change in bowel habits since using cpap

[portiemom]

I have suffered from constipation all my life, even as a child. Regardless of fiber, meds, even the prep for colonoscopy,it is a real problem, so I am overdue for one now by about 2 years, ugh! If anyone has a remedy, short of a liquid diet for a month before I get checked again, I would sure welcome it.

[idamtnboy]

Meds can cause problems, some toward looseness, others towards constipation. I don't remember which is which, but I've got two diabetes meds that both cause bowel problems, but each the opposite of the other. On balance I stay just about right, but for months when I was on one only it was a race to the toilet every morning a few hours after getting up.

[ems]

Once again... everyone is different. Everything is the same and okay with me.

[Cpapped]

Well as far as I'm concerned THIS IS DOCUMENTATION that cpap is the CAUSE of my OUT OF THE BLUE, FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE constipation from HELL!!! AHHHHK...I don't know what to do now after reading all of these. Do I take a few nights off of my machine or something? Because I'm eating veggies, drinking water, eating healthy, taking stool softeners, eating prunes and still not going...I'm at a loss.

[STL Mark]

Meds can cause problems, some toward looseness, others towards constipation. I don't remember which is which, but I've got two diabetes meds that both cause bowel problems, but each the opposite of the other. On balance I stay just about right, but for months when I was on one only it was a race to the toilet every morning a few hours after getting up.

I second this motion (or movement). Medications are what I would look at first. Side effects are clearly stated in manufacturer information. Consider also that if you are using CPAP now and had not in the past your body has changed considerably. You are probably more active, eating at different intervals, maybe eating differently, and your internal organs are not as oxygen starved as in the past. Therefore your hormone balance may be much different than pre-CPAP. Does that mean CPAP is the cause of your problems. I will let you decide. Treating your condition may be of more benefit than learning it's origin.

[chunkyfrog]

Get thee to a doctor--ASAP!
My youngest brother ignored his constipation until he was in agony.
He had colon cancer--they took out a section of bowel, he is much better now,
and ready to have the ostomy reversed so he can get back to work.
The longer you wait, the worse it will be.
Drugs are a huge cause, especially narcotics--RX or NOT.
Blaming the cpap is BS! If any change is observed, it may be a result of less tossing and turning at night.

[Julie]

Cpap has nothing at all to do with constipation, absolutely nothing!

[chunkyfrog]

@Julie: I can't think of any cpap that could produce that much pressure--
--and it would have to be applied to the wrong end!

[knightlite]

Well most of us are getting older too, my gastro dr. puts that in the picture as well as the iron i'm taking causing the bad constipation. . I believe xpap could affect it also . I had to start using dextin fiber powder and psyllium husk powder, twice a day . One factor was my diabetes drugs another was the iron pills for anemia .
Tried miralax for a couple of weeks but had a nasty reaction , don't take that stuff long term . It works well but it isn't worth the trouble. I wouldn't be surprised if they have to pull it off the market in a few years.
But don't kid yourself-you and your bowels slow down as you age ,you just have to be proactive now. I eat a lot of veggies,drink lots of water but it isn't enough. Over 50 you better have a colonoscopy.

[martinsr00]

I started using my CPAP mask and machine in December of 2004. I soon started noticing a change in my bowel habits towards the constipation side. Since I had seldom ever had a problem before, I mentioned this to my doctor. He scheduled me for a colonoscopy (I am 57) and I am glad to say my surgeon found nothing amiss or suspicious during the procedure. Neither of the doctors felt the CPAP would contribute to the constipation. I continue to think my use of the CPAP blowing air into my body all night could do this. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Thanks for any input.

I'm no doctor but I had a similar problem and it seems straightforward. Let's say you use a full faced mask. Let's also say that you're a mouth breather (I am). I tried a nasal mask, and it worked well while I was awake and my tongue was planted on the roof of my mouth. Then I fell asleep, the tongue came down, and the air went in my nose and out my mouth.

So, the solution? Get a full-faced mask maybe? Well, if your mouth is at say 25 cm H2O (about 1/2 psi), and your anus is at 0 cm H2O (0 psi), where does the air want to go? Into your stomach. Especially if your epiglottis doesn't always seal perfectly. It finds its way out. It has two ways, mouth or backside. If there's air coming through, it dries things out. Hence constipation.

The solution might be to drink lots of water. Or there may be other ways.

Again, it this explanation sounded plausible. That's the model I used to craft a solution to my problem. It seemed to work.

[idamtnboy]

Interesting how one post from an unregistered poster can revive a dormant topic. The last post prior to the one by cpapped was 19 months ago.

[Compassionate Wife]

I have had constipation all my life which worsened after an allergist put me on a very strong antihistamine. I read Wes Jones Book 'Cure Constipation Now' and his plan was basically what my gastro told me - benefiber 2x a day, etc. etc. etc.

Well, I have discovered that I don't need all that "crap". All I have to do is eat 2 of the right kind of fruits every day and eat lots of veggies. I start off the day with a peach and have a pear for an afternoon snack. Pears really work for me. For some people it is apples. Prunes never work for me. Kiwis work really well, try 3 at a time. Additionally Vit C can really help. I take 1000 with breakfast and 1000 with dinner. Raise the amount of C until you get diahrea and then back off. Magnesium is helpful. I take 500 mg at bedtime. Milk of Magnesia really works but I prefer the capsules.

Avocados work really really well. So does broccoli. I once read that you should start each meal with fiber first - so eat your veggies first and then the rest of the meal.

Wes Jones book is very helpful is explaining how your gastro intestinal tract works and I would suggest it as education.

[chunkyfrog]

Since this thread has resurfaced, I am compelled to provide an update.
My brother passed away from colon cancer at the tender age of 52.
Again, he never had a colonoscopy. Any sudden change in bowel habits is a possible red flag.
See an ENT, colon cancer can occur at any age, and is very unlikely to be related to cpap.
PLEASE! It is possible to die from embarrassment, and this is how.

[palerider]

so I asked how can you be sure if you don't use one!

I'll just address the lunacy of this particular statement.

I'm pretty sure that most doctors that diagnose and treat things like heart attacks,heart failures, broken legs, brain tumors, loss of limbs, etc haven't experienced that thing, but they have been *trained* on what the symptoms and situations around the issue are.

[Gasper62]

Since this thread has resurfaced, I am compelled to provide an update.
My brother passed away from colon cancer at the tender age of 52.
Again, he never had a colonoscopy. Any sudden change in bowel habits is a possible red flag.
See an ENT, colon cancer can occur at any age, and is very unlikely to be related to cpap.
PLEASE! It is possible to die from embarrassment, and this is how.

I'd prefer a gastro doctor rather than an ENT to check my colon. Going in from the nose or throat seems like an overly long route to traverse.