Opioids how long is too long/ opiate constipation?

[toomanypoppys]

so iv been using poppy tea on and off about every 3 days the past month or two and iv just realized that iv crapped very little in the past two weeks, like maybe a total of 2-3 very small shits and i was just wondering if i should be concerned or not? like i eat very good, pretty much all whole foods and iv had this happen before on opiates but not this severly. i guess im asking if anyone else has experience with this and if i should be concerned, because its not complete constipation and i feel fine but with the large amount of food i eat and the little amount iv been crapping, i dont know if ill run into any serious medical problems. any input is appreciated, thnx

 

[toomanypoppys]

btw just downed more tea before actually realizing this, not sure if thats relevant or not but i guess ill share anyway

 

[The Doc.]

You could get a bowel impaction if left too long it happened to me before it's not fun at all believe me. You will know why they call your butt an asshole when it stops working on you and gives you greif.
I recommend using miralax daily while using opiates and keep something like castor oil on hand for when it gets bad and you need a stimulant. Miralax just makes poop wet and soft it doesn't urge the bowel along like stimulants do so dependacy isn't too worrisome with that so daily use is okay just not for castor oil or other stims such as bisacodyl / senosides.
And eat lots of green salads, veggies, fruits all that good stuff.

 

[The Doc.]

If this all fails try an enema I'm about to do one right now I'm plugged up too due to opiates but if the enema doesn't work then its hospital time because if left this could very well kill you.

 

[Emme80]

^yea, you'll know when you're... at "full" capacity. When I first started on methadone, I didn't do any preventative or ... Any care in that area. I was having constant nausea. Went to my Dr. & it was attributed to constipation. It can really fuk you up. Good Health Starts With A Healthy Gut. The Gut is actually considered the second brain in fact. (At the end of post, I'll either try to post a link-if I CAN-Luddite issues- or I'll just post it-as it's quite interesting!)
Like Trainspotter said, it CAN cause impaction&other rough terrain if not attended to. I used to take the classic Milk of Magnesia & I t works wonders really, but I am no longer to use that as I'm now on Coumadin. So, like trainspotter, I use Miralax - every other day. and on the opposite days, I take 2tablets of a generic to "Peri-Colace". It's more a Stool Softener with a little bit of a stimulant-but it causes NO cramping/ the harshness of most "Stimulants / laxatives ". It's very.. Nice. And drink PLENTY of water! Helps all things ...move.

http://www.naturalnews.com/041177_healthy_gut_immune_system_digestive_health.html

 

[The Doc.]

Yea the brain and digestive system should be considered one system and many people/doctors do think of it that way. There are more receptors for depression/anxiety in the stomach then there is in the brain you know so gut flora is extremely important to stay on top of. When your tummy's not happy your not happy plain and simple.

 

[swashbuckle]

Once for a few days after an oxy binge I had constipation so bad I was sweating and if I wasnt lying down I was dizzy (vertigo?), and I was also very nauseous. It kind of felt like a bad cold. As soon as I had an excruciatingly painful BM, I felt better. Does anyone think I could have been on the verge of a medical emergency like an impacted bowel?

 

[Emme80]

^ ^yup...treat your gut great! :D

 

[Emme80]

Well, it very well could've been on the verge of being in need medical assistance. Usually, impaction means there's a blockage. Nothing is gonna get by it. The only person I knew who had an impaction, required surgery, he'd a fever, real sick like&obviously, pain! But being realllly constipated, having not gone in days, you certainly would make you sweat, feel flu-ish, unable to move easily (your body naturally wants to curl up, in it's "Natural" position to eliminate that which can't but need to. I didn't know why I was always feeling nauseated- it was severe constipation. It was also explained that when your that constipated, other organs are pushed on- by your doo-and sometimes it will push against nerves, etc. that lead to the nausea/gagging. Really gross... Your body does not fair well with crap&toxins it's meant to expel. So do right by your Gut!

 

[The Doc.]

Yep like I said you figure out why your anus is called an asshole once it starts giving you grief.

 

[swashbuckle]

yeah it was a horrible experience. From now on when I know Im gonna get a quantity of oxy (which is rare) I drink more water than usual and take stool softeners and try to watch what I eat, starting a few days ahead.

 

[The Doc.]

Yea obviously wasn't impacted if nothing came of it but that is serious the waste can leak into your bloodstream and kill you.

 

[zzITCHY420zz]

I think less than twice a week is a bad sign..Ive managed to have almost daily bowel movement on bupe and I wish I could go more..try fleet enemas..I think the benefits outweigh the risks if used moderately

 

[Lorne???]

Yep like I said you figure out why your anus is called an asshole once it starts giving you grief.

Haha yeah. Everything relevant's been said, I'll add that only you can really know when it becomes a problem, everyone's different. But you don't want an impaction, I've to had one and it's hell, you're Anya really is an asshole!

I suggest using magnesium citrate once every week or so, great laxative.

This is another reason I love WGJ, I swear, chugging a half-gallon of juice is the best laxative I've ever taken!

But look for the signs, as soon as you lose you're appetite, feel bloated, and any abdominal distension, you must have a BM ASAP, or you'll end up in hospital. It's serious shit, man ?

 

[silverwheel]

When my fibro is bad enough to require opiates, especially for several days in a row, I take some Miralax to stay ahead of the inevitable constipation. Like others have said, if you're down to 2-3 poops a week, that's not a good sign. I've also found that eating cooked kale helps facilitate regular poops.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

2-3 a week is bad? Hell I go through times where I'll only go once a week but once the brick comes out then I'll have a shitfest for a day or so after then repeat. This is with miralax or 3-4 stool softners and prunes/juice a day.

 

[TheLostBoys]

Yea obviously wasn't impacted if nothing came of it but that is serious the waste can leak into your bloodstream and kill you.

Didn't Elvis have this problem? I know he suffered from severe constipation & his doctor said he died from it.

As for what you should take, everyone above stated it pretty well what you should take.

I mix Miralax with prune juice & it works pretty well.......

 

[The Doc.]

Yea Elvis took too many drugs and ended up dying pushing so hard on the toilet.

 

[TheLostBoys]

Mirilax gets the best reviews I've ever seen for constipation patients........I've read about people that have had constipation for years & were thinking about surgery & Mirilax saved them from having surgery.......it opened up a new world, pardon the expression

 

[ladianios]

Miralax daily when using opiates will save you the trouble of constipation... even every other day works...get the store brand...much cheaper. Use it before you become constipated tho...much more effective... once u are already blocked up u have to get the brick out before Miralax will work.....sometimes it's so soft with Miralax it comes out like ribbon candy..ha!