Question: Hello Dr.
My husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer based on a CT scan, however the biopsy was inconclusive. A second opinion on the biopsy favors cancer. He has not started chemo yet because of the confusion regarding the biopsy ( which originally favored chronic pancreatitis). He is unable to move his bowels. He was told to take senokot, Colace, then a suppository and enema. He later switched to restoralax, lactulose with the suppository and enemas as needed. He can move his bowels somewhat but he becomes full of gas. Even if he can pass the gas, it returns and he is in pain. We think the gas is from the lactulose. He also takes Domperidone and Creon in addition to his previous medications, Carbamazapine and Propranolol. He is following a diet of easily digested food that should not cause gas. He does not want to take the pain medication because it is constipating and he says the pain is from the gas not the cancer. He does get relief when he doesn't have gas. He will stop the lactulose and just try the restoralax. He prefers liquid medication and doesn't feel that Colace and Senokot are effective. Thank you for any help you can suggest.