If it ain't one thing....

A few weeks ago, I flared so I started 40 mg prednisone. After blood stopped, I began my slow taper. Monday, I started 27.5. Wednesday, I was feeling great and bathroom issues were perfect, BUT....I slipped in a local restaurant and fractured my t12 vertebrae. "Slipped" is an understatement. It was more like airborne then flat on my back! The Hospital gave me pain meds (Tylenol with hydrocodone). I was having lots of internal pain. Fridays visit to the orthopedic doctor revealed air (lots of air) throughout my entire left side of my colon. The doctor told me to take a laxative to get everything moving again. I took a dose of exlax and 4am Saturday, things got going. I was good, until I ate dinner last night. No poop today so far.

My problem now is every time I eat, I feel that pain after just a few bites. Any ideas how long it takes before my colon rebounds from the trauma of the fall? How often is it safe for us UCers to take laxatives.

Oh...and yes, the ortho is going to do a bone density since I've been a Pred user. For the fracture, I am going to have to wear a brace for 6 weeks.

I am just eating real small amounts at a time. Trying to stay away from gassy foods.

Thanks. I have a feeling I will have to partake of a dose of miralax. Exlax worked but afterwards everything stopped again. I'm trying to take pain meds only when absolutely necessary. So far I've had none today so hopefully I can sleep without them.

OMG!!!! This is a terrible thing to happen to you....I hope the bone density testing reveals if you will/won't possibly have fragility in the spine from the pred.

Like Sherry said, you need to take the pain meds. There are various kinds, and hopefully you'll find one that won't cause you serious constipation.
I think in part, just the pain will cause you constipation and things to slow down. A double whammy.

I don't know if you're taking fibre supplements, but add them to your meals in small dosages to help fluff up the stool. As well, upping vitamin C can help soften stool and move things along if you're not wanting to take mag-citrate. You could consider docusate sodium...it helped me in the past during constipation phases before I added fibre supplements.
Honey is a bit of a laxative...maybe that in water or tea would help.

I was doing reading on t-12....seems it's a major vertebra, one easily fractured but carries the majority of the weight. I sure hope your fracture is a minor one and that you heal well.

I don't know the dosage of your vitamin D/Cal....but you should up them to the max possibly.

Healing thoughts sent your way!
q

Thanks everyone. I took another small dose of exlax last night and got rid of everything. Thanks to living in the south during pollen season, I woke up with a sinus infection and major sore throat. Of course drainage making me cough which is absolutely no fun. I was at my primary care physician at 6:15 am (he works amazing hours). Shot of antibiotics and a shot of steroids and made it to the land of the living by lunch. So now I have antibiotics to add to my pile of meds. My colon is going to take a back seat for awhile while I deal with everything else. I am still doing Pred (20mg), probiotic and Vit D/calcium supplements and maintaining my fiber and fluids. Since I'm not bleeding and obviously don't have diarrhea, I'm thinking about dropping to 17mg in the morning. On a brighter note...tomorrow is Wednesday. Lol!