Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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thaliajen 08/08/2011

It's not a fun subject and I get if anyone doesn't want to read or comment. I've had RSD for 14 years and have dealt with this issue off and on and I'm looking for advice, tips, anything.

I recently returned from Mexico with Montezuma's Revenge, or, as we call it, diarrhea. I KNEW it was coming and I'd been constipated for days so if I'd been at home I would've welcomed it. But I was boarding a plane for 3 hours to take me to Houston for 3 hours and then another 3 hour flight home. I couldn't take the chance, so I took Immodium before and during my flight. I managed to stave off the diarrhea, but I ended up terribly constipated. I feel like I have to go, but it goes away. My stomach is hard, and I'm literally full of s***. My medication IS constipating but I've always managed to deal with it by drinking plenty of water. After awhile, I got used to the meds.

Making this more complicated is the fact that I don't eat well. I don't eat meals, basically. I am rarely hungry and eat this or that during the day, but it's not enough fiber or even enough food to force the issue. I don't know why I'm not super skinny, as I literally, rarely eat. (I can't cook and I'm very picky.)

So right now I'm where I hate being- between constipation and diarrhea. I've been taking lots of warm baths, drinking water and even caffeine as I heard that it helps the constipation. I'm stretching my pain meds b/c I know it makes matters worse, but I can only go so long w/o taking a pill. So now I'm wondering what else I can do to make things, move along, if you will. Anyone have any advice? This doesn't happen often but when it does it scares me. I hate not being in control of my body!

I wasted a weekend with some stomach pains but managed to pass gas, which helped a lot. I'm trying to move around as best I can b/c exercise is supposed to help, but with my foot, I can't exactly go running.

I'm sure this is embarrassing for some people but after so many years of it, I just want some helpful hints. If I offended anyone, I apologize. But this IS part of chronic pain. At least if you're on opiods.

Thanks!

cherrychanga 08/08/2011

How about starting with a full dose of milk of magnesia...don't leave the house for a few hours! A friend on DS suggested I start drinking aloe vera juice to help with my digestive issues so I started that yesterday.

I'm already feeling the positive effects this moning. I take stool softeners with stimulant in them and metamucil daily. The aloe is in addiion to the others.

I also add flax meal to my smoothies and muffins. Lots of fruit...the fresh kind, probiotics and magnesium supplements are helpful.

Hope you get things running properly!

Hugs,
Cherry

thaliajen 08/08/2011

Thanks Cherry!
I have a terrible gag reflex when it comes to taking things I don't like the taste of, but the fruit is a great idea! And I agree, Metamucil is probably a good idea. If I recall correctly from my pregnancy, they make a capsule form. Maybe one a day would help things along.
Thanks again!

deleted_user 08/08/2011

I think it is time for a enema or some suppositories to get things moving now that you are home. Sometimes it takes both and keep up with the fiber because I am sure you need a good few days of going to feel regular again.

Nothing is worse then not being regular it can mess up the best of days, so dont worry about posted about this it is common among us CPers.

Also a good walk should help things along

thaliajen 08/08/2011

I know what suppositories are but I've never had an enema. I know the gist of it, and I think, for now, I'll stick with suppositories if it comes to that. It's not so uncomfortable in my stomach anymore, I'm able to pass gas and small stool, so that's good. But every time this happens, I get the pressure of the constipation on my bladder, so THAT is uncomfortable.

I feel better in that I know I'll go eventually, but the running to the bathroom to urinate is getting almost as bad as the stomach ache yesterday. I know what I have to do, and that is eat something high in fiber, and definitely some meat. For some reason, when this happens, 9 times out of 10 I can eat some steak or prime rib or something, and THAT will do it. Oddly, eating Milky Way Candy Bars sometimes helps. I'll have to ask the hubby to grill out this afternoon when he gets home. IF that doesn't work, I'll try the other options.

I don't know why the eating part didn't come to me before, maybe b/c I was so sick to my stomach. For now, going on what is in the house, I might as well just wait. I can't cook, and all we have are toddler foods and meat for my hubby. Then again, it could get worse before 3pm.

This sure is annoying when it happens, and each time I say I won't let it happen again. Hopefully with the tips here and my own memory of how I handled the situation last time, it'll be done by this time tomorrow!

deleted_user 08/08/2011

Lord know we all go thru this, even if you don't cook or eat much, get you a good cereal that has loads of fiber. just last week it got so bad for me I had to go to ER. I am with you on the gag thing, one time hospital had to put tube down my throat because I could not drink that stuff without getting sick.
I did discover something yesterday, I was standing doing my eyebrows and leaning against sink cabinet, I am short so I have to tipie toe, it helped me go to the bathroom. the up and down pressure of the cabinet made me have to go. but it did make my other pain worse for a bit, but I will take it so not to go to the ER again.
I hope you get relief soon!

