What helps keep blood levels up during chemo and relieves constipation?

Managing low blood counts and constipation during chemo can be really challenging, and it sounds like the timing with your treatment is adding extra stress. Many community members find that staying hydrated, eating iron-rich foods like leafy greens and lean proteins, and gentle fiber sources can help with both concerns, though it's worth discussing specific supplements or medications with your care team since they know your treatment plan best. Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend, and hopefully other members will share what has worked for them too!

They gave me granix injections to take at home to boost the blood levels. I would get 3 to 5 injections it depended on the counts and treatment schedule. The side effects are sometimes bone and muscle pain.

Thank you for sharing

Hi Connie - dont have any suggestions on the blood levels, but prune juice and warmed butter ( in microwave) mixed together should do the trick for the constipation. Sounds gross but it works. Happy Easter to you and yours.

Thank you Happy Easter to everyone. Hope you all enjoy your day

Just curious Connie - do you receive growth factor shots after each chemo cycle? The shots generate new white blood cells that the chemo destroys. I had 4 cycles of chemo and never had to miss a treatment due to my blood cells. The shots make you feel achy a day or two after taking it, but its the white blood cells beginning to generate. You just take Claritin to help with the bone pain. Just a thought…

No I don't don't get those shots after. Last week they gave me a dose of magnisum with my chemo treatment. But I will surely ask about that shot. I'm already in a lot of pain after chemo anyway. I've never tried Claritin either. I woo get me some of that also. They told me to take Tylenol. And I have a prescription for oxy that I think I have not taken at all.. Not sure why such a strong drug. But thank you for the question.

Please read the post I did this weekend on this site. It lists all the suggestions the oncologist gave me for tolerating the chemo. Some are common sense while others are surprising. Also I received IV hydration and IV with nausea medicine that was administered 1st before they did the chemo treatment. I never had the nausea. If you cant find the post, let me know and I can post it for you again.

As for the Claritin, it helps but I also had to throw in a Tylenol with it.

Hi Peggy, I am still in treatment and I am still working on a regimen for constipation. I've used Prune juice, warmed, prunes. water, water, water, stool softners, laxatives, fruit, magnesiium citrate, My hemoglobin #'s have decreased so I may get a blood transfusion. And I do receive the Neulasta injection to build white blood cells. And I was told I can use Claritan for pain. I wish you well. Keep talking to your treatment team. Robin C.

Hi Robin - I have completed treatment. I think you meant Connie. Not sure if you included warm butter in the prune juice. I think that is what breaks the dam so to speak.. best wishes on your treatment as well.

Thank you Robin

Connie Sorry you about the name mix up. I wish you the best.

Hi firstly,im sending you prayers while you go through chemo,I just did 6 rounds as for constipation I ate prunes and ate oatmeal it seemed to help a little

Prune juice works for me and not eating lots of solids before and after. The butter is a new idea that I will try.

I receive PROCRIT injections to boost bone marrow production of RBC. Then I see my HGb level increase. Receiving Iron infusions help. HGb has to be really low before a blood transfusion will be given.

I used Senokot and that worked for a while but now I take a capful of miralax mixed with about 5/6 oz of water! Works great you can alter the amount with the need! Don’t miss a day even if you think you don’t need it just cut back with the amount of miralax!

Dulcolax for constipation then miralax every day

WOW ! What a Diverse amount of Responses...

Not sure if I will continue on here... However, I Do Sincerely Hope as and Pray 🙏 for ALL the Souls that are Battling this Awful Disease

And, I can't seem to see what the hell I'm actually writing.... This Site Sucks !!!

I got a bowel regime handout from the dietician at the cancer center..it really helped me. I take miralax daily.

That’s what they told me to do after I couldn’t get anything to work and finally got the dulcolax to work. They said take the MiraLAX every day afterwards. It’s been quite the relief. This gave new meaning to the word constipation.

Hi Samuel. I have stage 1 low risk prostate cancer and I choose the active surveillance option. Low risk prostate cancer is slow growing therefore don't rush to remove your prostate or radiation until is necessary as recommended by your primary oncologist. There are many permanent at times conditions associated with prostate removal. Incontinence and ED are the primary after surgery conditions. I'm going to get a second opinion from another Oncologist.

Good For You Alfredo ! God Bless 🙏🕊️❤️🙏