When a loved one or someone you know is going through a progressive late-stage illness, your focus, naturally, is on helping them with their condition. A common side effect of certain prescription pain relievers is constipation that can be debilitating — and difficult to talk about.1,2But even if they remain silent, you can speak about it for them. You can be their voice.

If you suspect that the person you’re caring for is experiencing constipation caused by certain prescription pain relievers, it may be easier for them to identify symptoms from a list than it is to openly describe what they’re experiencing. And you know how important it is to try to help with their condition. So, please download the Constipation Symptoms Checklist, review it and share it with your loved one. You can then bring the checklist into the doctor’s office and he/she can discuss it with you and your loved one. What may seem like a little thing can be very important to your health care provider when determining next steps.

Please print this out and review it with your loved one. You may not have been aware that your loved one was experiencing any of the following symptoms. But even if they remain silent, you can speak about it for them.3,4

Does your loved one:
• Move their bowels less often than usual
• Pass dry, hard stools
• Strain when using the toilet
• Complain of a “bloated feeling” in the belly
• Feel like there’s more stool to pass after having a bowel movement

Remember to check symptoms regularly. If your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms or you notice any other changes in their bowel habits, talk with a health care provider. This checklist is not a formal diagnostic tool. Only a health care provider can diagnose your loved one’s condition.

 

 

Laxatives and enemas are common, and often effective, solutions to constipation caused by certain prescription pain relievers. However, it’s important to first sit down with your loved one and understand what they are experiencing. You know how important it is to try to help with their condition. Communication is vital. Here are practical tools to help them communicate about their condition. The Daily Diary and the Constipation Symptoms Checklist can help keep track of bowel habits to share with your loved one’s doctor. Then you, as the caregiver, can relay the information to your loved one’s doctor who can then evaluate and discuss appropriate treatment options.