Embarrassing question

[Missy Mouse]

I don't really know who else to ask, and I know people on the DIS seem to have an answer for everything, so here goes...

I am on a new medication that has a rather unpleasant side effect: severe constipation. Unfortunately I have been hit with this side effect pretty hard, to the point where afterwards I feel nauseous - and to make matters worse, it has to occur while I'm at work! I've never had this problem before to this extent and don't really know what to do.

My question is, what over-the-counter products are good for preventing constipation? I don't want something that's going to give me the opposite result, or something to take "as needed," just something that will help prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. Discontinuing or changing my medication that causes it is not an option. Any suggestions?

Insoluble fiber. Fiber one cereal has cereals with astronomical fiber amounts. Also, drink lots of water. I would talk to your doctor about this side effect, particularly because you don't want a bowel obstruction. They are the only person who should advise you of any OTC med to take...particularly because we don't know what you're on to know the drug interactions. IN GENERAL, though, stool softeners work well to just soften things up a bit. You may not be able to prevent the constipation, some medications just bind stool and cause the intestines to reabsorb water...others slow your GI tract down altogether.

 

[Micca]

Heated car seats