Kidney stones and Constipation

[SandyRN]

Yes, I know it sounds like an odd title, but these are but a few of the problems I need help with.

Apparently from the CT scan I had done this morning it shows that I've passed stones, recently, which explains why I have hurt so badly. I'm waiting on the culture of my urine to come back to see if I need abx, which with my luck, I probably do. Anyone else have problems with stones? This is apparently my second time with them, and they are NO picnic.

But, according to the radiologist this is the least of my problems. I am so constipated that they are worried that my bowels are shutting down. I'm on SO many constipating meds, see below, and though I've been taking fiber and increasing my dose almost daily, I can NOT have a normal bm. Last time I went I had to take fleets phosphosoda, the stuff they give you for a colonscopy, just to be able to go. I began to think even that wasn't going to work, but when it did I could not stop going. This went on for two days, and I felt certain that things would resume normally.

So, since I am so literally full of sh*t (sorry, I couldnt resist), I have taken some correctol laxatives that you can take up to twice a day.

I do NOT know, however, how to get my bowels to function normally. I can't win, I either have Crohn's and cant stop going and wind up in the hospital on IV steroids, or I can't go at all (the IBS-C).

I know there are lots of cures out there, and right now I am willing to try any and all of them!!! Just dont tell me prunes or prune juice, because I cant get those down lol.

[ICNJess]

Ok I won't say prunes (though that is my cure against constipation) but my doc told me when I was battling IBS-C to try vegetable laxatives--because fiber didn't do squat! At one point I had a bowel obstruction...not a very serious one, but a literal pain. How about enemas?

Kidney stones are horrible, I have passed a few and am hoping and praying that I never get them again. I ended up with a kidney infection on top of the stones and that was sooo painful. (((((Hugs)))))

[SandyRN]

Jess, thanks! I guess I'll try the vegetable laxatives. I thought the fiber choice I was taking was helping, but I guess it's not. I think the effect I was getting was leftover from that nasty phosphosoda....yuck.

Guess I'll be off to the drug store yet again.

[SandyRN]

ps...I've done laxatives and suppositories but they do nothing for the higher part of the colon. Seems to only work on the exit ramp, so to speak....ohhhhhhhh LOL. I am silly today lol.

Honestly, I dont want to do that nasty phosphosoda.......this sucks.....

[Ginny]

Ground flax seed. Need to use it daily.

Ginny

[ICNJess]

Ohhh Phospho Soda...don't even get me started on that stuff. I had a colonoscopy last November and that was nasty stuff. I had to get Zolfran (Zolfron??? anti-nausea) to get it to stay down. I have a very sensitive GI tract, that did not help matters!!! I only got like 1/2 a batch in, but was clean as a whistle the next day. I told the doc, "Duh, I'm seeing you for chronic diarrhea, of course I'm clean!"

[poetgirl]

You may also want to try flaxseed oil -- either in capsules or by the spoonful (you can mix it in yogurt or smoothies or something else like that.) Anytime I'm constipated (which is rare, since I have IBS-D) I take it and before you know it, I'm running to the bathroom. It doesn't cause cramping or anything -- it just sort of um, lubes things along.

How nice it would be if I didn't have to spend my life talking about "poop." !!

[SandyRN]

Ok, well, got some Cherry Milk Of Mag last night...and it started working at 3 AM...so between having to get up and pee all night I was also running to the bathroom for that....I'm exhausted, but I do have to say the pain is a little better this morning. I'm almost afraid to say that for fear I'll jinx myself.

Thank you all for the advice...I'm going to check into the flax seed....does it kick in quickly? Also, do you guys know if it has any side effects or interacts with meds? I take so many things I need to be very careful with OTC meds.

So, for now, the constipation problem is better....it's long term that I'm worried about. I cant get addicted to laxatives......how bad is THAT?!? Geez my body is so screwy sometimes!

[poetgirl]

Hi Sandy,

The flaxseed does kick in fairly quickly. If I take the oil form (not in capsules) I'm in the bathroom within a couple of hours. Then again, I have IBS-D so that may be what causes it to kick in so quickly! If you take the capsules or the ground seed, it may work for you overnight. And I've never had any interactions with flaxseed and other meds.

Flaxseed is not a laxative; it's an essential oil that contains many overall benefits for us (including omega-3s.) So you're not going to get addicted to it the way you can with laxative products.

[SandyRN]

Thanks poetgirl. I appreciate the info. I'll have to go stock up on some flax seed! LOL I really am worried about my bowels becomming dependent on stimulants (artificial ones at that). I sure wish this would get straightened out....

[sue041]

I read the posts about constipation and the use of laxatives, I have tried them all and the stool softners work sometimes but not all the time, I also used the suppostories,(spelling not working either) like fleet ones. Now talking about the colonoscopy, I had to do that prep thing too where you mix this powder script stuff with 64 ounces of Gatorade, it made me sick in the stomach and I could not take all of it, then the next thing was I could not breath, I was so panic stricken that I called the Tell A Nurse number, she said I was having a allergic reaction to the powdered prep, which blocked up my nose, I could hardly drink because it just went up my nose, it closed my throat, they finally did some calling around and told me to take a benadryl. Well thank God it worked I could finally breath again and drink without chokeing. If a person has a allergic reaction like that it should be mentioned to your doctor or put on your allergy list. After the test was done, I finally came to my senses, in the powder stuff was a ingredient listed called sulfur and I am alergic to sulfur, so that is what cause all my nose blocked problems.
I go to the doctor on the 10th for the results from the doc. of the test. I got a card in the mail which did a quickie result reading it said I had three polyps which were not cancer(Thank G0D) and that my sphincter muscles were very week, I have cystocel and rectocel, don't know if that means my muscles are sagging or just plain worn out.
I am not sure if the IC is causing all these new problems of if it is just old age problems. My urologist said I have so many problems down there he don't know where to start. I am going to list this other problem as a new topic. Please check it out, I would like to know if anyone esle has this problem.
Take care and my we sometime find a cure of for this dreadful disease
God Bless.
Sue

[SandyRN]

Sue,

I'm sorry you have so much going on right now. Sometimes for us women things just don't want to stay in place anymore and we wind up with cystoceles and rectoceles....both can be complicated by straining from constipation too.....so, do whatever you have to to reduce that straining.

I've started taking Milk of Magnesia on a regular basis...forget the fiber for me....it doesnt do it. I have to have the heavy duty stuff. If I'm having a Crohn's attack, I can not stop pooping, but in my normal every day life, I can not go to save my life.

A lot of women have the problems you mentioned, and you might try using seach for the words cystocele and rectocele.....hopefully you will find some very helpful info that way.

Take care, Sandy