Miserable Side-Effect - not for the faint of heart

Specific Illnesses & Conditions VM/MAV
1

‘May cause constipation’.

I want to call those responsible for the creation of Verapamil and tell them to reconsider the use of the word ‘may’. I have increased fiber. I have started taking colace. I’ve even resorted to Ex-Lax - to no avail. And living wasn’t all that bad, really. I mean…there’s no urge, there’s no urge. But you know, there comes a time when nature cannot be denied.

Today was it. After 6 days - as I sat upon my throne, I considered calling ‘911’. :pause for the passing of titter: Having been around such situations, I’m familiar with what the hospital does to relieve impaction. It’s…erm…all done manually and involves a lubricant.

Verapamil has been working, for the most part (golden floatings and some tracers this morning) - and I’m just not ready to give it up because it clogs up the pipes. I’m up for suggestions.

2

I was on Verapamil in the past and got up to 480mg. I was extremely constipated. Colace didn’t help AT ALL. I was also taking a lot of magnesium each day. At the beginning it helped, but did nothing with the increases in dose of Verapamil. Benefiber helped for a short time, then nothing. At the end I took Miralax which helped tremendously and my GI doc said it is safe on a daily basis. good luck

3

— Begin quote from “MAVLisa”

I was on Verapamil in the past and got up to 480mg. I was extremely constipated. Colace didn’t help AT ALL. I was also taking a lot of magnesium each day. At the beginning it helped, but did nothing with the increases in dose of Verapamil. Benefiber helped for a short time, then nothing. At the end I took Miralax which helped tremendously and my GI doc said it is safe on a daily basis. good luck

— End quote

Can you get it over the counter? I can’t go through another morning like this one. I feel SO violated! owie :oops:

4

MJ— what dose are you on now??? Good luck. Miralax sounds like a plan:-)

Lisa— at what dose did you start to notice the constipating effects?

5

— Begin quote from “MAVNY”

MJ— what dose are you on now??? Good luck. Miralax sounds like a plan:-)

Lisa— at what dose did you start to notice the constipating effects?

— End quote

240 mg per day.

6

How’s the bp holding up? Is it back to normal for you?

7

I also used Miralax. It is available over the counter (in the States at least). I found that my constipation issues subsided after about 6-8 weeks…I ened up not doing Miralax for the last 4 weeks and was ok. Good luck!

8

puristat.com/ingredients/psyllium.aspx

I have had problems with constipation all my life until I started using psyllium powder, which you can buy at health food store. Just drink plenty of water and you should be fine.

9

— Begin quote from “MAVNY”

How’s the bp holding up? Is it back to normal for you?

— End quote

Bp is anywhere from 90/80-100/60. I can’t see them raising the dosage given my BP as it stands.

10

I noticed in your signature, it says LAST crash June 2009. Why have you crashed again? Have your crashed while being on successful meds or are you crashing over and over because you can’t find a med to work satisfactorily for you? Im curious

Rich

11

— Begin quote from “Rich2008”

I noticed in your signature, it says LAST crash June 2009. Why have you crashed again? Have your crashed while being on successful meds or are you crashing over and over because you can’t find a med to work satisfactorily for you? Im curious

Rich

— End quote

Depends who you ask. I’ve had no real dx until this year. Until then, my first crash and subsequent ‘spells’ were either attributed to stress/anxiety or labyrinthitis. First tests were ‘inconclusive’. OH - don’t ask me. Nothing was very clear back then.

Audiologist suggests invection caused inner ear damage but wanted me to see neuro. ENT, who recommended this guy, nixed the need for a neuro, stating that all I needed was VRT. Neuro suggests that all this time, it’s been MAV. First attack and subsequent ‘spells’, as well. The day of my last crash, I was driving for miles in bright sunlight no sun glasses. Spent the day outdoors, swimming - and though I felt really bad, I could function. The discomfort began the second I parked my car at the water park. It wasn’t until I got home, and lie down that things began to spin.

At this point, we can’t be certain which came first - the inner ear damage or the MAV. I’ve only begun working with meds in August, when GP felt so sorry for me and got ticked off that everyone seemed to want to put the painless migraine lady at the end of the line.

Recap: clueless until last attack.

I’m hoping for no more crashes for another 15-20 years from now. But with the difficulty I’m having overcoming this time…I wonder.

12

Lisa - so sorry. just saw your question now. I think I felt some constipation from the start, but I kept on needing more and more fiber, supplements, etc., to counteract it as time went on.

Marie - all is over the counter

13

Lisa, thanks for the info. I’m on day five of 180 mg and so far no constipation…

Marie, I think part of the issue with the constipation is that because of our illness, we don’t move around as much as normal people. Exercise and just moving about help to move things along. I’m not sure where you are physically, but is there any way you can incorporate a bit of exercise into your day?

14

— Begin quote from “MAVNY”

Lisa, thanks for the info. I’m on day five of 180 mg and so far no constipation…

Marie, I think part of the issue with the constipation is that because of our illness, we don’t move around as much as normal people. Exercise and just moving about help to move things along. I’m not sure where you are physically, but is there any way you can incorporate a bit of exercise into your day?

— End quote

http://www.opendiary.com/entryview.asp?authorcode=D624774&entry=11350

As the medication seems to be improving my migraines and I purposely avoid being horizontal, I seem to be getting alot more done. With the purchase of a new-to-us couch, it was time to gather all the ‘old’ stuff and rearrange it. Of course, if you’re moving furniture, you have to vacuum - and if you’re going to vacuum the living room, you have to vacuum the kitchen and the study, which are all open, one unto the other.

If you’re gonna go that far, you may as well clean off the counters you’ve left up to the men in your life to keep up with while you were ill. Yeah…that’s right. I had to work the tiny egg shell pieces free from the oven top. Clean all the stuff that magically appears only when a woman approaches kitchen appliances and sinks.

Common sense and dizziness stopped me before I got down on my hands and knees to wash the kitchen floor which, I might add, needs it so badly. Priorities, right?

Add to this the nurse’s call to let me know I could take Beneful, add psyllium and colace to my diet, purchase bran cereal, and encourage me to a strong cup of coffee in the morning, if I don’t poop like a champ without any physical assistance, you’ll hear me scream from where you sit. LOL