POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: wondersy18 on June 15, 2006, 07:37:16 am
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I just found this board and I am so grateful. I have had HIV for 20years, but never been sick with an opportunistic infection. However, the medications have put my body through the ringer. I know usually the problem people have with combination meds is diarrhea, but mine is the opposite. My lower digestive system shuts down and I get constipated to the point of throwing up water! Has anyone else experienced these types of symptoms. My physician has put me on a "bowel regimen", which is colace and sennacot. Talk about making you feel awful. Just wanted to know if I was alone or there were other who had this same problem.
thanks,
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Hi matey,
I generally have the opposite problem - chronic diarrhoea, but every so often the diarrhoea stops and I become constipated and bog up totally for a few days. I never thought I'd say this, but I'd prefer the diarrhoea anyday. The constipation is really debilitating, the nausea, the headaches, the bloating.
I don't know of colace and sennacot so assume they are prescription meds. Have you tried Metamucil or prune juice. they should both help. Pure aloe vera juice is also very good at soothing the bowel. the juices made from crushing the hole plant are quite bitter but also have a laxative effect. the juices made from cold pressing only the inner plant has a much nicer pallatable taste, reportedly soothes the bowel but without the laxative effect.
Good luck
Stephen
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Hi there !
Welcome to the forums. I am another long termer. Was diagnosed positive in 1985. I began meds in October of 2003, but to date, have not suffered from either diarhrea or constipation problems.(knock on wood) Are you drinking enough fluids.
This link, from The Body, may give you some more info. Click below :
http://www.thebody.com/gut/gut_7_constipation.html
Takke Care-----Ray
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I'm right there with ya!!
I'm the only patient my doctor sees who has been on PI therapy all along and have a problem with constant constipation. I thought it was simply IBS since he has no idea why and frankly, I don't want a camera shoved up my ass for them to take a peek!! Since going on Kaletra (I've been off it for over 6 months now with no improvements) I have a bowel movement once every 10-14 days. SOme weeks are a bit better with at least one bm in a week. But me days of every day at 3:30pm are soooo long over!!
What meds are you on or have you been on? Perhaps there's a common drug that I can look more into. I've been poking around for a long time but can find nothing corelating constipation with arvs.
Cheers,
Alan
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Alan,
Only 1 BM every 2 weeks??? OH....MY....GOD!!!!! It's a wonder you don't explode. I couldn't imagine going just once every 2 wks.......you must feel bloated all the time.
I've never really had an issue with constipation. My BM's have always been quite regular....by the time I'm finished eating my breakfast every morning I'm ready to go.
Jim
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Happily I am like clock work every morning and that's it, done. If you are getting 'impacted' there may be another cause other than HIV or meds. Before I had back surgery, I had serious problems and nothing worked, metamucil(a Walgreens generic brand helped some with massive doses). But mine was caused from pressure on the nerves in that area not allowing them to funtion properly: since disk surgery, no problem. Not suggesting you have a slipped disk, you would know from the pain if so; just thinking maybe some tests are in order to determine the cause.
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P.S there is one old time remedy that should work; drink epson salts in water, directions are on the package. If that don't work, don't know what will...it caustions you not to do this on a regular basis. It works like a backwards enama, drawing water from your system and pushing it thru your intestines, to put it simply.
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JIM, LMAO!!
Na, I have not exploded yet but as days pass I tend to eat les and less: just don't get hungry like I use to. If I did .... who KNOWS what would happen to me!! I've tried the high fiber, metamucil, mineral oil, olive oil, nuttin' seems to work. Brocolli helps but I can't eat it every day for every meal...I'd just wretch at the though and I love brocolli! I know my doctor will order the scope if he feels it's warranted. I don't have any abdominal pain except once in a while if it's been a really long time and I don't seem to ahve any other "symptoms" of anything so I'm not too worried, yet.
Cheers,
Alan
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What a crappy subject! I have found that good old fashion prune juice helps along with a large bowl of shredded wheat at night. Daily exercise helps allot as I tend to drink much more water, which also helps. Good Luck!
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What a crappy subject!
:D :D :D at least the advice ain't crap (it's to crap ... or not to crap ... that is the question) :D :D :D