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Posted 11/26/2013 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I had lumbar fusion and laminectomy Friday morning, and I'm starting to get concerned (and uncomfortable) about not having gone number two in 7 days now.

I've been on Vicodin for almost three weeks. I know opiates are notorious for backing you up, but I need some help. I've been drinking a ton of water, taken Colace every day, and eating lots of fruits and vegitables. Coffee isn't helping either!

Tia!
Posted 11/26/2013 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mandy.Pain Meds effect us all to different extents.7 days is a while.Bless your heart.

I seldom have problems but have a friend that had to get some expensive prescription pills to help him go.

Have you tried that stuff you have to drink the day before a Colonoscopy.

Hope you get some relief,
Rick
Posted 11/26/2013 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh! I was hoping it wouldn't have to resort to that, but the calcium citrate stuff is on the list as a last resort.
Posted 11/26/2013 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you mean.I believe that stuff would unclog a drain.

Maybe one of the ladies here might have a gentler answer.LOL

Have you been pretty inactive this week?If so,I imagine that coupled with the opiates has caused your problem.

I hope you get some relief,
Rick

Post Edited (tidalmouse) : 11/26/2013 1:48:44 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/26/2013 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
For me, the old standby - prunes - 3-4 everyday help me stay on course.
Hot beverages (decaf herbal tea) 3-4 cups in a row usually kickstart things.

If a few days go by without .. I stop eating solid hard foods, often use protein drinks as meal replacements & do the hot tea routine.

A friend of mine swears drinking aloe everyday does the trick for him.

Once there is movement, suggest you be aggressive every day in order to keep things smooth !!

Good luck .. !!
Posted 11/26/2013 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
I can do prunes and herbal tea! Not sure about aloe.

Thanks.
Posted 11/26/2013 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
I went ten days without a bowel movement after my back surgery, despite Colace and Senna!

What finally worked: Polyethylene Glycol 3350, it's an Osmotic Laxative, in powder form. Mix it with water, it's clear, not clumpy, and you'll get results soon! My doc at the Rehab facility got me on it.

It's OTC, so no Rx needed. Also, no cramping, bloating, or gas.

Good luck!


M.


EDIT: This ^^ is the "generic name" for Miralax. Just in case you see the "Poly Glycol" written on the label....same thing, but not brand name so usually less expensive, (so you can look for both), and yes, it's an amazingly effective product!
Posted 11/26/2013 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Miralax is a gentle but very effective laxative. It can be purchased over the counter. It works by drawing water into the stool. Miralax is tasteless and can be mixed with any cold liquid.
Posted 11/27/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I would never go if I didn't 'intervene'. Ahem.

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/product/smooth-move-reg

One cup daily (steep for 15 min) will get you...uh...you know. *blush*

ETA: make sure to take this (almost exactly) 8 hours before you would like to ...take care of this. I take it at bed time.
Posted 11/27/2013 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Miralax is your best OTC bet and follow up with some prunes or prune juice! The trick with opiate therapy is to Not to let it get to the "no go " point! Stay ontop of it by taking something daily.
Posted 11/27/2013 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
True story, Vickie. I'm sure we have all had a couple of those 'why did I wait so long moments'. I mean, it's only ten minutes of a day, but it shouldn't be so brutal. LOL

I hope we all feel better through the holidays. ;)
Posted 11/27/2013 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
I am the fortunate few, and never have issues with constipation from the opiates I take, or in general, even my oncologist is amazed.

The usual helps are daily use of stool softeners, even the OTC types, and lots of water, as much as you can ingest.

I couldn't imagine not going for 7 days, so I would going for a laxative in a hurry if it were me.

Good luck in resolving that, I know its an uncomfortable feeling at best.

David
Posted 11/27/2013 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
If it has been that long, I would strongly suggest using a fleet enema (or any other generic saline enema). Your second best (aka most effective) choice would be mag citrate. Once you're cleared out, it would be a good idea to take miralax as a preventive measure for the duration you'll be taking the pain meds.
Posted 11/27/2013 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I took some Miralax yesterday, and I got hubby to pick up an enema at CVS. Gonna try that today if things don't move. I have had to drink that mag citrate stuff before abdominal surgery before, so I know how horrible it tastes.

