CONSTIPATION--problem with so many of our drugs
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okay,symptoms change or worsen beat feet to ed
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After weeks of problems I am off to my own doctor tomorrow (normal one not Onc), but feeling very fearful really as have so many symptoms of colon cáncer and my recent problems of total blockage are not resolving fast, better than a week ago but not good or normal for me at all...........feel overwhelmed and worn down by all that has gone on over last 4 years, i cover it well i know but its still there.........................sorry all.
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Lily, hugs I'm with you, it's wearing, but we keep on pushing. Must admit I have an unorthodox way of handling things. Way against anyone's standard i.e politically correct. I get bad news, I do one of two things. Go out for an outrageously good meal or I get drunk. Then push on the next day. In the case of getting drunk , it's two days. We all cope differently.
Until the dx is in, it truly makes no sense to worry. What is right now, is. I can come up with many more diagnoses than colon cancer. For any dx it's a step by step method to work the problem.
Walk into your docs office tomorrow with an itemized list of what has occurred. No narrative. He will get lost. Take the three lists I posted, filter out the duplicate questions. It will allow him to focus.
Always keep the doc focused. You get more done that way.
Hugs sweetie, have faith, you can get through this
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Good luck Lily .... have faith! I agree with Sas .... you don't know what you are dealing with so until tomorrow .... rest!
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Did anyone see this commercial for a medication that helps with opioid-induced constipation? It was shown during the Superbowl.
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Lily, been thinking about you. How did you make out at the Doctor's?
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Aw very sweet of you to remember.........THey changed my medication to get things moving and have ordered blood and pooh tests to check for intestinal and colon cáncer.........have to go back to the Doctor next week for a check up, then wait for blood and pooh results, and then I want a colonoscopy as I think there is something affecting my colon, and it could be a gall bladder Stone that has moved.......
So on two different meds 3 times a day............I still feel full but do feel there is movement, just not outwards!!!!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X276jp-vvRY
hi corky, made it hot.
Lily, good lord, How can you post that and not post the drugs, silly girl, with all that we've been through
Glad you saw your doc. VERY. Also, glad you have a plan. Hugs. Keep a poop chart. Colonscopy's ought to be in the regular surveillance plan for BC patients i.e baseline done within the year of BC when out of immunocompromised state. They are standardly started at age 50 here in the USA. No clue about the rest of the world. Gall bladder symptoms and work up is different than what you have experienced.Lily, you easily fit the criteria for a scope. Each one of the following will ring the bell for getting a scope. Either by themselves or in combination.
Weight loss unknown reason, blood in stools or blood streaked stools, pencil thin stools, Abdominal pain unknown origin, Constipation unknown origin, Diarrhea unknown origin, Left sided abdominal pain unknown origin, could be more that's just off the top of my head.
Each of the above has a work up before it get's to a scope. A step by step method. But if an answer can't be found then a scope is indicated.
I'm breathing a sigh of relief that you have seen your doc YAY.
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http://www.webmd.com/drugs/condition-13908-Opioid-...
Considering taking medication to treat Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation? Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation. Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs listed below.
Your search for Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation returned the following treatments.
Drug Name Indication 
Type User Reviews Amitiza oral 494 User Reviews Relistor subcutaneous 28 User Reviews lubiprostone oral 20 User Reviews Movantik oral 14 User Reviews naloxegol oral 2 User Reviews methylnaltrexone subcutaneous 1 User ReviewsConsidering taking medication to treat Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation? Below is a list of common medications used to treat or reduce the symptoms of Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation. Follow the links to read common uses, side effects, dosage details and read user reviews for the drugs listed below. Your search for Opiate Pain Medication causing Severe Constipation returned the following treatments.
Drug Name Indication Type User Reviews 0 -
Tried C&P for a list of the OIC drugs. Didn't work. Heres' a link to WebMD that has the list
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/condition-13908-Opioid-...
