No, I didn't make it up - honest!!

Cos of the steroids he used to have quite an appetite and sometimes for
breakfast he would indeed have a pork chop, once that had gone through his
system, nature took it's course and he would need a "pork chop poo"! (which
is was we called it!!)

It was far more enjoyable and pleasant than the medications that Len used to
give him in the AR (but I am sure that Len was fixated with bowel movements
anyway!)

Hugs Petal

Alayne

I just posted here for the first time a few days ago to ask about help for
my mother-in-law that was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.  The subject
line caught my eye though and I thought maybe I could offer some help out
with this particular topic.
As a chronic-pain patient who has had to deal with constipation from taking
opiates, I can offer the following information supplied by a wonderful Dr.
who used to post on alt.support.chonic-pain.  He gives his pain patients a
handout that is very detailed about avoiding constitpation.
His recommendations:

1. Milk of Magnesia?
Take 2 tablespoons of this every night before going to bed.  If you do not
have a bowel movement the following morning, then you are to take another 2
tablespoons that morning.  This is to be followed that evening by 2 more
tablespoons.  Normally, you will have a response to the Milk of Magnesia? by
the second or third dose.

2. Dulcolax?
Take one capsule at night before going to bed.  If you do not have a bowel
movement the following morning, then you are to take another one that
morning.  This is to be followed by another capsule that night.  Again, you
should have a response to the Dulcolax? by the second or third dose.

3. Sennakot? (or senna)
Take 2 capsules at night before going to bed.  If you do not have a bowel
movement the following morning, then you are to take another two capsules
that morning.  This is to be followed by another two capsules that night.
Again, you should have a response to the Sennakot? by the second or third
dose.

If you ever "get behind" on your bowel movements (common during the first
month of therapy as you get used to the medications and the active bowel
regimen), then you should not "wait it out" and hope for the best.  Drastic
measures are needed to clean your bowels out and to then "start over."  This
can be accomplished by using magnesium citrate.  This is sold over the
counter at any pharmacy, in the laxative section, in a green glass bottle.
This is a very powerful active laxative, aka "purgative," and should be
taken in the following manner.  Drink the entire bottle in one sitting.
Just pour it into a cup and drink it.  It may taste better if it is served
chilled.  It tastes like lemon-lime soda with a salty flavor.  Once you have
drank it, it will take anywhere from 1 hour to 12 hours to work.  As it
moves through your bowels, your abdomen will gurgle and you will feel and
hear a lot of movement.  This is normal and to be expected.  Please do
yourself a favor and do not go anywhere away from a nearby toilet until
after the purgative has emptied your bowels.  Once that is done, restart
your previous, preferred laxative from the choices I had listed above.  If
you have had to do this twice, strongly consider changing your laxative
choice to a different one.

We joke about this all of the time, but it is no laughing matter to be
constipated with a condition known as Opioid Bowel Syndrome and needing to
be digitally disimpacted by a doctor or a nurse.  So please take this as
seriously as you do your pain relievers.

Mag citrate and MOM and Sennakot and Dulcolax are all over the counter and
lactulose is incredibly expensive (about $70 for an 8 oz bottle).  Sorbitol
can help to and is cheaper BUT you must be regular before you start using
it.  The gas it can cause will make you want to die if things get stuck.

If you are still reading after all of that you must have a real need to know
about how to relieve constipation so here's one more trick that you can use
to stay regular.  It is a recipe for a paste that was also posted on the
chronic pain group.  It really works well (and doesn't taste half bad
either).

Recipe:

DOSE: 1-2 Tablespoons per day

1 pound prunes
1 pound raisins
1 pound figs
4 oz. senna tea (health food store.. it looks like a bunch of leaves)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup lemon juice

1. Prepare tea..use about 2 1/2 cups boiled water added to tea and steep 5
minutes.

2. Strain tea to remove tea leaves and add only 1 pint tea to a large pot,
then
add fruit.

3. Boil fruit and tea for 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and add sugar and lemon juice. Allow to cool.

5. Use mixer, blender or food processor to blend fruit mixture into smooth
paste.

6. Place in plastic container and place in freezer. (Paste will not freeze
but
will keep forever in freezer.)

7. Spoon out what you require each day.
Enjoy eating it straight off the spoon.

Spread it on toast or add hot water and make a drink.

If the fruit paste is not working (you are not having bowel movements), then
you need to increase the amount of fruit paste you are taking. On the other
hand...if you have very loose stools then you need to cut down on the amount
of
fruit paste you are taking. Perhaps even taking it every other day works.

Best wishes,

Michele

"J"

I make a version of "Sock it to me cake" for my
patient (and me).  It's a sugar-free, almond flour,
flax and hemp seed poundcake.  It's bursting with
fiber rich goodness.  ;-)  Wash it down with a stiff
cuppa joe... Bingo!

Ruth CM