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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cherrychanga 08/06/2011

For quite a while, my digestive system has been challenged. Even beore the meds I take now, the mess of scar tissue in my abdomen made it 'touchy'.

I had one recent med that caused everything to simply stop! My stomach bloated, hut like hell and I started to vomit. I stopped that immediately, but I'm having more trouble again. It's been getting progressively worse since I started on the Fentanyl patch a couple months ago.

I'm going to talk to the doc when I go for my appt. Monday and see if I can get her to take this seriously! I have mentioned it in the past and she blew it off then wrote a script for an acid reducer. Obviously, that's not working.

A friend suggested I drink aloe vera juice (sounds disgusting). Does anyone have any experience with that or any other ideas?

Hugs and thanks,
Cherry

serenityha 08/06/2011

a lot of the opiates cause bowel problems, but when i did have access to aloe juice it did help and it wasn't as disgusting as it sounds b/c they flavor it (unfortunately with a lot of sugar as well). health food stores sell aloe tea also. i think it helps. i've also had luck with dried figs, just can't take prunes. i get enough relief from the fen patch that i'm trying to find solutions. my first PM told me that if we don't have regularity, we don't process the meds as well. lots of water and apple juice and stomach massages also help me. hope you find some help with this.

cherrychanga 08/06/2011

It's a strange feeling like whatever I eat just sits in my stomach and bloats. I have to drive a half hour to get the aloe. Tomorrow might be the day for an outing.

I think I've over used so many things to coax my system to function...it may have caught up with me.

Hugs,
Cherry

angee7 08/06/2011

I take prescription Miralax to keep things running smooth.

In December 2009, my stomach decided to bloat to the point that I looked 7 months pregnant (I only weighed 123 pounds at 5'7). I was in pain, and then hospitalized. It was discovered that part of my small intestines decided to stop functioning/working.

What helped for the pain was a heat pack on my stomach area.

I recommend you ask your Doctor about Miralax. I put it in my morning Orange Juice everyday.

Good luck and take care!

deleted_user 08/06/2011

Hi Cherry,

That is what I was going to suggest, a massage therapist taught me to use a heating pad to sooth my stomach. Then use both your hands and massage a zigzag path on your abdomine. She swore by this method. Then I remember someone else posting that flax really helps in this regard. I have not tried it myself, but it would be worth a try. I do know for a fact that magnesium works wonders, you just have to be careful not to overdo it.

Take care, Hugs, Cathy

sandi7213 08/06/2011

Also, apple cider vinegar works as a digestive enzyme. You should always massage the stomach clock wise, so you don't push things back the other way. going up on the right side and down on the left.
Magnesium works great, like others have said

deleted_user 08/06/2011

I am also on the fen. patch. I use mirlax as well and thankfully there is now a generic for it. I have also found that eating corn helps me.

deleted_user 08/06/2011

Cherry, i have had 2/3 of my stomach removed, so i take seriously any digestive problems. Maybe you need to have an endo-scope done just to be sure there is nothing serious going on.I hate when doctors just throw medicine at something they haven't even checked out. I hope you feel better soon.

deleted_user 08/07/2011

Unfortunately pain meds and digestion and being not being regular go hand and hand. It is almost like we have to change our whole life style as far as food goes. My doctor tells me to load up on the fiber and take supplements is the only thing that is going to help unless you want to go opiate free and that is a option but a hard one to take.

As far as I know it is just the class of opiates so it is not like you can change the drug for a fix it is something we just have to manage.

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