Corky what a hoot the super bowl add was. The guy coming out of the bathroom smiling like he won a trophy. Can you imagine what the crew creating the add was going through. I would have loved being a fly on that wall. Can you imagine the ideas that were left on the cutting room floor. How do you talk about poop and not get into details in front of a 100 million people? From that perspective they did a hell of a job.
Thanks for the laugh and the Great link. We've talked about it before, but not in many, many pages.
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Sorry SAS - its Movicol, and Levosulpiride 25mg, have to say I think the latter is a bit stronger as it is generating sensations and action but not enough down the pan...........I am trying not to think about it too much I just want to feel better and to be able to lose the 18lbs I want to lose, although I weigh just 4lbs less than I did when I was diagnosed now
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Hi Sas! Here in Canada, they also start at the age of 50 for colonoscopy unless there is a family history, etc. I had my 2nd one 2014 (ten years had the previous one) and 3 polyps removed. All benign, thank God. My question to you is in regards to your post above. I may be reading in wrong but you state "Colonscopy's ought to be in the regular surveillance plan for BC patients i.e baseline done within the year of BC when out of immunocompromised state". Since I had mine in 2014 they said not another one for another ten years. I'm confused on your statement unless you are meaning for those under 50 years of age.
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Oh there you are Lily
Movicol is: " Movicol sachets contain macrogol (polyethylene glycol '3350'), which is a type of medicine known as an osmotic laxative. Each sachet also contains sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride. The contents of the sachets are mixed with water to make a drink." It's the same as our Miralax except it has the extra ingredients. They are both osmotic which means it draws fluid into the intestine to soften stoolThis chart describes and compares the different agents and what to expect with them.
Not familiar with Levosulpiride, but curious. I will see what I can find.
Your weight loss is nothing to worry about. When I used "weight loss unknown origin" Generally, it's around the 20 lb or greater weight loss where someone's eating usual and the weight falls off. I only used it as an example of medical complaints that get's someone a ticket to the colonoscopy theater(room).
Be back later
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Well Lily, I think you need to study levosulpiride, does have a prokinetic affect. It is used worldwide. At the dose you're at, it's used for GI. But there are mentions about it's use in breast cancer. It's a mixed bag. Being studied for it's anti-nausea characteristic in chemotherapy to the opposite end of the extreme saying it should be used cautiously or contraindicated in breast cancer. That's the 180* spectrum.
Levosulpriide's primary use at a much much higher dose(600mg) is as an antiphyscotic. This happens with a lot of drugs when they are being developed or after approval that it's found to have other uses. As a prokinetic the dose is a fraction of the antipsychotic dose.
For example, Valium/diazepam was first developed as a muscle relaxer. After it was approved by the FDA, it was found to have antianxiety use. In just a few years most docs didn't even connect it to muscle relaxation. it was primarily used for anxiety.
So, my dear Lily, I'm stepping back from it's discussion. Hate to create and worry, but better to know what you are taking than not. I'm familiar with the drug class as it applies to the drugs approved in the USA. I don't tread where I don't know my stuff.
I would suggest ringing up your MO and asking them if the drug is any problem for you as a BC survivor. It's what I'd do.
HUGS
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Judi, sorry for the confusion. Yes, if the person is under the age of 50, it's reasonable to discuss getting a baseline scope or genetic testing for the genes that have breast cancer and colon cancer as areas that can turn cancerous.
Cancers have a usual way they mets. BC met's to the liver, brain, bone, and lung. That's because of how the cells develop.
Then there are certain genetic mutations that have a pattern of cancers arising. There is a thread on here that discusses these genes. I'll try and bring the link here.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/47/topics/830809?page=1
Myriad
https://www.myriadpro.com/myrisk/why-myriad-myrisk/gene-selection/
Color Genomics
https://getcolor.com/learn/the-science
Probably many companies have jumped into the business. Theses are just two. Myriad has a one page chart. Color genomics you have to click on each one(towards the bottom of the page). Important to review family --nuclear and extended to determine if genetic testing is appropriate.
