Do any of you guys have chronic constipation because of the mtx? At least I've been told by some one that that would cause it. And when I had a physical a couple of weeks ago with my regular MD, he agreed that mtx may cause this. If so, what do you take to releave it? I've been taking generic laxatives for several months, at least once sometimes twice a week. But they give me tummy aches. Any suggestions??I've been on mtx for a while now and haven't had any troubles you are describing. Have you tried frosted shredded mini-wheat? If I think I'm getting constipated I eat a bowl of those (even as a snack finger food) and next day - relief!
MTX doesn't generally constipate you..it normally has quite the opposite effect on the digestive system. So I would not immediatly blame the MTX (what does your rheumatologist have to say about it)
Make an appt with an gastroenterologist. 1-2 times per week for months is way too often to deal with without knowing a specific cause..
Well, I never had this problem until the mtx, and my MD said it wasn't uncommon. I keep forgeting to ask my rheumy. before mtx, i was like clockwork. He suggested Senekot, but i'm afraid it too will give me tummy aches. i dunno...maybe i should just eat some prunes every dayYou might try lowfat, organic yogurt with active live cultures. I eat some every evening...helps keep your digestive system healthy.
Alan
Yes, like maybe Activia? I was thinking of trying something like that. Hmmm, maybe it's not the mtx. I will try try try to remember to bring this up with my rheumy next vist. Thanks alan.I was taking mtx and naproxyn and had the same problem you describe. I used to tell my husband it felt like I was passing a cactus when I went.
I never knew which one of those meds was causing it, because when I started enbrel, I pretty much wennt off both the mtx and naproxen at the same time. It resolved itself right away though, so I know one of them was the culprit!
Claire,
I feel sorta vendicated. I take naproxin every day (trying to stay off the prescription pain killers as long as i can), maybe that's the culprit. Funny thing - our plumbing went on the fritz last weekend, we're on a septic system, had to have plumber out to dig into it, pump it out yadda yadda. well, for two days, we had to go to my mom's to use the toilet. wouldn't you know it, my tummy moved like clock work! LOL! soon as the plumbing was fixed, it went back to its old tricks. kinda like when you drive up in the service center, you car stops making that funny noise you came to get checked out.
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