OMG... Percocet & Constipation!!!

[valkay18]

Holy Crap, or lack there of!!! I wish the doctors had told me Percocet caused terrible constipation before I started taking it 3 times a day after having a C-section & UTI! OMG! I have never felt this bad in my life. Just sent the hubby out for some constipation meds! FYI for anyone who takes this or is thinking about taking it, it causes terrible constipation. I looked it up online and the site said that it will cause constipation that will not respond to high fiber diets or stool softeners without stimulants. It said that doctors will even proactively prescribe laxatives with stimulants in them to patients who will be on this drug for some consecutive days because severe constipation is pretty much a guarantee. You would think that the OB nurses bringing me these pills in the hospital left and right would advise me of this! UGH!! Hopefully, I will get some relief later today. If I had known this, I would have just sucked it up and not taken anything these last couple days. *Whine*

Oh, I even resorted to drinking a half cup of caffeinated coffee!! That is how desperate I was. It did not work!! I took Javacid & Prelief with it. Hopefully, that keeps a flare away.

Thanks for listening!!

[Linda May]

Ic

E-lax and enemas should do the trick.

[valkay18]

OMG! Fleet enemas did the trick. Ugh!!! I only took one percocet yesterday and will take none today. I hope that clears this constipation up. It may happen one more time since I was on this stuff every day for over a week.

[bubbe1]

percocet and constipation

OMG! Fleet enemas did the trick. Ugh!!! I only took one percocet yesterday and will take none today. I hope that clears this constipation up. It may happen one more time since I was on this stuff every day for over a week.

Oh, so sorry you got all backed up.
I'm surprised the nurse weren't giving you Pericolace (SP?), in the hospital. That's usually SOP after surgery and with narcotics.
Anyway, I'm glad that things are working out in the end, so to speak.
Feel much better,
Laurie

[valkay18]

Oh, so sorry you got all backed up.
I'm surprised the nurse weren't giving you Pericolace (SP?), in the hospital. That's usually SOP after surgery and with narcotics.
Anyway, I'm glad that things are working out in the end, so to speak.
Feel much better,
Laurie

Thanks! My stomach still doesn't feel right. I'm sure it will be better later today. I am surprised too. They did give me a colace, but one did nothing. This happened to me too about 4 days after delivering. I had been taking 2 colace a day, but no poops for 4 entire days. So, my hubby went out and got me the enemas. Then, 2 days later (today), it happened again! I didn't put two and two together at first with the percocet. Wish I would have!!! Now that I am cleaned out and staying off the narc's, hopefully, this was the last bought of it!!!

[ICNDonna]

I think it would be a good idea to call your doctor. There are other pain meds that could help without the constipation. The most important thing is to avoid straining.

Sending gentle hugs,
Donna

[kadi]

One thing a doctor told me about Colace is that it only works if you take it with your meals. Taking it with the food draws water into the colon along with the food, but taking it by itself doesn't change the hard stools. That was a helpful tip, but post-surgery or post-long flight airline travel was not enough, in which case Fleets enema or Milk of Magnesia is what I used to deal with it.

[KatieB]

When I was in the hospital for a kidney infection I was on IV dilaudid which REALLY plugged me up!! I was SO miserable. But the nurses would ask several times a day if I'd had any "luck". If not, they'd bring me another dose of milk od magnesia. After a while, that really worked. I take percocet almost everyday and, knock on wood, I haven't had that problem. But if I do, I've got a bottle of good ole MoM!!
I hope your feeling better. Being constipated doesn't help any of your symptoms, IC or otherwise!! Good luck!!

[Zygala87]

Due to a rectocele repair done last March I was told by my OBGYN that the nerves and muscles in my lower colon will never again help me have a normal BM. I don't know what happened. He knew it for sure with out doubt. He is correct and even a stool softner does not work for me. His advice: take Miralax every other day for the rest of my life. It works and does not give me cramps. If I take Perocent I will take Miralax that very evening no matter when I took it last. It is expensive so I shop for the store brand that has the very same ingredient in it. As always I would consult with your Doctor before using any meds even OTC things. This just happens to be my own problem. We are all so different. For me constipation will put me into a flare about as bad as anything I can think of. I hope you get help ASAP. Hugs, Ziggy

[floridamom]

I am a huge fan of Benefiber, you can mix it in anything! Its not clumpy or goopy & no taste whatsoever. It says on the bottle how much to mix into drinks, soups, etc. I even use it on my kiddos when they are backed up.

[Mothergoose]

valkay18

A lot of meds will have the side effect of slowing things down.

My Dr. said and I am sure you don't want to hear this it can take up to 3 weeks for normal bowel function to return. The fleet only clears out the bottom of your intestines. It might be a good idea for a bit to try to add fiber and water to your diet to aid in this process, also moving around helps.

Or you could try adding other itme such as Miralax or benifiber etc. but you might want to call your Dr. office first, I don't know all your situation and would hate to recomend something that would hurt you.

Zygala87

I have a simular problem with the nerves and muscles in my lower colon and bladder don't work right, so this and retention are big problems for me. I too switch to Miralax over a year ago and it hs sloved my problems.

My FIL who is 96 and his bowels just don't work too well at this age and he doesn't drink enough. His gastro said 1 tsp of MOM in am, no bm, 1 Tsp with lunch, repeat at dinner, no stimulants, also to add fiber and water. this has helpped him greatly. At least I am not haveing to go retrive him from the er every couple of days. Yes the er that man runs to to er if he don't fart. It just drives me. Oh well that's another story.

MG