up (sometime due to lack of enough water or fluid) other times, I don't know.  When that happens - simple laxatives work for me.  Then I'll  swing the other way and end up staying VERY close to the bathroom.  Then I'm taking Imodium liike it was candy for a day or two and then i'll be back to normal again.  The cycle doesn't seem to have a pattern so I'm not sure what is causing it.

Grumpy

[Annig83]

Same here Grumpy.    Especially the last few weeks for me, I feel like I'm always in the bathroom, my doctors say it's a virus.... I'm not so sure anymore

[Skunkgirl]

 

if you dont have diet problems or diabetes, I find that movie popcorn and cornuts get me going the same day within a matter of a couple of hours. I don't understand why but that works for me. I have always have had the same problem too.
Hope you find comfort soon...

[Grumpy-1]

My wife says that corn (to include popcorn) will loosen things up.  But I swear that they put something in that movie popcorn that tastes SOOO good and if I start, then the BIG bag is gone. 

[Rain]

I'm on hemo and had the same problem until I started taking probiotics. Now I'm regular and I feel great.
I take 30 billion units of probiotics a day and no issues.  My nephro mentioned that dialysis patient have an over growth of bad bacteria in the gut that can cause constipation and other issues.  I also try to exercise for 1 hour a day.

[Grumpy-1]

Thanks Rain - Now to figure out what to do about the "bad" stuff in the gut.  It is no fun making mad dashes to the restroom....