Blessings Rhonda

thaliajen 08/08/2011

Thanks Rhonda! I'm short, too, so maybe the counter would be a good place to put some pressure? In 14 years I haven't had to go to the ER and I'm NOT going to unless it is really necessary. I know it gets bad and lots of CP patients have to go, I just pray that other measures will work 1st. What would the ER do? Tell me to take stool softeners? Actually, I FREAK at medical stuff so hopefully I can do this myself. Whether I'm hungry or not, I'm gonna eat that steak this afternoon!

deleted_user 08/08/2011

Enemas are like a bottle of saline that you squirt up your butt, yes not a fun thing to do and I have only done it when I had no other choice. I take stool softeners on a daily basis because I dont eat enough fiber to get things going on a daily basis.

cherrychanga 08/08/2011

I have an Accupressure book that gives you all the different point to treat yourself. There are several points to stimulate the colon. Find yourself a book!

Hugs,
Cherry

fibrolizzy 08/08/2011

Taking my magnesium supplement at night works pretty well for me.

serenityha 08/08/2011

along with all the other good suggestions, i can just add two other things that helped in the same sortof situtation. there is a valve a few inches from your left hip that you can massage and will often un-tense the colon and rocking back and forth at the waist can relax it a little. you still probably need the other measures also. that's so painful. good luck.

deleted_user 08/08/2011

My PCP actually prescribed Mirolax. You can buy it over- the -counter so you don' need a Rx. It is a powder that you mix into some juice. It has no taste of it's own and dissolves well if you give it a chance. It may take a day or two so it's pretty gentle. I like that. A couple doses over 2-3 days is usually plenty then I take colace daily to keep every thing going. I have had problems because of meds, have had to go the enema route and don't like that. I actually had a doc prescribe the same stuff they use to clean you out before a colonoscpy only split over 2 days.That was a real joy! Miralax is my friend.

deleted_user 08/08/2011

this is going to sound CRAZY but my son had horrible bouts of constipation when he was younger. I was told by a pediatric nurse to make an ivory soap enema. I was told to get one of the "booger suckers" a clean one never used and take ivory soap and warm water and mix and suck it up with the bulb syringe. And then place in the anus and gently squeeze the solution into him. And low and behold 15 mins later I had something in a diaper that no kid should EVER have. It resembled clay and straw. Don't wait too long because you can run risk of impaction. Trust me you will want an enema compared to a surgery. Best of luck! Sending good potty chi your way.

deleted_user 08/08/2011

What always seems to work for me is called dulcolax i take 4 pills at be and go the next day usually in the morning. It does produce cramps but it works. Its more than the box says to take but the dr told me I could take this dose. It is not sudden and you do not get diarrhea from it. I have bad constipation though. Hope this helps.
alena

deleted_user 08/09/2011

I tried all kinds of over the counter meds and couldn't go, my dad fed me some plums and they tasted great and worked on the bowel problem to. Next time you go to the dr. ask for an Rx of colace. I used to get an Rx of colace with pain meds.my Dr. doesn't do it anymore because I haven't had any problems for along time.
Gentle Hugs.

thaliajen 08/09/2011

Nothing sounds crazy at this point. And I've awoken in the middle of the night determined to do something. I ate a few pieces of meat (wasn't hungry so just a few tiny bites) took 2 stool softeners, and am up drinking cocoa (in August!) taking hot baths and drinking tons of water. Will ask hubby to stop for laxatives on way home. Hopefully they'll work gently.

After 14 years, this is crazy. I'm glad I don't deal with this on a regular basis! If my foot wasn't so bad, I'd just quit the meds for a day. Usually in summer it isn't bad at all. Oh well, life goes on.

Am trying to be responsible and not overreact, which is something I tend to do. When I was 8 I read about leprosy in Sunday School and was CERTAIN I had it. For some reason it described it as little white spots which, growing up on the Mississippi every summer, I had plenty of. If it wasn't tan in a millimeter of a section, it was leprosy. I even figured out that I'd gotten it b/c my aunt had recently been to Africa. I was 8, LOL!

So while visions of impacked fecal matter are hitting my brain every minute or so, I'm hoping this will go away from a few simple measures. Laxative is next step. But as sick as they make me, I am hoping for the water and stool softeners to work 1st!

I recall reading that Elvis (a huge opiod user) used to take hot baths to soften the fecal matter b/c he had such terrible constipation. I take 2-3 warm baths a day anyway, so maybe that will help a bit. Everything counts, right?

I do know I'm NOT letting this happen again. I was so tired yesterday that I let my son watch Sesame Street for 3 hours! I felt like worst mom EVER but he loves it and he learns from it. Today won't be much better, but there's not much to do anyway with the weather we're having.

Thanks for all of the ideas! I'm sure it'll work out. I just keep thinking, what do regular women do with their days? After 14 years, this RSD is starting to wear on me like never before.

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