CONSTIPATION – GENERAL INFORMATION (SYMPTOMS)
As with all symptoms, it is quite common for more than one factor to play a part in producing constipation. Once the cause(s) have been found, consider tackling them directly. It may be possible to treat a blockage by surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. However, the cost of doing so may outweigh the benefit if, for example, the treatment is unpleasant and has only a small chance of shrinking the growth enough to relieve the symptoms. If you either can’t or don’t want to get rid of the cause of your constipation— for example, because it is due to painkillers which you want to keep taking — you will have to tackle the symptom itself. Prevention is better than cure here. Don’t wait until you are really badly constipated before doing something about it.
I suggest for a start you consider taking some form of laxative regularly. Laxatives work by softening the motion and/or stimulating the bowel muscle—good examples include liquid paraffin, phenolphthalein, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate, danthron, lactulose, and senna. If you normally take laxatives anyway, you will need much bigger doses now than someone who is not used to taking them. Other ways of helping the bowels to keep moving are by taking a high-fibre diet (but not if you have a blockage of the bowel), drinking plenty of fluids and exercising as much as is possible and comfortable.
If these measures don’t keep your bowels moving easily, you may also need to use suppositories or enemas, with the help of a nurse. By the way, most nurses know much more about treating constipation than most doctors. I suggest that you ask a nurse for help if you have this symptom. This should be easy if you are in hospital. If you are at home, just ask your doctor to arrange for a nurse to visit you there.
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