Constipation
Constipation can follow taking iron and certain potent pain relievers.
Constipation can occur from taking iron, from the manipulation of the bowel during surgery, from lack of fiber in the diet, from dehydration, from decreased activity, and from taking certain pain medications especially opioid derivatives. Some medications given for opioid constipations are:Amitiza oral, Relistor subcutaneous, lubiprostone oral, Movantik oral, methylnaltrexone subcutaneous, naloxegol oral.
How to diminish constipation
Following surgery or for pain relief sometimes strong medications are needed. After my liver resection, my abdominal muscles were too weak to push things along. I needed some help. I would take 1 tablespoon of olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice squeezed in once or twice a week. I would drink apple and spinach juice and when all else failed I tried a child's size glycerin suppository.
Polysorbates, Sorbitol Xylitol, Alcohol Sugars
Increasing water intake helps diminish constipation. Some even take a drink of a full glass of water adding a squeeze of lemon juice to the glass of water just before attempting to use the bathroom. This helps stimulate movement.
Sorbitol and xylitol are two sweeteners that can give one loose watery stools. These are alcohol sugars, to be avoided with PKD Polycystic Kidney Disease and PLD Polycystic Liver Disease.
Polysorbate 80 (darbepoetin alfa) ethoxylated sorbitan is derived from sorbitol. There is a lesser known synthetic compound, also known as Tween 80. It is an amber/golden-colored viscous liquid. It is made from polyethoxylated sorbitan (chemical compounds derived from the dehydration of sugar alcohol) and oleic acid, a fatty acid found in animal and vegetable fats.
It is used as a defoamer for the fermenting process of some wines, and also to bind some ice-creams and other puddings, to keep their creamy texture without separating. It is also used to bulk foods up and keep sauces smooth. It can also act as a surfactant in soaps and cosmetics, as well as a solubilizer It makes products look creamier and more attractive.
There are things wrong with polysorbate 80. It can pass through the blood brain barrier. It has been found to harm the immune system. May cause adverse reproductive effects based on a animal test data. May cause cancer based on animal test data. Polysorbate 80 causes diseases similar to ulcerative colitis and Chron's disease in laboratory mice. In the study, including Andrew Gewitz of the Center for Inflammation, Immunity and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. It increases the risk of serious side effects (eg, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, heart failure) and death in some cases. It has also been shown to shorten overall survival and/or increase the risk of tumor growth or recurrence in patients with certain types of cancer.
Do NOT use darbepoetin alfa (polysorbate 80) if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in darbepoetin alfa (polysorbate 80)
If you have had a severe allergic reaction
(eg, rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest;
swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness)
If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure
If you have developed a certain type of anemia called pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)
after receiving a previous dose of darbepoetin alfa (polysorbate 80) or
other erythropoietin protein medicines (eg, epoetin)
Constipation
The English have a practice following their evening meal by taking a walk, a gentle walk around the neighborhood. They call it their evening constitution and claim it keeps them regular. Some with chronic constipation take a full glass of lemon water before each meal and eat a lettuce leaf three times a day for extra roughage and increase their walks throughout the day.
Stone fruit such as fresh apricots, nectarines, peaches, or cherries helps relieve constipation. Papaya also helps, as do dates as well as dried fruits. Be sure the fruit is ripe and not green. Green fruit can ↑ constipation by pulling water from the intestines. However some with cystic organs report the opposite; that they almost never have problems with constipation, rather they report having rapid bowel transit time.
Things that ↑ constipation
Cheese
Dairy
Dark chocolate
Dehydration
Green Unripe Fruit
Ice Cream
Iron supplements
Opiod pain killers, especially morphine
Lack of Dietary Fiber
Lack of Exercise
Things that help ↓ constipation
Stone fruit
Apricots
Bran (made with spelt) muffins
Cherries
Dates
Dried Fruit
Drinking Water
Exercise
Figs
Fresh ripe fruit
Jicama
Lettuce after each meal
Nectarines
Papaya
Peaches
Spinach Apple juice
Taking an Evening Constitution (walk)
Walking
Supplements Can ↓ Constipation But Come With Many Harmful Side Effects
OptiFiber, Metamucil or MiraLAX daily can increase fiber. It is better to get fiber through the diet: lettuce, carrots, apples, whole fresh fruits and vegetables help accomplish this.
Miralax
Avoid Miralax and laxatives that contain PEG Polyethylene Glycol. Miralax used to be available by prescription only.
There is now an over the counter form. MiraLAX contains Polyethylene Glycol 3350. Laxatives containing Polyethylene
glycol (PEG) as its active ingredient are to be avoided. Ethylene glycol is used to manufacture plastics, polyester,
antifreeze, brake fluid. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety it is an extremely toxic substance:
"Ethylene glycol is chemically broken down into toxic compounds. Its byproducts first affect the central nervous system, then the heart, and finally the kidneys. Ingestion of as little as 30 ml can be fatal."
The FDA has issued a warning about Miralax and its possible neuropsychiatric effects. People with occasional constipation may benefit from MiraLAX® (polyethylene glycol 3350). Polyethylene glycol (sometimes called PEG-3350) is the active ingredient in MiraLAX and works by drawing water into the colon, making the stool soft, and increasing the number of bowel movements. MiraLAX will usually cause a bowel movement in one to three days.
Dulcolax
Avoid dulcolax, a stool softener and often used for cardiac patients to prevent straining. Passage of a large, soft stool, the desired result of taking docusate sodium, normally occurs in 24 to 72 hours. However, diarrhea is a common negative side effect that one could experience. Report this to your doctor.A frequent side effect you may experience while taking docusate sodium is mild abdominal cramping and bloating.(common with PLD). If these symptoms persist or increase in severity, you should stop taking docusate and see a doctor. The National Institutes of Health warns that a more serious condition may exist, and taking a stool softener can exacerbate gastrointestinal disorders such as bowel obstruction.
Docusate sodium should only be taken for a short time.
Eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and getting regular gentle exercise
Avoid cakes, pastries, sweet puddings and caffeinated drinks which ↑ constipation
Try to avoid any sugary drinks or sweets or cakes ↑ hemorrhoids.
Try putting out a glass filled with tap water drink all day long.
Senna
With senna, it has been reported in the medical literature that great caution is attached to taking senna, especially with liver and kidney impairment.Walks, ↑ fiber intake
Try a very short walk daily; or try eating a lettuce leaf, one at breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Try a walk around the house if not outdoors. This has the added bonus of helping to lower blood pressure. More importantly arrange for a time during the day to have a safe place to use the bathroom without interruption.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a part of PLD. For the times when I get a hemorrhoid, I use a zinc cream. This can be found cheaply as a cream for baby's bottoms. Careful it can stain clothing. Try eliminating all sweets and/or alcohol containing drinks. Try not to strain when having a stool. Sometimes a hemorrhoid comes about through a very enlarged liver much like the pressure from a pregnancy.