[ATallOne]

What a crappy day out. It is dreary out. I haven't slept for two days now. My body hurts all over. I am sad. I finally talked to my doc last night on the phone and begged her to get me off the neurotryptaline and put me on something else. She agreed and now I will start with something tonight that begins with the letter "T". HA!!! Sounds like a segment out of Sesame Street!

Bottom line - I haven't had a No. 2 in almost 4 weeks (which is not unusual these days) and I am sooo miserable. Not to mention the pain that goes with it. God I hope this will be the answer by switching this drug. The only other possible solution would be to get me off the Tagamet. But I need that. I am a severe sufferer of Acid Reflux to a point of having had the surgery to repair my esophagus back in May of 99. Now all of the hardcore meds have ruined everything and about the only thing I can swallow without acid return is water.

I hope I haven't grossed anyone out. If I have please be adult about your response. I am feeling very sensitive today!! NOT!!! I wish you all the best as usual. Love you all. Chin Up xoxoxox

Mark

[LisaM]

Oh, I've been there hon! It HURTS! No, you haven't grossed me out. LOL! Tell ya what....get yeself some exlax (or is it dulcolax?) suppositories. You'll be good as new in 15-20 minutes. The "trick" is going to be holding it in for that long! And the good part is, if it doesn't get it all the first time, you can do it again safely a second time.

And get some Senna (that's generic for Senokot). Rite Aid has the generic for sure. Take two every morning. That helps me a LOT. Oh, and Magnesium. Now...I had a problem with the magnesium for a bit and didn't know what my deal was. I'm on a 75 duragesic patch, take 2 ferrous phosphates in the a.m. (iron), and also percocet every 8 hrs so I should be pretty packed up, right? NOPE! I was "going" about 8 times a day and couldn't figure out why! Turns out that I was taking "toxic doses" of magnesium. See...my pain doc had me taking 1000 mg's of magnesium before bed, to stop the spasming of my hands and the restless legs. But he didn't "ramp me up" - just had me start all at once. So my body was't used to it. So even though I was taking all the pain meds and iron supplements, I was still "going" ALL THE TIME. That is some POTENT stuff, that magnesium! Silly me didn't even see the correlation between that and "milk of MAGnesia!"

So...there ya have it....Senna, Exlax (or dulcolax???) suppositories, and Magnesium (start with 750 mg's at bedtime). You'll be good as new!

I have experience....can ya tell? LOL!

Hugs
LisaM

[debbiehub]

You might want to try apple cider vinegar with mother- for you acid reflux- It does help some and its natural. You probalby need to get it in a health food store

Debbie

[Curious]

mark,

it is a problem for so many who are on meds. a side effect that is probably higher on the list than they care to tell.

on the chronic pain forum there is a whole thread with ideas and advice from people hwo have had the same problem. maybe what has worked for them will help.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=4768

so you really are full of chit huh mark?

btw...being so backed up...your body is toxic. what for other sx. have you been getting any headaches?

[ATallOne]

You all are great as usual. I knew I could post anything without shame. I have been having headaches and terrible stomach cramps you name it. So I am going to start of first with Glycerin Suppositories, and than do a morning regiment of fibercon or something on that level from now on. I just think the doc slipped and didn't stop to think about what goes in needs to - well you know.

Thanks again. And thank you very much for the links. As always good information is always great to share.

Luve you guys a great deal. Chin Up!!!!

Mark

[jcherry]

Good Morning Mark,

Sorry to read that you are having such a bad day. I do hope you find relief soon. The problem you are having right now with the #2 issue, well that has been a life long problem for me way before I started on any meds. I have been put on everything my Dr's could think of, but to no avail. I had a colonoscopy several years ago and the Dr that did it put me on some type of med and said I would have to be on it for life, and to stay close to a bathroom at all times. Well took it for 2 months, no success, so if anyone knows how you feel I do.. I am lucky to go twice a month! for real.. it is hard to believe huh? I have always had the fear of dying from a blockage. Ok enough for that gross converstaion..LOL

I do hope you find relief soon.. The weather is crappy here today too. It rained yesterday and today it is so gloomy and looks so depressing..

I'm sending you this to brighten your day..

Big Hugs,
Janet

[Curious]

lots of water mark. and then more water. fruit juice helps.

something to mindful about...when you get this backed up and start taking either laxitives or fiber...the looser stuff can go "around" the old dried stuff. gentle tummy massages help. my brother had such a problem from his chemo and pain meds.

oh...don't strain! you don't want to be known as a pain in the butt.

Oh Mark, poor you.

Here are a couple of local Chinese remedies I've found effective, don't know whether the ingredients are available to you, but they work:

Cold fruit salad:
papaya or guava
2 tbs honey
grated fresh ginger, 2 inches of root
aniseed or liquorice to sprinkle on top, with juice of half a lemon or lime.

Hot fruit salad:
steamed rhubarb
2 prunes
4 chopped dates
1 scooped-out fresh fig
mix lightly with mint and 1 tbs honey.

Also, garlic is excellent, lots of it. Best way to take it is as roasted whole garlic bulbs, rubbed if possible with pork fat, fresh coriander and mint, roast in oven for 45 minutes. Tastes divine, the garlic goes gooey and caramelized, loses all sting and you can easily eat a whole bulb, no sweat.

Also, good measures of green olive oil/caster oil with everything - and in your case you might want to sprinkle some dynamite powder on everything too...

Best of luck!

[Jomar]

My dad gets constipated often - and they do the good old prune juice route- even diluting with water or another juice will help to make it more tasty.

If it's been 4 wks- you might ask for stool softener

warm baths?

always drink plenty of water as mentioned previous

Do you know of any foods for you that increase BMs?

I have a few foods that seem move things along. But that could be just MY tummy /system. LOL
I tend to the opposite problem from constipation.
.