How do I handle the constipation with my husband who is taking pain meds for his prostate cancer.

My Mom is on three different kinds of pain medication. She has been obsessed with her bowel movements for a long time and used to be constipated all the time. She is now 94. Here is her solution, and it is working so far.
She takes Miralax every night, as well as a stool softener; not at the same time. She leaves about an hour in between both.
Every morning she eats about 15 prunes with her breakfast. After she has her hot coffee, everything seems to work.
This unfortunately is not the only thing she obsesses about But that's another topic.

Kashi, you are doing fine. If you see starts to feel pain at 7 hours, give the pill at 6 hours. Just try to stay ahead of it, because the drug takes time to kick in. If one works, just use one. I liked the liquid better, it was easier to modify it to a .7 or .6 or .3 dose.

I try to limit his pain meds..he's on Oxycodone apap 10/325mg,,it says to give 1-2 tablets every 4 hours but I don't give him that much...I kind of monitor his pain and when I feel he is having it, I give him one tab. I always ask him all day long if he's having pain...not sure if I'm doing it correctly...maybe I should be giving more often before he starts having pain???

His type of Cancer pain might only be treated by some pretty heavy narcotics, so a daily OTC, safe to use every day stool softener, like Mirilax, or its generic, should work fine, as long as he does indeed use it every day! You can put it (a powder), into any liquid, hot or cold, and it is completely tastless and colorless, and unle he id completely impacted, which is a whole other set of problems, it should do the trick. It's easy to say find another non narcotic, but chronic pain often doesn't respond to anything else, and they definitely have a place in Cancer and chronic pain. There is nothing worse!

The best thing to do would be find an alternative to narcotic pain killers. They cause constipation, fatigue, nausea, and cognitive decline if taken long term. If taken for a few days after the dentist pulls a tooth, that is fine.

I think this Digestic by Mimonis will be suitable for the medicine he is taking. It is best for constipation problem I have suffered a few months ago. I am confidently say that it will help your husband too.

Thnank you all for your responses..it is a very difficult time.and I feel overwhelmed by this...but we will be having home health come so I will ask them...but need to stock up on Miralax and stool softners

What does his doctor recommend? I'd discuss with him and ask if he can take something daily that is mild like a stool softner or if he needs something more. I have found that fruits, veggies and lots of fluids make a great deal of difference. Will he eat applesauce, peaches, raisins?

I have a friend who suffers from chronic pain and has taken hydocodone for years with the accompanying constipation. Miralax or similar products really helped.

You give him a stool softener, such as dulcolax. Home help will not prescribe medications, just administer whatever the MD orders. Hopefully you get a visiting nurse weekly, who can answer questions and call the MD for you.
Sending you hugs, we are always here for you.