Intense gas pain and constipation from drugs from surgery

[JJWatt]

Any recommendation for someone who just went through fibroid surgery (surgery went good) but the side effects of the drugs (morphine side effects, oxycodone & stool softeners) they're given really is doing n umber on them like intense gas pain & constipation.

Not sure if you have any advice for this though, but thanks.

 

[aguilaroja]

Re: Intense gas pain and constipation from drugs from surger

...just went through fibroid surgery (surgery went good) but the side effects of the drugs (morphine side effects, oxycodone & stool softeners) they're given really is doing n umber...intense gas pain & constipation.

Tough one, for sure. Some of the remedies may be not especially Peat-y. Briefly:

The constipation may be impeding release of gas, so perhaps emphasize constipation relief first.

As you noted, constipation is probably a side effect of the pain-relieving medicines. If comfort allows, you may see about tapering these. The degree that different narcotic pain relief medicines cause constipation is an individual matter. If the prescribing doctors are accessible, you might see about switching medicines if pain relievers are needed a while longer.

The general sequence that health care people use for treating constipation is: laxatives, suppositories, and enemas. It might be slightly more Peat-y to use magnesium (in Milk of Magnesia and magnesium citrate laxatives, as well as magnesium supplements). But the so-called osmotic laxative (polyethylene glycol-PEG, like Miralax) have (possibly better) research supporting effectiveness. From recent experience, treating nurses and doctors can wait several days to recommend beyond laxatives. If things are difficult, it might help to "move" to the next (suppository) stage sooner.

For recent issues, the medication/relievers of constipation are mild and usually applied short term. finding a prompt relief measure may be more important than waiting for a refined metabolic tuning. There are plenty of interesting posts here about cascara, emodin, and carrot/bamboo fiber, and elimination/digestion. The situation you describe is acute rather than chronic.

Gentle leg movement (within comfort) with a very small range of motion may help supportive muscles around the abdomen to help elimination.

 

[HDD]

Re: Intense gas pain and constipation from drugs from surger

"The contractile ability of smooth muscle, that’s impaired by swelling and inflammation, can be restored by antiinflammatory agents, for example aspirin (or other inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis) or antihistamines. This applies to the muscles of lymphatic vessels (Wu, et al., 2005, 2006; Gosling, 2000), that must function to reduce edema, as well as to the bowel muscles that cause peristalsis."
http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/ca ... buse.shtml

 

[JJWatt]

Re: Intense gas pain and constipation from drugs from surger

Thank you Aguillaroja & HaagendazenDiane!