In spite of Senna-S twice a day and a second shot of Methylnaltrexate, Liz had not pooped for 12 days when we took her to a digestive health center in Ogden. Fortunately Brad managed to get her a same day appointment on Tues 3/2 before we would leave Wed. The doctor said there were good sounds in her bowels, and the X-ray showed her colon was full but her small intestines were good.
He said use double the normal dose of Miralax (over the counter med) powder dissolved in liquids both morning and night (so four times normal each day), which can help put liquid back into stools to make them easier to pass. Liz has been using less of her narcotics for pain too - she takes the morphine for long term release and much less oxycodone - since they remove moisture from stools. After taking some miralax that night, she did get fleet results. She eventually got to the diarrhea stage on Thursday, so we are backing off on miralax, and continuing with Senna-S. You don't know how much we take the body for granted until it doesn't function as we expect.
Liz has been eating much better too, now that she feels like food has room to move. She has eaten more fruits and vegetables to help add fiber, and Thursday night ate a small piece of cheese pizza. Today (Friday) for lunch she had clam chowder and some fruit. Life is good. She gets around much more easily by herself as well due to lessening pain in her spine, and she is feeling stronger and more energetic due to eating more food.
A few side effects of the study drugs are the rash as previously mentioned, and also joint pain that seems random. Today her right shoulder, wrist, and hip hurt a bit. She has had knuckles swell and turn a bit red too, and her ankles got sore. In general she feels much better since taking the study drugs beginning Feb. 17th. It is amazing how much of a difference there has been the last two weeks.
We enjoy staying with Val, Brent, and Stillman here in North Hollywood. There home is beautiful and their hospitality so gracious. We eat well and drive their cars. (That has gone better this time too. We left at 6:50 Thursday and voila' - real freeway speeds on part of the journey! ) Thursday night we played 5 crowns, a card game, and then Missionary Impossible, which finally ended. I liked how players can lay down trial cards for each other, and the only way you can get rid of them and be able to continue playing is to add the blessing card on top. When we count the blessings the trials shrink before our eyes.
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