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THanks SAS - I see it mentions extra piramidal reactions too, which I get with most anti nausea medicines.........but I am only going to take it for a week or two, it does seem to be working better than the Cinitapride as I do still have a lot of impaction, can feel it........
Will watch and wait...........
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Thanks Sas! I didn't think it applied to those who already had a colonoscopy. But I have now another worry to add to my list .... bc mets to the liver, brain, bone and lung. I'm just coming up to 5 years on the meds and hoping I hear the news on Feb. 23rd that I no longer have to take them. I also have to go for a CT scan on my lungs due to the years I smoked and smoking a pack a day (?). Anyways, that is now the norm in Ontario unless I had quit smoking 15 years ago. I'm now scared crapless!
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judi crapless is good, scared is not good. Remember what is , is. You have two weeks. I forgot to say the way I handled things besides getting drunk and outrageous gourmet meal. I pray. In fact, I pray allot. Many unoccupied moments are spent praying. Walking around the house, driving the car. I pray for us. Me, you, all of us. Dwelling on the awful deprives us of the joy and niceness of living. We have control over the fear.
When fear comes or nasty thoughts. Treat it as an obnoxious person. With an obnoxious person you would tell them no. Sometimes you would scream at them no and leave. Scream at them at first and walk away. As that obnoxious person tries to bother you more, each time dismiss them. Each time it will be easier to flip them off and out of your mind. It works. Just worn folks that they might hear you screaming no at first.
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Yes, and I've seen that commercial several other times as well. Remember, this is a drug specific to opiod induced constipation, usually chronic. Treatment related constipation is different and can be managed, usually without prescription meds. Sometimes it is the chemo itself causing the problem but much more often it's one or more of the premeds given before infusion. An example is Aloxi. Wonderful, relatively new drug which can help negate nausea for 2-3 days. But it can cause such miserable constipation some patients don't want it, then suffer with the nausea instead. Zofran is another example. But constipation can be managed. With diet changes, increased fluid intake, exercise and stool softners. If needed, Miralax is the most common drug my oncology practice suggests. I am an Oncology Certified RN, as well as a breast cancer survivor.
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Thanks Sas! I do pray and scream out "cancer get out of my body". But love that you take the time to think of us all. You are so generous!
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Judi Hugs , Heard you screaming from here.
I Leenso, welcome here. Nice info. When you have time read the entire thread and help fill in the latrine(pun). We pun a lot around here. Good Luck with your treatment. About half way through rads?
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Judi - Crapless? Is that like Braless?
I had baseline colonoscopy at 50 and had a couple of non-malignant polyps snipped so had another in 2 years w/a few more polyps. Then another in 3 years, which was after chemo for breast cancer - voila - last colonoscopy had NO polyps and i get to wait 5 years.
My new solution - Japanese food every day while I was on vacation. I've never had so many opportunities to visit the toilet every day. Nice consistency, good color, not hard. Guess I'll have to move to Hawaii or Japan.
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Hmmmm, MT, I used that word to avoid any profanity. But yup, that is like braless.
Thanks for the hugs Sas. Will let you know the results.
MT, really about the Japanese food. Did you have the teriyaki or rice/noodles/meat. I too love Japanese food and only the vegetarian sushi!
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Welcome Leenso! I always love to learn with the information ladies provide and what is weaned out!
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OK well you heard the misery now hear the joy!!
Sorry if TMI but I have just done the biggest most satisfying poop for 5 weeks!!! The relief and joy in my body is amazing......I feel so much lighter and just had to share!
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Lilly - so glad for your relief.
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Lily ... it is a relief, isn't it. Makes you just want to jump up and down for joy. We've all been there. Sas, you are just tooooooo funny. Love it!
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SAS; Love it!
Actually my rads was complete late Feb of last year. And I'm so happy to hear that Lilly pooped! It's like being a three year old toilet training every one cheers when the child poops in the potty! Or did I misread, is the happy person Sas??!!!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X276jp-vvRY