A little warning, and need advice

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi there

For a couple of years I was addicted to the 30/500 co-codamol and the codeine in it gave me bad constipation, so I'd take Andrews salts for it, which gave me diarrhea, so I'd take loperimide for that and hence got into a vicious cycle, self induced IBS I guess.  So if anyone reading this is addicted to codeine in any of its forms, don't go down the road I did.

I went cold tukey off the co-codamol in November 2014, which was a traumatic but rewarding experience.  Haven't touched any opiates since then and feel like a new woman.  However, recently I've started getting constipated again and have a pain in my right lower abdomen, which according to my O level biology from the 70s, is where my large intestine is.  Its intermittant (sorry, never could spell) and I wondered if this might be a delayed after effect of all the codeine I took?

I don't know much about IBS so any advice appreciated.

Thanks

xxxx

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    I have suffered from IBS for about 15 years and is controlled with Colofac and Esomeprazole.  I did also take peppermint before meals as well but this gave me stomach pains until after I'd eaten so I stopped taking it.  I also take 30/500 Paracetamol and Morphine for back pain which cause severe constipation.  

    My doctor has prescribed sugar free Laxido Orange for this which is brilliant for avoiding constipation while taking codeine or paracetamol.  It does take a little time to sort out what dose is best for you, but worth it.

    I understand you are off codeine now but suggest you mention this product to your doctor to see if he/she thinks it will help your current constipation problem and will prescribe it for you.

    Good luck and hope you're feeling better soon.

     

  • Posted

    Sorry, the Paracetamol strength I take is 500g not 30/500 as mentioned earlier xrolleyes
    • Posted

      Hi Kath

      Thanks for your input and advice, much appreciated.  I started taking the co-codamol for tension headaches, which morphed into painkiller headaches, so that now that I've come off the codeine I no longer get headaches, apart from the occasional hangover lol!  I'm not too worried about my digestive tract as the pain is only intermittant and bearable, I only take plain paracetamol 500mg now, and not the max dose in a day either.  Used to be on the nsaid Naproxen, and before that, diclofenac, neither of which I understand are good the stomach, both of which I have now been taken off.  I do take Omeprazole for reflux which works well for me, I certainly know about it if I ever (rarely) forget, or even delay, my morning dose.

      All the best

      Lizzie

  • Posted

    Hi Lizzie

    Ordinary Paracetamol also causes constipation and could be the cause of your current problem.  My husband is only taking 4 a day at the moment for pain after a fall, but constipation is causing him a problem which he doesn't normally have.  Needless to say he's temporarily using my stock of Laxido!

    Best wishes

    Kath x

  • Posted

    people are always aking why i dont take opiates for my fibro pain 

    and when i say because they cause constipation 

    people just say well take a laxative then

    anyone with any common sense sorry [dont me to offend you] 

    would know that doing this to your body over a long period of time

    cant do your body anygood . 

    hope you soon fully recover at lleast it connected with you what was casing the problem .and you sorted it  .we all make mistakes .as long as we learn from them 

     

    • Posted

      Good advice that and maybe I would suggest using any of the known foods to cause diareah as a laxative like coffee and loads others dairy high sugar or high fat.

      I've just started a complete oil change in my diet.

      Only having rapesead oil as its only 2 to 1 in the omega 6 to omega 3 still to high in the omega 6 but not much compared to others and its higher in mono which is the preferred meditranion choice in there diet.

      And also fish oil capsiles and sardines each day lol.

      Sardines are great they hold just as much omega 3 as a wild Atlantic salmon.

      One small can of sardines 100 grams at 40 p is the equivalent of the same amount of omega 3 as some verry expensive fish and they taste great.

      Its working for me to as the oils are verry good for joint mussles and the brain and imflamority.

      I'm having fish oil and rapesedd oil only with every meal but at the correct level 33 percent of the total cals for the meal.

      I tell ya I've never been so good cut out white sugar too and just getting my sugar from honey fruit and carrots now

      To that seemed to help me a lot.

      And probably I'm only having no more than 40 grams of sugar a day as well I tell ya its been hard but since learning how yo make healthy deserts its a lit better Lol

      yogurt pare and honey go well but I try to stay in no more than 12.5 gram of sugar hit so easy on the honey lol that stuff will kill ya unless I'm exercising and then not much more if that's the case.

      I like slow. Exercise over longer period so I have no need to over do it on the sugar

      You can normal tell.

      I git my cal levels to the whole day with about 200 cals a day all healthy foods and its working for me.

      Im feeling great judt eating brown rice and jackets now as my staple carb and banned the rest for now

      As of thisoment I'm craving sugar but we all know that's a good sign let me know if any of you guys want some really good diet advice on a fuel week I can give yas all a diet that will defo have ya feeling better. Oil levels for each meal healthy snacks preperation of food rake care dudes

    • Posted

      Ment to say about 2000 cals for the whole day not 200 Lol

      But quite searioyse I didn't know I had only been eating only 100 cals a day for long periods and other periods mostly that was probably sugar and fat.

      Like one meal a day and stuff not good

    • Posted

      Hi tiswas

      Yes, a lesson well learned, but the thing to remember is that when one has mental health problems as I do, and addictive tendancies, common sense tends to fly out the window!  I am doing well today though and being kind to my digestive tract, trying to eat sensibly and not overdoing any one food or drink, I'm also keeping of the alchohol which can also upset my bowels.

      Thansk for your reply and I hope my experience, indeed our experiences, can guide others who come here.  I've made some bad mistakes over the years as well as having recovered from bipolar disorder with the help of my psychiatrist and gp and want to share that knowledge to help others.

      Lizzie xxx

    • Posted

      Hi Lizzy you know diet has been linked to mental health issues especial to much of certain oils and not enough of others.

      I have gone for a complete oil change diet.

      Just rape seed oil and fish oil and fish meditranian style diet now for me.

      Still having chicken and beef but less and more of the others bye for now take care

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