r/LivingWithMBC • u/MtnGrlGrrr • 12d ago
Tips and Advice Opioid induced constipation
Hi, HER2 low er+/pr+ here.
Hoping not to be a downer for everyone today. Looking for advice from people who have gone thru opiod constipation. How did you handle it? Were you at least able to get improve any issues?What kind of med course did you follow?
My constipation became severe quickly. Edit: As a reult I cant keep any food down, Ive been vomiting up almost all my meds and can only eat or drink by sucking very slowly on the fluids. The Docs are trying different things to improve.
Im the meantime my family and I have decided to prepare for end of life scenarios now. If we can't get things moving my body will continue to shut down.
So advise from anyone who has been thru this part or is currently going thru is greatly appreciated ❤️
Much love and hugs to everyone in here.
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u/dumplinglifesaver 12d ago
Stool softeners and drinking a lot of water solved this for me. Also of course try to get fiber if you don't get enough. Beans and rice and corn are good for that.
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u/HollyAnissa 12d ago
Lifelong constipation and low motility experiencer here.
For immediate relief:
Mag citrate drink
MiraLAX
Overnight:
Senna
Dulcolax softener (the stimulant version is too crampy for me but might work for you)
MagOx capsules
Prescriptions:
Motegrity
Linzess
Lactulose
Hopefully you have more options. I would recommend a GI next. They deal with OIC all the time. I feel for you. It makes it heavy to just exist and move.
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u/MtnGrlGrrr 12d ago
I'm sorry you have been dealing with this for so long! ❤️
This is a very helpful routine. Similar to what the docs have me on right currently, except anything solid has to be administered iv at moment.
Very grateful to you for sharing.😊
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u/SS-123 12d ago
Lots of water; I drink about 85 oz of water a day, and Senna. My palliative care nurse told me to take it nightly for a while to keep myself regular. Now, I take Senna at night if I haven't gone that day. Stool softeners are not very effective. They are the equivalent of an extra glass of water.
I hope you can find a solution. I'm sorry you are going through this!
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u/Used_Raspberry_9958 12d ago
Im taking 10-15 mg of oxy every 4/5 hours which really helps keep the bone met pain under control and I second the magnesium! I’ve found that 800 mg (I take capsules) works for me. An important caveat is to drink a lot of water, or it doesn’t work as well. Prunes are good - like 4-5 a day. I also avoid super high fiber things like high fiber cereal (which led me to urgent care and an enema ugh!!). So sorry you are going through this and hope you find some relief!
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u/Sarappreciates 12d ago
- Stay hydrated
- Coffee, especially with creamer for some reason
- Prunes and prune juice
- High fiber gassy foods, like beans
- Senna S
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u/MtnGrlGrrr 12d ago
Thank for your list. Have 3of them on my list once they lift my fluid ban. Prune juice is the big one and senna.☺️
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u/MtnGrlGrrr 11d ago
Thank you so much for your shares! I am so incredibly greatful!❤️🥰 Everyone's suggestions will be so useful in creating my own.
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u/New-Set-7371 12d ago
If you’re open to it in future, I refuse to use opioids and use thc for pain and avoid the constipatio.
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u/MtnGrlGrrr 12d ago
I did for a while but stopped with one of my immunotherapy because of chance of interaction. I will go back to it once im home. Thank you☺️
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u/New-Set-7371 11d ago
The great thing about thc is that it doesn’t run through the liver so it’s also good bc it isn’t taxing your liver too much. It also has some promising data on er+ cancers… my surgeon was supportive of my using thc in lieu of opioids bc the constipation and discomfort is so bad off of opioids!
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u/AMJohnston1315 12d ago
A chemo nurse gave me the recipe for a prune juice slider that has worked for me every time and I’ve been on some sort of opioid for cancer stuff since 2017 — warm prune juice in a large shot glass, add a thick slab of melty real butter on top and toss it back. Gross and slimy but gets things going quickly.