I never found anything that really helped and I tried a lot.
The Mirolax helped make it not painful when it does finally come out, but I couldn't get anything to actually make it come out and that's what caused so much discomfort. I was on Velcade and dex and I never really figured out what exactly caused it. I think the Velcade/dex just because it seemed to match with the cycle I was on.
thursday - get Velcade/dex
thursday/friday/saturday/sunday and sometimes monday - no action and lots of discomfort getting worse as days passed.
tuesday - get the plunger out because 5 days of buildup comes out.
wednesday - fairly 'normal'
then repeat.
It's hard to talk about with people because it sounds more like a joking matter and it's hard not to make jokes about it. But until you've truly been constipated on a consistent basis, you won't understand.
So I do understand what you're going through but unfortunately I never found a good way to correct it.
Forums
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RayGunter - Name: Ray Gunter
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 38
Re: Revlimid and constipation
Jerry-
I tend to have either constipation or diarrhea in the 3rd week of my 3 weeks of Revlimid. I have success using a stool softener when constipated. It's important that you keep yourself well hydrated and that you eat 25-30 grams of fiber in your diet daily. Of course exercise always helps.
As a physical therapist who treated people for elimination problems, one of the things that I would suggest people try if they had chronic constipation so that they could try to get off laxatives is a recipe of: 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup of unprocessed bran and 1/2 cup prune juice. You mix it all together and take 1 - 2 tablespoons of it a night. Keep it in the refrigerator. It can take up to a couple of weeks to be successful with some people. Others report that within a few days they notice improvement. Most of the people who I recommended it to who didn't have problems with decreased motility in their intestines had very good results with this formula.
Other people on this forum and on another listserv I'm on have recommended using the herbal tea, Smooth Move.
Good luck,
Nancy in Phila
I tend to have either constipation or diarrhea in the 3rd week of my 3 weeks of Revlimid. I have success using a stool softener when constipated. It's important that you keep yourself well hydrated and that you eat 25-30 grams of fiber in your diet daily. Of course exercise always helps.
As a physical therapist who treated people for elimination problems, one of the things that I would suggest people try if they had chronic constipation so that they could try to get off laxatives is a recipe of: 1 cup applesauce, 1 cup of unprocessed bran and 1/2 cup prune juice. You mix it all together and take 1 - 2 tablespoons of it a night. Keep it in the refrigerator. It can take up to a couple of weeks to be successful with some people. Others report that within a few days they notice improvement. Most of the people who I recommended it to who didn't have problems with decreased motility in their intestines had very good results with this formula.
Other people on this forum and on another listserv I'm on have recommended using the herbal tea, Smooth Move.
Good luck,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Revlimid and constipation
For me, the Velcade caused a lot of constipation problems in the beginning. My oncology nurse said to take one dose of Miralax in the morning and 2 tablets of Sennaplus at night. This solved the problem. Sometimes I have to eliminate the Sennaplus on non-Velcade days because I will end up with too much movement! 
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Joy - Name: Joy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Revlimid and constipation
Hi Jerry,
During treatment I have had both diarrhoea and constipation. I tried a number of things for the constipation but found that movicol worked the best. A lot of other remedies would give me cramps. I don't know if movicol has a different brand name in the states. I would also have a high fibre breakfast (20 grams of fibre) and lunch and drink plenty of water.
[Moderator's note: Movicol's active ingredient, polyethylene glycol 3350, is the same as the active ingredient in Miralax / RestoraLax.]
During treatment I have had both diarrhoea and constipation. I tried a number of things for the constipation but found that movicol worked the best. A lot of other remedies would give me cramps. I don't know if movicol has a different brand name in the states. I would also have a high fibre breakfast (20 grams of fibre) and lunch and drink plenty of water.
[Moderator's note: Movicol's active ingredient, polyethylene glycol 3350, is the same as the active ingredient in Miralax / RestoraLax.]
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Revlimid and constipation
I had the same problems with Revlimid. I found taking low doses of acetyl-l-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid helped with the constipation - it also helped reduce the peripheral neuropathy which I also had. Vitamin C helped too.
I also had diarrhea but didn't find anything that helped apart from resting (easy with Revlimid!) and drinking lots of water.
I also had diarrhea but didn't find anything that helped apart from resting (easy with Revlimid!) and drinking lots of water.
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Mijji - When were you/they diagnosed?: 2011
Re: Revlimid and constipation
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I also go in cycles of diarrhea like you mentioned. All of us react differently to the medications, guess thats what makes it so difficult to cure these diseases. We manage the best way we can and thank our lucky stars we are still here on this Earth. Jerry.
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JBarnes - Name: Jerry Barnes
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug 17, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Revlimid and constipation
I have been on RVD for 4 1/2 years and for 2 days after sc Velcade and dex it takes 2 days for a bowel movement
The main problem at my centre for patients was diarrhea and urgency associated with Revlimid .
For the past 2 years, myself and other patients have benefited greatly for this problem by taking cholestyramine . This drug is a powder and has been around for decades to treat elevated cholesterol; one of its side effects is constipation. Taking one 4 gm package daily except for the 2 days following Velcade / dex results in normal bowel movements I find.
The main problem at my centre for patients was diarrhea and urgency associated with Revlimid .
For the past 2 years, myself and other patients have benefited greatly for this problem by taking cholestyramine . This drug is a powder and has been around for decades to treat elevated cholesterol; one of its side effects is constipation. Taking one 4 gm package daily except for the 2 days following Velcade / dex results in normal bowel movements I find.
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bond007
Re: Revlimid and constipation
Hi Jerry, sorry to hear about your problem. I have been on Revlimid for about 4 months now and get mild diarreah every couple of days which is far less a problem than constipation.
I eat a bowl of home-made muesli which has a lot of dried fruit and seeds as well as the usual oats etc. each morning. On the muesli I put a lot of fresh fruit ,typically, 1/4 of a sliced apple, a kiwifruit, 1/2 a banana, blueberries, and a slice of cantelope and a few extra prunes.
I have experienced hard stools now and again but am generally very regular,due I think , to my good brekky.
I hope I have been of assistance Jerry, and all the best with our shared experience.....Peter
I eat a bowl of home-made muesli which has a lot of dried fruit and seeds as well as the usual oats etc. each morning. On the muesli I put a lot of fresh fruit ,typically, 1/4 of a sliced apple, a kiwifruit, 1/2 a banana, blueberries, and a slice of cantelope and a few extra prunes.
I have experienced hard stools now and again but am generally very regular,due I think , to my good brekky.
I hope I have been of assistance Jerry, and all the best with our shared experience.....Peter
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bulldog32 - Name: Peter
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Revlimid and constipation
Hi My hubby tried both Miralax and an herbal tea *smooth moves tea" as well as lots of oatmeal and high fiber foods to address such issues with some success in past when pain meds caused constipation issues earlier in year. May want to see if any pain meds can be switched. He did not respond well to Oxycontin but has done ok with Hydrocodone -- the difference is night and day yet both address pain management -- individual response is so variable in these situations. Good luck.
KP
KP
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Catalystmom - Name: Kpatel
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Revlimid and constipation
I don't take any pain pills so I can't blame that one. Over the last several weeks I removed dairy from my diet (was a big milk drinker). That really seemed to solve the problem. Whether that works for the long term I'm not sure. But we got some good information on a bad subject out of this thread! Jerry.
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JBarnes - Name: Jerry Barnes
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug 17, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
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