I'm not feeling any discomfort, aside from bloating. It's mainly the thought of being "backed up" and reading scary stories of mega colon!
Posted 11/27/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I take milk thistle every day & have no problems. I was never "regular"I until I started taking it, I thought once a week was normal!! It doesn't cause any of the side effects that laxatives cause.
Posted 11/27/2013 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if it's highly recommended or not… I don't usually have too much trouble, but if I do, I just do a sal***er bath. 1 quart of lukewarm purified water, 2 level teaspoons Real Salt. A bit of a gag going down, but the results are reliable (for me and many others) and within an hour tops. This is part of the limeaid fast & cleans, if you Google it you can find more info.

I also use the lime aid (minus the cayenne) for those days when I don't feel like chewing food, at least it gives vitamins/minerals and energy.
Posted 11/28/2013 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Mandy,

I hope you called a doctor before this. After so many days you may have an emergency. Taking strong stuff may do harm!

Even just taking a little tramadol I need help moving things along. For surgical pain reliever constipation I sometimes need Bisacodyl (generic, OTC under many names). That's the pill-type before gut procedures, much nicer than other stuff, although mag citrate may work faster.

Miralax in my second cup of coffee every day is my regular regimen. It's only barely noticeable in hot coffee or tea. I like a lot of milk and sugar in my coffee, but my tea has only a little sugar. 17 grams - capful - dissolves in hot or cold. Miralax is safe, not habit-forming, recommended by doctors. It may take a day to start working though.

Colace works about the same as Miralax, takes time to work also, must be taken daily. It's not any stronger than Miralax.
Posted 11/29/2013 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Mandy, Sorry about your discomfort. I had lower lumbar fusion also. Getting up and walking was crazy difficult at first but the more I walked the better I felt. Exercise helps regularity. I've been dealing with constipation also but not as severe. It has made my back pain level worse until addressed. My wife has been juicing kale for me in the am and it really helps me (its a chore to do but worth it). Don't know if you have someone to help you. I also have had to use Bisacodyl (suppository laxative). I hope you get the relief you desparately need and will pray you get release and freedom you need. -Mike
Posted 11/29/2013 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
I've been eating black licorice lately and it definitely helps. A bit of Milk of Magnesia daily helps, but not too much or you'll get the runs. Also what else helps me is I take a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and mix it with a bit of orange juice, put a dash of salt on it and doesn't taste bad at all. Oh and eat blueberries everyday too!
Posted 11/29/2013 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
I swear by Mirlax too when I need help. Also, coffee works me as well.

Hate this side effect...have the hemorrhoid problem because of it :/
Posted 11/29/2013 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
adding more fiber to my diet....(usually in the form of a few fiber tablets a day) and using Miralax every day has helped me immensely.

When I had gone about a week without going, my doc told me to take a dose of Miralax literally every few hours until things got going, and then follow the directions for daily maintenance.

The longer things sit, the more water gets sucked out, so you end up with really hard stool, and instead of moving as it should it just gets stuck and impacts itself. So you either end up laying eggs or needing to go to the Dr.

So that's the reason behind taking the Miralax every few hours until you start going...it sort of helps to reverse the dehydration process. So says my doc while trying to keep a straight face, because I kept comparing it to rehydrating beef jerky...LOL.
Posted 11/30/2013 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
LOL

Really loved that image Lexi. Brighten my mood!

The day/night I found out I had hemorrhoids was when I ended up in the ER because blood was gushing from the rear zone.

Doc made me go home and take the citrate stuff and miralax. Been on Miralax ever since...though I don't take it every day. Probably at least once a week...as I still have a stool a day, just isn't as soft as it should be for my sensitive rear.

Everyone should make constipation one of their main concerns I have heard some HORRIBLE stories about being impacted. And if your intestine blows a fuse, so to speak, well...you don't want to go down that road.

If you are curious...google is your friend. Reading those stories scared me..well you can fill in the blank. hehe.
Posted 11/30/2013 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear your problem Mandy. I've been there at 7 days and its horrible!!!Senna and Colace didn't even help me. What did was eat about 2-3 prunes, 2-3 glasses of apple juice and generic maximum strength laxative "Dollar General brand" before bedtime. After 7 days its time to step it up and get serious!!! BTW stock up some literature in the bathroom for amusement!!! I hope your hardship will pass!!! Lol
Get well soon...
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