hypo constipation (was Re: A subject of some delicacy ( and URGENCY!!!)

[Guest guest]

Ain't illness good for pride and decorum!

I agree with most of the post, except the " get more fiber " theory.

The problem is when you're hypo, circulation/metabolism gets

concentrated in key areas, and stuff with rhythm like bowels stop

doing their thing.

If you already get enough roughage, stuff like prunes and fruit won't

cut it. You need something that will help your tired, lazy guts.

Look for stuff that you normally would avoid, not something gentle!

By the end of last hypo I was chomping 2 dulcolaxes with lots of

water every night before bed. It worked.

has a good point about pre-RAI. If you can evacuate faster

after swallowing the pill, you get less unneeded radiation in your

digestive tract. Consider a laxative then, timing it with scans and

stuff.

> > .... I must risk offending you with this plaintive plea:

> > 10 days into severe hypo for the scan and RAI and I am severely

> > impacted. I take oatmeal with raisins and prune juice, and drink

> > liters of Pellegrino. I am in an annoying bit of pain. Is there

an

> > over-the-counter laxative that someone would reccommend or

> > perhaps a script that would be compatable to all the heart meds

and

> > renal failure stuff I already on a daily basis. One more day and

I'm

> > going to need rotor-rooter. Names of brands ..... HELP!!!!! Pat

>

> Dear Pat,

>

> You've got to try a lot harder than that to offend this group! :-)

>

> Obviously, lots of water, fruits and veggies are a good place to

start in alleviating constipation. Snacking on dried fruits should

also help, along with adding bran to your cereal (or anything

> else).

> Also, try to keep moving your body as much as possible.

>

> Gratefully, I didn't suffer from constipation while going hypo,

although did kick in within hours after ingesting the RAI ablative

dose. Dulcolax was very helpful.

>

> The second time I went hypo, I took stool softeners for two or

three days before the scan, and didn't have any problems. According

to their web page (www.dulcolax.com), it works by increasing

> peristaltic action (stimulating the bowel muscles) and also by

softening intestinal content. It is supposed to work within 6-12

hours (suppositories within approx. 30 minutes).

>

> I've copied below some LID suggestions from people on the list (as

always, be sure to double check the ingredients on anything you

consume while on the LID).

>

> If these suggestions don't provide any relief, call your doctor and

ask for something stronger.

>

> Hope this helps -

> Good luck -

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------

> 1) castor oil ( " it actually wasn't too bad. I added a few ice

cubes, a little orange juice

> and shook it up like a martini ! It worked like a charm! " )

>

> 2) " I was told to eat lightly the day before and nothing after

midnight... also was told to take

> Milk of Magnesia the night before scan [of ablation dose]... "

>

> 3) magnesium caltrate - ( " I was told to drink a full bottle of

magnesium caltrate which

> comes in a couple flavors and is purchased from your pharmacy.

Boyyyyyyyy did it work!!! " )

>

> 4) " I was given strict orders to fully consume a bottle of

magnesium nitrate at 8:00 PM

> the night prior to my body scan. "

>

> 5) " An age-old help for constipation, and one that worked for me

for years of hypo

> constipation, are good old glycerin suppositories. It's a

good choice because it is not

> systemic and works usually within 15 minutes. Glycerin is a

mild irritant to the bowel;

> that's why it works. You can get it at any pharmacy. "

>

> 6) " For something easy to swallow, try stewed prunes.

> Cut up the dried prunes with your basic kitchen shears so

they're in pieces.

> Put in a glass dish (or similar). Pour boiling water to cover

and a bit more.

> Let sit for a bit. Add more water if it looks like it's

needed. Very nice eaten still warm,

> and slides down easy. Make enough for several servings, store

in fridge, nuke when desired. "

>

> 7) " I picked up a few very good tips for this from my 78-year-old

parents.

> Their T4 levels are probably perfect, but their lower

intestines have gone on vacation

> like ours have.

> Get Docusate Sodium an OTC stool softener. take as directed.

> Eat fiber, fiber and more fiber. ....

> Things to avoid at all costs because they stop things up:

> lean hamburgers - gross fatty beef seems OK, but there are

other consequences of

> eating that... also rice .... I also have to spread all this

wonderful fiber out during the entire

> day but only experience cramps when I have had too little

fiber. .....

> A 16 oz coffee first thing in the morning helps things along

also. "